Top Cybersecurity threats in the future

Guide to Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Basics is essential for building a strong security strategy in any organization.The global cost of cybercrime is expected to exceed $10.5 trillion each year by 2025, reinforcing the expansive, and financial burden of the challenges ahead of us. This number is more than just a statistic; it highlights the reality that not only are the threat(s) we face growing in number, but they are also growing in economic and operational impact on businesses today and into the future. For the professionals with a decade or more of experience, this realization requires we move past traditional, defiant defense mechanisms and consider what a proactive approach looks like. The future of cybersecurity is not determined by what has happened already, but is instead determined by what is just around the corner.From confidentiality to integrity, The Meaning of Computer Security and Its Classifications covers the core principles of protection.

This article will include information on:

• The changing threats within cloud computing and the supply chain.
• How AI is being used by both defenders and attackers.
• The evolution of ransomware and its newer, more harmful variants.
• How vulnerability management and threat intelligence can assist you in staying ahead of the threat.
• Upskilling and a proactive mindset for future readiness.

The digital world we have created is a wonder of blissful connectivity and data. With each new connection, however, emerges potential new vulnerability. For the seasoned cybersecurity professional, the task is no longer securing a once defined network perimeter; it is now safeguarding a vast continuous cyber ecosystem that includes cloud platforms, complex supply chains, and an increasing variety of smart devices. The adversaries we face are also increasing in sophistication utilizing advanced technologies to launch attacks that are persistent, targeted, evasive, and damaging. This article will provide a strategic overview of the top cybersecurity threats and will seek to provide a roadmap to understanding and preparing for the current and future challenges that will lay ahead. Our aim is to help prepare you with the knowledge to build resiliency, even agility, within a security posture that will hold over time.

Expanding Attack Surface: Cloud and Supply Chain

The rapid advancement and proliferation of cloud services has great advantages, however there are aspects recently introduced that are causing more targets for attacks. Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) have security established at the infrastructure level, but once the user transcends onto that infrastructure, the responsibility to secure the data and applications is on them. A facilitating factor in the number of breaches in the cloud is not a security flaw on the CSP end, but a misconfiguration by the consumer. Leaving storage buckets open, and faulty access control settings, can result in multiple millions of sensitive records at risk. Additionally, significantly complex environments will likely lead to gaps in protective measures and controls.

The supply chain has become another target for commensurate threat actors, even beyond the cloud. And the supply chain is a high-value target because an organization only has security as safe as its ‘weakest link’, which is usually a third-party vendor with access to the organization's network and data. Attackers can target smaller companies in the supply chain that have fewer security protections, take the acquisitions of their sensitive client data, and then move on to large organizations to execute a cyberattack on them. A compromise at a single supplier can come back and affect the entire client's ability to service customers and cause a significant disturbance. This approach allows cybercriminals to leverage an organization's third-party trusted relationship, while accessing sensitive data through an information path of least resistance.

AI in Cybersecurity: A Weapon and a Defense

Artificial intelligence is not just the "defense," it can also be a weapon. On the one hand, security organizations are fundamentally changing how they automate threat detection and incident response using AI-driven security platforms. AI systems can analyze huge swaths of information, to find anomalies, predict attack patterns, and automate incident response–in real-time. This offers security teams a chance to be proactive and stop threats before they are able to do anything damaging. 

On the other hand, attackers have also successfully harnessed AI, to launch much more sophisticated and automated attacks. For example, attackers can use AI to produce targeted phishing emails or targeted social engineering campaigns, AI-powered software can even identify completely new software vulnerabilities. These attacks can quickly scale and can undermine signature-based detection systems, making it harder to take any defensive action. The future battleground will be AI-driven defense versus AI-powered attack which means cybersecurity professionals will need to have a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of "machine learning."

The Progression of Ransomware and Extortion

Ransomware has evolved beyond merely encrypting data and demanding a ransom. This recent phase in ransomware attacks includes a tactic called "double extortion" where the attackers lock up a company’s files, steal the data, and threaten to post it on the dark web. This dual threat places an enormous amount of pressure on organizations to pay the ransom since a data leak could result in serious reputational harm, regulatory fines, and lawsuits. Some ransomware groups have even begun applying "triple extortion," where they also use a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack to prevent the company from doing business.

Compared to their more skilled peers, the emergence of "Ransomware-as-a-Service" (RaaS) lowers the skill level needed for cybercriminals to use these very powerful attack tools and creates a lower barrier for entry on launching a highly damaging attack. This approach is also commoditizing high level malware for all sized organizations to use because the focus of the attacks has shifted from targeted, complex attacks on governments or large companies to a blanket approach targeting all organizations based on vulnerable entry points for attack.

Your expertise is your most valuable asset in this rapidly changing landscape, and it is vital that you continue to invest and develop your skills and your expertise. Are you ready to manage and respond to a complex, multi-layered cyber attack? Download our whitepaper, "The New Frontier of Cyber Threats" to explore these challenges in depth, and create a path to building a strong security posture.

