Global internet companies – additional information
A web parent company refers to the corporation which owns a controlling interest in one or more subsidiaries. These companies include some of the largest names in the internet industry. In March 2014, the most popular global web parent companies were ranked by their number of unique visitors. During that month, Google, who owns YouTube, AdMob and DoubleClick, received the largest unique audience with 366.06 million visitors. In second place, for the same month, was Microsoft, whose subsidiaries include Skype and Hotmail, with 314.49 million online visitors.
The size and success of an internet company can also be measured in terms of its market value. The market value of the largest internet companies worldwide was estimated in May 2014. The ranking included renowned names such as Google, Facebook and Amazon.com. Perhaps, less well known on the global stage, was the Japanese search engine Naver, which was placed 14th in the ranking with a market value of 23 billion U.S. dollars. Naver’s market value placed it above LinkedIn, Twitter and Tripadvisor as of May 2014.
The internet can leave a company’s operations vulnerable to cyber attacks and hacks and the world’s largest internet companies are no exception. At the end of 2014, the world witnessed a high profile cyber attack on Sony Corporations which resulted in upcoming films and private information including staff wages being released. The distribution of costs for external consequences of cyber attacks on global companies was revealed in a worldwide survey taken in June 2014. During the survey respondents stated that business disruption accounted for 38 percent of costs which made it the most costly consequent of a cyber attack to a business. Other costly external consequences which were detailed during the survey included information loss, revenue loss and equipment damages.