Cybersecurity is a niche in the technology industry that crosses over. One, it is a complex and specialist area that requires the knowledge and expertise of professionals from all over the globe.
However, mainstream media is interested in it and has covered many security stories this year, including ransomware, nation-state attacks, critical infrastructure disruptions, and mass data breaches.
But how do we expect cybersecurity to be the subject of international attention by 2022? What will the attention of national newspapers and specialists be drawn to the emerging vulnerabilities?
Geopolitical Tension and Nation-State Attacks
Ransomware attacks have become so common that they occur in a matter of seconds, posing enormous challenges for organizations across the globe, apart from the many instigators and nation-state attacks attributed to Russia and China. This has contributed to broader geopolitical tensions around the world.
This situation will not improve, at least in the near term, and it will drive cyberattacks next year. Tensions in the South China Sea proceed to impact the threat landscape significantly. The geopolitical boundaries that the Chinese-American military and civilian forces inhabit are minimal. History indicates common disputes as well as periods of high tension.
Regulations And Legislation
As governments become more concerned about nation-state attacks, cyber-focused legislation will remain a priority for lawmakers. This was reflected in President Biden’s executive orders earlier this ye.
The result is that organizations across all industries will be subject to constant legislation, regulation, and compliance changes. This is a worldwide trend. Governments through out the globe are trying to improve existing laws or introduce new rules about software development and data security — GDPR CCPA being two of the most famous examples.
There will be an emphasis on national infrastructure protection, including everything from utilities to the financial sector. As much as possible, international cooperation will promote data security and help ensure that customers’ data is safe.
Remote and Hybrid
As Covid-19 uncertainty continues to mount, and especially in light of the new omicron variant of Omicron, remote working is still an option for many organizations. However, hybrid working workplaces should reevaluate their security risks. Employees using their own devices should not increase their risk. They will be able to offer the best of both worlds, office-based and remote technology services that deliver the performance they expect.
This requires agility. In this age of tech-led flexibility, organizations are also more interested in cloud-based alternatives to long-term IT agreements. These service providers have to offer pricing models compatible with cloud-only and hybrid infrastructure strategies. This allows customers to balance affordability and protection. This is vital, considering research has shown that nearly all organizations suffered from a cloud-related data breach in the past 18 months.
More Stylish Attacks
Cybercriminals continue to adapt their tactics to stay effective. Organizations can expect to face new challenges over 12 months. An adversary may use automation technology to deliver cyberattacks on a larger scale. DDoS attacks and malware are still a concern.
The use of machine learning (ML) as a cybercrime tool is expected to rise. For example, machine learning (ML) may be used to analyze phishing attacks’ effectiveness to understand better what motivates a user to click on a link to open an attachment. By doing this, attackers can significantly expand their ability to refine their tactics to maximize their “business model” and their financial returns.
This type of ML-powered analysis is where machine learning is used for minor modifications to virus features within a PDF or Word file. Organizations should ask themselves if this type of attack can get past their antivirus software. This is especially important given the constant challenges of zero-day threats that can evade security solutions for days / even weeks before they are updated.
The challenges are immense. The biggest challenge is polymorphic malware. This malware has identifiable features that can be changed constantly to avoid detection. Cybercriminals have also developed metamorphic malware that rewrites code, making each version unique. As bad actors try to minimize detection, this type of malware will become more widespread.
2022 will be another challenging year for all involved in the protection of network infrastructure, data, and applications. Even though more high-profile breaches are likely, there will be positive steps in 2022. This is not only about reducing the volume and impact of successful attacks.