Threat Intelligence and Vulnerability Management: The Proactive Core

Settling into a reactive approach leads to a losing battle in a world of never ending digital opportunities for threat actors. Threat intelligence and vulnerability management are the two pillars of a proactive cybersecurity strategy. Threat intelligence not only collects data and transmits information, but analyzes information to come to conclusions about existing and future threats. Threat intelligence helps organizations better understand threats by looking for indicators about who the attackers are, what they are trying to do, their intent, and the tactics they may use. By using strategic, operational, and tactical threat intelligence, an organization can better predict attacks and deploy defenses and resource allocations to protect their most important assets.

Effective Vulnerability Management has evolved and matured beyond simply performing scheduled scans. It has become a continuous process of identifying, prioritizing, and remediating security gaps. In the past, this would often require an organization to rely on some individuals to run the process manually - with the caveat of being somewhat overwhelming. Today, Security teams are able to leverage advanced tools to prioritize vulnerabilities with context - based on actual threats and the impact to their business - and not just based on their technical severity. A modern vulnerability management program evaluates vulnerabilities based on more than just the CVSS score - it also considers whether it is identified as being actively exploited in the wild or if the associated risk is on a critical, outward-facing server. The evolution of vulnerabilities and prioritizing according to context will allow organizations to be the most effective with their vulnerability management program by asking them to prioritize vulnerabilities and focus eyes where they will feel the most effect.

Creating a 21st Century Resilience Through the Workforce 

Addressing future cybersecurity risks is as much a human issue as it is a technical issue. There is a well-known skills gap within the cybersecurity profession, and the skilled talent gap is one of the contributing factors of the success of many attacks. The sophistication of attacks is growing and the available attack surface is getting larger. As the sophistication grows so does the need for highly skilled and trained professionals. If you are going to maintain resilience, you will need to stay ahead through continuous learning and professional development. 

Professionals that combine in-depth technical knowledge with strategic thinking are in high demand and are often difficult to find. Certifications give you structured requirements to establish and verify these skills which demonstrate to current and future employers you are committed to remaining current in a field that is changing every day. Certifications require competencies across the whole spectrum of skills from the basics of ethical hacking to the challenges associated with information systems security, confidentiality, and risk management. Investing in your expertise as a result of these emerging issues requires commitment as these threats evolve and your organization's resilience declines. It's the most efficient method of protecting your organization and nurturing and advancing your career.

Conclusion

The future of cybersecurity is a landscape defined by an expanding attack surface, AI-powered threats, and the continuous evolution of criminal tactics. The challenges posed by cloud misconfigurations, supply chain vulnerabilities, and sophisticated ransomware campaigns are substantial. A passive, reactive approach to security is insufficient. The path forward requires a focus on proactive measures, grounded in robust threat intelligence and an intelligent approach to vulnerability management. For senior professionals, this is a call to action to upskill, lead with a forward-looking mindset, and build teams that are equipped not just to respond to threats, but to anticipate and neutralize them. The security of our digital world depends on our collective ability to adapt and grow.From preventing data breaches to safeguarding privacy, Key Reasons to Take Cyber Security Seriously are more urgent than ever.

For any upskilling or training programs designed to help you either grow or transition your career, it's crucial to seek certifications from platforms that offer credible certificates, provide expert-led training, and have flexible learning patterns tailored to your needs. You could explore job market demanding programs with iCertGlobal; here are a few programs that might interest you:

1. CYBER SECURITY ETHICAL HACKING (CEH) CERTIFICATION
2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional
3. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
4. Certified Information Security Manager
5. Certified Information Systems Auditor

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is AI making cybersecurity threats more complex?
AI enables attackers to create more sophisticated attacks that are harder to detect. It helps them generate highly convincing phishing emails, automate the discovery of vulnerabilities, and scale their attacks rapidly. This means that traditional, static security measures are becoming less effective against a dynamic and intelligent adversary.

2. Why is threat intelligence important for future cybersecurity?
Threat intelligence moves a security strategy from a reactive to a proactive one. It provides actionable insights into who is likely to attack your organization, what methods they will use, and what assets they are targeting. This knowledge allows you to build stronger defenses and anticipate attacks before they happen, which is essential for effective cybersecurity.

3. What is the difference between vulnerability management and a vulnerability scan?
A vulnerability scan is a single event, a snapshot in time that identifies weaknesses. Vulnerability management, however, is a continuous, cyclical process. It includes scanning, but also involves prioritizing the identified vulnerabilities based on risk, remediating them, and verifying that the fixes were successful. This ongoing process is crucial for maintaining a strong security posture.

4. How do future threats like supply chain attacks affect small businesses?
Small businesses are often the weakest link in a larger company’s supply chain. Attackers target them to gain a foothold into bigger networks. While the attack may not be aimed at the small business itself, being compromised can lead to a loss of business, legal exposure, and reputational harm, making it a serious cybersecurity threat for all parties involved.