A Statistics Canada survey of Canadian businesses has found that more than one in five – felt the impact of a cyberattack last year.

The federal agency says large businesses were more than twice as likely as small ones to be apparent targets – and only 10 per cent reported cybersecurity incidents to law enforcement agencies last year.

StatsCan says the most common suspected aim of the attacks – was an attempt to steal money or demand a ransom payment.

The survey also found businesses spent 14-billion dollars on cybersecurity last year – including eight-billion on staff and contractors, four-billion on cybersecurity software and related hardware – and two-billion on other prevention and recovery measures