Which country had the highest average cost per breach in 2018 at $8.19M?

The United States had the highest average cost per breach in 2018 at $8.19 million, largely due to several factors that influence the financial impact of data breaches. The U.S. has a larger number of organizations that are often targets for cyberattacks, including a significant presence of high-value businesses and institutions that handle sensitive information, such as financial, healthcare, and government entities.

Additionally, the U.S. faces a complex regulatory landscape that includes various state and federal laws mandating notifications and potential fines, which can elevate the costs associated with data breaches. The resources required for incident response, regulatory compliance, legal defense, and reputational damage management further contribute to the overall financial burden.

While other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia also experience significant costs from data breaches, the scale of operations and higher stakes in the U.S. significantly raise the average cost associated with each breach incident.