Cybersecurity has become ‘make or break’ for businesses. With threats on the rise and ever evolving in sophistication, it’s more important than ever for organisations to adequately secure their networks, applications and data. If they don’t, they could become embroiled in an expensive cyber-attack and face the repercussions of reputational damage, compliance fines and downtime that come with it.
The trouble with cybersecurity is that today’s threats often feel like a moving target. Year on year, hackers fine-tune and innovate their approaches. To stay resilient and compliant, organisations must keep pace with the changing nature of cybersecurity risks.
So, what will 2023 look like in the cyber sphere? What attacks will cybercriminals use most often? How do you protect your business? Here’s our predictions for 2023 cybersecurity trends.
Attackers Prey on IoT Vulnerabilities
IoT refers to the internet of things; the rise of digitally enabled appliances and tools like smart watches, voice assistants, smart fridges and intelligent heating systems. Research indicates that, by 2025, there will be over 60 billion IoT devices in operation globally.
Whether your organisation has a smart fridge in the office or your employees are big fans of their Apple watches, your company undoubtedly has some IoT devices that connect to the corporate network.
Here’s the security issue: IoT devices are notorious for weak security controls and are often riddled with vulnerabilities. This makes them tempting targets for attackers. It’s not a theoretical issue either. Researchers at the security vendor, IBM, for example ran a project in which they managed to hack into a smart Jeep. While this study was undertaken in a controlled environment, it highlights the potential for hackers to do the very same thing – with far worse consequences.
Because of the risks surrounding IoT, it’s crucial to prioritise safeguarding connected devices and networks.
State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks Continue
As conflict continues between Russia and Ukraine, the potential for physical warfare to spill into cyberspace is mounting. While Brisbane-businesses are unlikely to be the target of political hacktivists, they may end up becoming collateral damage in the crossfire unless they have the right security protections in place. Should any downtime occur due to a cyber-attack or breach, having a disaster recovery plan in place is also vital.
Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is helping organisations around the world to uncover new efficiencies, boost employee productivity and improve the bottom line. Solutions like automated invoicing, social media listening and Salesforce all use AI, for example.
Beyond these use cases, AI can also revolutionise how organisations approach security. Working with a managed IT provider, you can unlock the potential of AI to improve security outcomes. We use tools to automate the process of threat detection, along with first-class solutions for data loss prevention and user behaviour analytics, all of which help to keep your organisation safe while improving employee productivity.
Mobile Security Risks Skyrocket
Research shows that mobile-based malware attacks have risen by more than 50% since 2019. As employees embrace the idea of answering emails and visiting work applications on their mobile phones, hackers have taken note. They realise that theser devices are often a treasure trove of sensitive information – and they want to break into them.
Some of the most common mobile security threats organisations must contend with include SMS-ishing, malicious applications on app stores and the risk of lost or stolen devices. With a myriad of risks out there, taking a proactive approach to mobile security is necessary. Some tactics you should consider include enabling multi-factor authentication for workplace applications, deploying mobile device management (MDM) solutions and mandating PINs and biometric authentication where possible.
Cloud Misconfigurations Lead to Data Leakage
The cloud is fast becoming the digital backbone of the modern business. While cloud infrastructure tends to be secure, companies often fail to securely configure the applications they use. When this happens, their data is often left exposed to the internet, which could lead to hefty compliance fines.
To remedy this issue, organisations need to learn more about secure cloud configurations or work with a partner who can manage cloud security on their behalf.
Remote Employees Remain a Hot Target for Malicious Actors
Human error is often the root cause of successful cyber attacks. An employee may inadvertently click on a phishing email or visit a website laced with malicious content. While this risk isn’t new, it’s still a prevalent threat. In line with this, we expect to see more organisations increase their focus on security awareness training to empower their people to spot attacks before they become victims.
Rather than hosting one-off security sessions, we’ll see more companies embrace dynamic, ongoing training that is provided little and often. This approach is much more effective than infrequent training.
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