Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.K. business decisionmakers are anticipating COVID-themed phishing attacks targeting their company to increase in 2021, according to new research from Centrify. The research was conducted by independent polling agency Censuswide and obtained via a survey of 200 business decision makers in large- and medium-sized enterprises in the U.K.

The data also revealed that more than half (52%) of business decision makers have anticipated an increase in cyberattacks facing their organizations, as triggered by the most recent national lockdown in the U.K., which ended on Dec. 2.

Despite these concerns, 37% of respondents admitted that they currently have no plans to train new employees on data management policies and cybersecurity risks specific to COVID-related disruption.

Furthermore, 37% also stated that they do not have sufficient systems in place to verify employee identities and credentials when accessing company data.

“COVID-themed email, SMS and web-based phishing attacks have not been uncommon over the last year, and so far we’ve seen cyberattack campaigns using the guise of charity, government financial aid initiatives, and business support schemes already lure thousands of victims into leaking sensitive information, such as log-in credentials and payment details," said Howard Greenfield, Chief Revenue Officer at Centrify. “In fact, these phishing campaigns have been so sophisticated and widespread in 2020 that business leaders can only reasonably assume that a colleague or employee has already fallen victim to one – especially if they have been working remotely this year for the first time in their career."