Over 40% of cyber threats are aimed at the financial industry
In the first half of 2025, Europe, including Germany, continues to rely heavily on US digital infrastructure, despite a significant gap between the demand for European software solutions and the current reality. This dependence is primarily due to the market dominance of US cloud providers such as Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, whose extensive service offerings and infrastructure scale are difficult to replicate locally.
The technology industry is the most frequently targeted sector, accounting for 38 percent of attacks. Myra Security reported the strongest cyber-attacks in this industry during this period. Interestingly, the majority of malicious requests, 42 percent, originated from the USA. However, the information about countries of origin does not allow for reliable conclusions about the actual location or identity of the attackers, as actors often use techniques such as IP spoofing, reflection attacks, and globally distributed botnets to conceal their true origin.
The Cybersecurity Report, available for download here, does not specify the specific software providers that are currently being used by the majority of companies. However, it does reveal that less than 25 percent of companies in the report use European cloud services. The demand for exclusive or preferential use of European software solutions in critical infrastructures is high, but the actual usage of European cloud services is low.
Germany, in particular, faces challenges such as a shortage of cybersecurity professionals and complex geopolitical pressures, leading to continued reliance on external (often US-based) service and infrastructure providers to meet stringent security demands. The financial sector experienced a high number of cyber-attacks in the first half of 2025.
Recent cyberattacks, including sophisticated ransomware and cyber espionage incidents targeting German entities such as hospital networks and public sectors, reveal the vulnerabilities but also highlight the urgent need for advanced cybersecurity capabilities often provided by US vendors. Collaborations between German insurers and cybersecurity specialists underline growing awareness of risks in relying on concentrated cloud infrastructures, but replacing US dominance requires significant investment and coordinated policy measures across Europe.
The report does not mention any specific measures that Europe is taking to promote its own technologies. However, efforts to build European infrastructure are underway, but are challenged by fragmented national policies and slower innovation cycles compared to US counterparts. The analysis of countries of origin is primarily used for categorizing and analyzing traffic flows for pattern recognition and targeted optimization of protective measures.
In summary, Europe's continued dependence on US digital infrastructure is driven by the scale, innovation, and ecosystem dominance of US providers, combined with the challenges Europe faces in rapidly scaling its own digital and cybersecurity infrastructure despite increasing cyber-threats. Efforts within Germany and across the EU focus on enhancing resilience but have yet to displace the entrenched US digital influence.
[1] Link to source for challenges faced by German firms [2] Link to source for sophisticated ransomware and cyber espionage incidents [3] Link to source for hospital network attacks [4] Link to source for public sector attacks [5] Link to source for collaborations between German insurers and cybersecurity specialists
- In light of increasing cybersecurity threats and the growing demand for European software solutions, it's crucial for Europe to invest in the development of its own technology and cybersecurity infrastructure to reduce dependence on US providers, particularly in critical sectors like finance.
- Despite the strong cyber-attacks in the technology industry originating from the USA, it remains vital for European nations to address their own cybersecurity vulnerabilities, such as the shortage of professionals in Germany, to effectively secure their digital infrastructure and protect their financial sector from cyber espionage and sophisticated attacks.
