According to a survey conducted by the digital association Bitkom, Germany is projected to incur €206 billion in losses in 2023 due to theft of IT equipment, data breaches, digital espionage, and industrial espionage.

The research, which polled more than 1000 companies, indicates that this financial impact will surpass €200 million for the third consecutive year.

Furthermore, the data reveals that 75% of the surveyed companies experienced cyberattacks in the previous year, marking a decline from the 84% reported the year before. Meanwhile, 52% of these businesses believe that cyberattacks pose a threat to their survival, marking a 45% increase from the previous year and a 9% rise from two years ago.

The study also highlights that 70% of the participating companies reported incidents of sensitive data theft, a 7% increase compared to the previous year, while 61% reported instances of digital communications being subjected to surveillance.

Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst commented to Reuters, saying, "Criminals and hostile states find the German economy highly attractive, with blurred lines between organized crime and state-sponsored actors."

Sinan Selen, President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, added, "Our response to this escalating threat involves bolstering cooperation with our partners, swiftly detecting and responding to attacks, and continually adapting our defense strategies."