10 Internet Security Trends To Follow in 2024

Internet Security Trends

As cyber threats arise and challenge enterprise network architecture, businesses have to constantly search for new solutions, refine their cybersecurity infrastructure, and fortify cybersecurity postures. 

Understanding the most common cyber security trends helps experts understand how the industry is developing and where they should focus their attention. Here are some of the most prominent internet security trends hitting the industry. 

Key Takeaways

  • Worrying Threat Landscape: The worldwide threat landscape is becoming more dangerous, with higher rates of cyber attacks, malware injections, and ransomware events being felt across the globe.
  • Uncertain Futures: With the rise of AI, ML, and quantum computing, there are several major cyber threats on the horizon that have many security experts worried.
  • Impactful Cyber Resilience: Businesses must seek more effective solutions to fortify their cyber resilience during this period.

#1. Rise of Ransomware Attacks

In 2023 alone, nearly 72.7% of all organizations across the globe were affected by ransomware attacks. 

This figure is up by nearly 20% since 2018, demonstrating the extent to which ransomware has rapidly become a major threat. Businesses should create contingency plans to defend themselves against ransomware, including:

#2. Increasing Sophistication of Cyber Attacks

As the cybersecurity industry makes use of emerging technologies, cybercriminals do the same. 

New technologies like AI and ML are useful in cybersecurity defenses but also streamline the production and launch of cyber attacks. 

With the wide availability of emerging technologies like AI, the sophistication of cyberattacks is increasing. Not only does this place more pressure on cybersecurity experts, but it also creates a higher-cybersecurity risk landscape for organizations. 

#3. Growth of IoT and Potential Vulnerabilities

Internet of Technology (IoT) devices are useful pieces of technology that are any electronic device that connects to the internet. This specification could include anything from sensors in food trucks that monitor temperature to microwaves. 

While IoT devices have many uses, they also notoriously lack effective security. Without proper password controls being enforced, many users don’t realize their devices have the default admin passwords, making them easy to hack and use in bot networks. 

IoT device usage has also led to a larger number of DDoS attacks occurring.

#4. Supply Chain Attacks as a Major Threat

Supply chains rely on a constant stream of moving parts to get products from A to B. If any one of the cogs in this machine stops moving, the entire system grinds to a halt. Due to this, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting supply chain links with ransomware to increase the severity of their attacks.

Companies that have contractual obligations to deliver certain products within a specific timeframe cannot afford to have a ransomware attack disrupt their production. 

With that in mind, supply chain links are rapidly becoming a major threat and focus on cyber attackers.

#5. AI and Machine Learning in Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are now being commonly introduced into the vast majority of cybersecurity infrastructure. AI tools are extremely effective at many of the core aspects of cybersecurity, like:

  • Continual monitoring
  • Threat detection
  • The identification of suspicious activity

In the past few years, the frequency with which cybersecurity tools use AI and ML technology has increased dramatically.

#6. Zero-Trust Security Architecture

As the cyber threat becomes more prominent, businesses are attempting to lock down as many points of entry as possible. As many breaches stem from human errors, organizations are increasingly introducing zero-trust security architecture to limit the access that any one account has.

Zero-trust security policies help to protect wider networks by preventing any compromised accounts from accessing entire security systems. 

#7. Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography

Quantum computing is a computer that leverages quantum mechanics to deliver radically enhanced processing power and solve complex problems that regular computers could never solve. 

While this could represent major breakthroughs, it could also be the end of cybersecurity as we know it.

Primarily, this could create a problem as quantum computers could crack encryption in seconds, removing this vital defense mechanism entirely. Without an effective way of guaranteeing encryption, no data in any organization would be safe. 

This would also create wider cybersecurity issues as whole industries like cryptocurrency become easily hackable.

#8. Cybersecurity Workforce Shortage

As the cyber threat continues to become more pressing, businesses are seeking more cybersecurity professionals to bring into their organizations and help monitor their cyber defenses.

But the demand for cybersecurity professionals is outpacing the entry of new cybersecurity personnel into the workforce. Over time, as this problem worsens, we could experience an industry-wide expertise scarcity, making the upkeep of cybersecurity systems more costly and challenging. 

#9. Cyber Insurance as a Risk Management Tool

The way that the fight against cybercriminals is currently going, a data breach is no longer a possibility but more of a certainty. The vast majority of companies will have to deal with a breach or another form of cyber event in the near future. With this in mind, companies are increasingly turning to cyber insurance in an attempt to reduce the future financial losses they can expect from a cyber event.

In reaction to this rising demand, cyber insurance is becoming more costly, and policies are becoming less comprehensive. 

#10. Data Privacy Regulations and Compliance

Cybersecurity regulation is rapidly developing in order to stay in line with the development of new technology and solutions. Across all industries that connect to cybersecurity, like finance and general technology, businesses are seeing new regulations arising that seek to keep them safe.

With this in mind, organizations will have to pay even more attention to regulation and compliance over the coming years to avoid any penalization associated with non-compliance.

Maximize Internet Security with Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 is an all-in-one cybersecurity solution that offers comprehensive support. From endpoint security and malware protection to secure web gateways and zero-trust network access, Perimeter 81 is an effective choice for companies looking to stay ahead of the mounting cyber threat.

By understanding how these trends relate to real-world cyberattacks, businesses can constantly improve their defenses and stay ahead of the cyber threat. Employing leading security architecture and refining existing defenses will contribute to a solid security posture. 

Enhance your internet security with Perimeter 81 today

FAQs

What is the biggest risk to the future of internet security?
Many consider the continual advancement of artificial intelligence one of the biggest threats to internet security. As AI tools become more powerful and more widely available, hackers could leverage them to break into enterprise systems, compromise accounts, and launch cyberattacks at radical scales.
What is the largest trend in cybersecurity?
The most prominent trend in cybersecurity that is currently occurring is the increasing scope and scale of attacks. Cybercriminals are launching more attacks than ever before, putting companies at risk. In response to this trend, several others have emerged, like higher investments into cybersecurity defenses, further research into AI cybersecurity tools, and the development of zero-trust solutions. 
How have common attacks like phishing changed in recent years?
Attacks like phishing are still a popular cyberattack strategy that malicious actors use to collect account information and infiltrate businesses. However, with the ease of accessing AI tools, phishing attacks are now much more effective. Previous phishing indicators like poor spelling are no longer a factor, as attackers can use AI to produce well-written, convincing phishing emails and texts.
What emerging security challenges are there in the cybersecurity industry?
There are several emerging challenges that are beginning to worry cybersecurity experts. Among them, the rise of AI and its impact on the scope and scale of attacks is prominent. Other major challenges the cybersecurity industry faces are a lack of experts to fill job roles, more frequent attacks, and the possibility of quantum computing impacting cybersecurity defenses.
Why are businesses becoming more worried about cybersecurity?
Alongside hackers gaining unauthorized access to more complex attack infrastructure, another major factor that is contributing to heightened worry in the sector is the expansive attack surfaces that organizations have to contend with. The average company now has an attack surface several times greater than in previous years, providing more points of entry for hackers and more bases for experts to cover. 

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