8 Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity and their implications

Emerging trends in cyber security

As technology continues to advance, so do cyber threats. Cyber attacks are growing in numbers and becoming increasingly sophisticated, especially since artificial intelligence (AI) emerged. Now more than ever, companies are seeing the cyber attack surface enlarge and must be more aware of the latest changes. Today, trends in cybersecurity are increasing. Therefore, businesses need to know what they are up against and the solutions they must adopt.

1. Hybrid data centres

Hybrid data centers are growing in response to changes in technology. Traditionally, organizations relied solely on on-premises data centers and many still do. It is an excellent way to gain complete control over your hardware and data. However, the rise of cloud computing has allowed businesses to see its scalability, flexibility and cost savings potential.

Some companies have fully transitioned to the cloud, while others use it with on-premises infrastructure. More organizations are embracing the hybrid model for several reasons:

• ●  The need for digital transformation.
• ●  The desire to maintain legacy applications while adopting newer technologies.
• ●  To optimize cost structures.

By integrating these environments, enterprises can balance control and agility. While this integration can be beneficial, some challenges come with it. From a cybersecurity perspective, managing assets across multiple environments increases complexity. Consistent security postures, clear visibility into assets and understanding data flow will be crucial.

2. Remote workforce security

The shift to more people working from home has redefined the traditional workplace model. Remote work offers several advantages, like flexibility and the potential for cost savings. However, it also introduces a new set of cybersecurity risks. Remote work has expanded the boundaries of corporate networks much further than the traditional perimeter. 

Employees have access to company resources from various locations through their personal devices. This increases the risk of data breaches, malware infections and other cyber threats. A decentralized work environment like this can be an easy target for cybercriminals, as they often need more robust security measures. 

However, as the trend towards remote work continues, security will be a critical priority, especially as 74% of companies had at least one breach within the past year. Enterprises are now focusing on zero-trust architectures, where trust is never granted based on physical or network location. Implementing this approach ensures every access request gets verified before gaining access. 

Furthermore, VPNs (virtual private networks), multi-factor authentication and endpoint security solutions are becoming standard practices. Such measures like using complex passwords and verifying login information through texts ensure the business’s data and employees’ work are secure from anywhere. 

3. Increasing cyber resilience

A shift in cybersecurity is taking place, focusing on preventing and defending against cyber threats. Meanwhile, cyber resilience lets you continue business operations despite a cyber incident and recover quickly. The difference between cybersecurity and cyber resilience is cybersecurity is about protection. In contrast, cyber resilience is about adaptation and recovery.

Businesses are increasingly realizing it is not a matter of “if” but “when” they will face a cyber incident. Given the nature of today’s threats, complete prevention is nearly impossible. That is where cyber resilience can assist. It ensures a company sustains operations during an attack and recovers with minimal disruption after an incident. In short, cyber resilience will be the safety net you need to ensure continuity and efficient recovery.

4. Using AI in cyber attacks

AI has enhanced many industries, offering automation, efficiency and accuracy in various tasks. Yet, as with any technological advancement, people use AI for more than good. Cybersecurity is seeing a surge in the use of AI for malicious intents.

Cyber attackers are now leveraging AI to enhance their offensive strategies. For instance, it can automate and scale phishing campaigns. Phishing scams are tactics cybercriminals use to trick employers into handing over sensitive information, such as logins or credit card numbers. With AI in the mix, these scams are more sophisticated and harder to detect.

AI that powers malware can adapt to a system’s defenses in real time. That way, it always finds new vulnerabilities and evades traditional security tools. Additionally, AI can assist in password cracking by predicting password patterns more rapidly than conventional methods.

These AI-driven attacks are faster, more efficient and more stealthy. They can mimic human behavior and adjust tactics based on the defense mechanisms they encounter. For organizations, this means traditional defense methods no longer suffice. Therefore, your defense strategies must adapt as attackers evolve with AI. Incorporating AI into defensive cybersecurity measures allows early threat detection and real-time response. Plus, you can use predictive analysis to forecast potential threats.

5. Supply chain and third-party risk management

Many companies rely heavily on vendors and suppliers to drive efficiency and competitiveness. However, depending on all these third parties introduce several cyber vulnerabilities. The supply chain and third-party ecosystems have become hotspots for cyber attacks, with cybercriminals targeting weaker links to compromise larger businesses.

Several high-profile breaches occurred in recent years, which you can trace back to third-party vendors. For instance, Ticketmaster’s software supplier — Ibenta — was breached and weaponised, then downloaded onto Ticketmaster in 2018. Such incidents result in financial loss, and damage the enterprise’s reputation and customer trust.

Unfortunately, it is only going to continue from there. Supply chain attacks have risen by more than 300% in 2021 and experts predict they will continue to increase. Therefore, companies are moving beyond simple assessments to monitor third-party vendors continuously. With tech solutions like vendor risk management, more organizations will deploy these to get real-time insights. Additionally, contracts now often have cybersecurity requirements to ensure vendors prioritize security as much as the company does.

6. Enhanced identity security

As cyber threats evolve, attackers are increasingly targeting individuals, using them as gateways to access a company’s most sensitive assets. Therefore, enhanced identity security — such as biometric authentication — has emerged as a trend in cybersecurity.

Biometrics use unique personal traits like fingerprints, voice recognition and retinal scans. These methods provide an extra security layer, making it difficult for attackers to bypass

In essence, enhancing identity security is more than a trend — it is a shift in recognizing and protecting the most basic yet critical entry point into people’s digital lives. Therefore, businesses should consider biometrics and implement the most suitable ones into their operations. That way, they maintain user privacy and cyber resilience.

7. IoT cyber attacks

With more devices connected to each other and the internet, cyber adversaries have increased potential to take advantage. IoT (the internet of things) devices are often in need of more security measures. The Internet of Things (IoT) makes an attractive target because these devices are widely diverse, inconsistent in security standards and could be outdated.

Attackers exploit these vulnerabilities because they make easy entry points into broader networks. IoT cyber attacks can have wide-ranging consequences. For instance, malicious actors can turn compromised IoT devices into botnets and launch coordinated DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks.

Organizations are addressing this by establishing standardized security protocols for IoT devices. Manufacturers must prioritize security in the design phase and ensure devices have built-in protection. Yet, they must also have the ability to receive regular firmware updates.

8. Hybrid mesh firewall

With on-premises data centers, the cloud and remote workspaces, it can be challenging to deploy consistent firewall solutions across all environments. However, enterprises are solving this problem using the hybrid mesh firewall. This trend in cybersecurity integrates various types of firewalls to create a giant security blanket. The “mesh” design ensures seamless communication between these firewalls to protect companies against advanced attacks.

Before, businesses found it challenging to manage firewalls due to the gaps in protection and inconsistencies in security policies. However, the hybrid mesh firewall offers centralized management and ensures security uniformity across the entire network.

Stay in the know with these trends in cybersecurity

Understanding the trends in cybersecurity is vital for any company’s survival. As threats evolve, so must your defenses, so stay informed and proactive to get through challenges ahead with confidence.

Eleanor Hecks is the editorial director at Designerly. She’s also a mobile app designer with a focus on user interface. Connect with her about digital marketing, UX or tea on LinkedIn.