Emerging Trends in Website Security: Staying Ahead of Cyber Threats
Written by
- Redaction Team
- Digital Business, Entrepreneurship
It is a wonder how far we have come with technology. Everything is on a constant evolution. It is as if technology aspects are competing for a trophy that will be awarded to the most evolved. And if I was to be the sole judge of this fierce competition, I will award the trophy to the cybersecurity sphere. Unbiased. The cybersecurity aspect in its part is a war between hackers and cybersecurity practices. And in this war, there can never be a winner. Just losers and spoils of war.
There is a saying that goes; forewarned is forearmed. So, keeping up with the emerging trends in cybersecurity will keep you on your toes. It is good if you understand the emerging complexities of web threats and the sophistication of defensive mechanisms to deal with these threats. and that is the business of the day. This article walks you through the top IT security trends that will define the course of our technology.
Cybersecurity Trends to Keep an Eye On
It is not easy to cover this whole topic in a single blog. We will need a whole eBook to exhaust everything. Come to think of it, there are hundreds of cyberthreats and defense mechanisms. And each one of them has evolved and will keep on doing so. For the sake of this blog, we have looked at the top and significant trends. Read on to find out more.
1. The Dawn of AI and Machine Learning
The global artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity market has seen an astounding growth trajectory, with its size reaching a remarkable USD 17.4 billion in 2022. Projections by Precedence Statistics indicate an even more compelling future, as the market is anticipated to skyrocket to approximately USD 102.78 billion by 2032. This reflects a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.43% between 2023 and 2032. This unprecedented growth is not without reason.
The ability of AI and ML to analyse colossal datasets at speeds far beyond human capability has changed the way we approach cyber threats. From predictive analytics to real-time threat detection, these technologies empower cybersecurity professionals to identify patterns and anomalies indicative of potential security breaches.
Now, please understand that AI and Machine Learning (ML) are not exclusive to defenders. They have also become integral to the arsenal of cybercriminals. Cybercriminals have recognized the massive power of AI tools. They use them to automate tasks, adapt to defensive measures, and launch more sophisticated attacks. A good case in point is the AI-driven phishing attacks. These attacks can craft highly personalized and convincing messages tailored to exploit individual vulnerabilities. As we said earlier, it is a competition, and a fierce one for that matter.
2. Cybersecurity In the Clouds
Cloud computing is here to stay. It has revolutionized the manner in which we store our data. But with this revolution comes susceptibility. An aspect highlighted by the 2022 Thales Data Report: Global Edition is the prevalence of unencrypted sensitive data in the cloud. Of the nearly 2,800 respondents surveyed, 83% indicated that at least half of their sensitive data remains unencrypted while stored in the cloud. This opens up the clouds for a heavy storm of cyberthreats and gets the IT experts on their toes to create shelters to protect themselves from cloud-computing threats.
One prominent trend in cloud computing cybersecurity is the rise of cloud-native security solutions. These are solutions tailored specifically for cloud environments. Even as organizations continue to embrace cloud services and infrastructure, there is a rising demand for security tools and platforms designed to address the unique security challenges of cloud computing. If you are a cloud computing enthusiast, expect to see continued innovation in areas such as cloud security posture management, workload protection, and container security.
Furthermore, the adoption of Zero Trust principles is gaining momentum in cloud security strategies. Traditionally, security models relied on perimeter-based defenses, assuming that everything inside the network could be trusted. However, the dynamic and distributed nature of cloud environments necessitates a shift towards a Zero Trust approach, where access controls are based on identity verification and continuous authentication, regardless of the user’s location or network perimeter.
3. The Risks of the IoT and 5G Era
We are in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G connectivity. This era promises much hyperconnectivity and brings with it a host of security challenges and risks. According to the mid-year update to the 2023 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report, in the first six months of 2023, IoT malware globally was up by 37%, resulting in a total of 77.9 million attacks, compared to 57 million attacks in the first six months of 2022.
As the number of IoT devices deployed across different sectors, such as smart homes and cities, industrial and healthcare systems, among others, increases to billions, the attack surface for cyber threats grows exponentially. One of the main issues is the increasing number of IoT devices that are vulnerable and have inadequate security controls. This makes them attractive targets for cybercriminals who want to compromise networks, steal data, or launch massive DDoS attacks.
In addition, the emergence of 5G technology brings new security challenges. In 2018, the global 5G security market reached approximately 0.44 billion U.S. dollars. With the rapid rollout of 5G networks globally, the 5G security market is forecast to grow at a phenomenal rate in the near future. The high speed, high bandwidth, and low latency of 5G networks allow various innovative applications and services. On the other hand, the decentralized nature of 5G networks, along with virtualization and SDN technologies, introduces new attack surfaces and problems for network security.
To counter these new threats, organizations and cybersecurity professionals need to take a proactive and holistic approach to securing IoT and 5G. This entails the implementation of strong security features such as device authentication, encryption, and access controls, and the deployment of sophisticated threat detection and mitigation systems to counter emerging cyber threats.
4. The Adoption of SSL Certificate Soars
Website users are becoming more vigilant. No website visitor can visit a website they deem insecure. Statistics prove this fact right. According to the Google Transparency Report, 93.2% of Chrome browsing time now dedicated to secure HTTPS pages. This trend has made website owners do all they can to equip their websites with SSL certificates. As a result, the certificate authority market is projected to witness substantial growth, with estimates suggesting it will reach $282 million by 2028.
For website owners, this trend is a wakeup to put all necessary measures in place and adopt HTTPS. And talking of trends in SSL as a tool of cybersecurity, most web admins are giving much preference to versatile options such as multi-domain SSL certificates. Multi-domain SSL certificates offer the flexibility to secure multiple domains and subdomains within a single certificate. These certificates have the ability to protect up to hundreds of domains under one SSL certificate. With them, organizations can streamline their security management while ensuring comprehensive protection for their web assets.
This versatility is particularly advantageous for businesses with diverse online presence, such as e-commerce sites, SaaS platforms, and large enterprises with multiple brands or regional websites. And it is this versatility that explains their wide adoptions within the cybersecurity sphere. The best thing is that there are lots of CAs and resellers that offer cheap multi-domain SSL certificates. So users do not have to worry about paying an arm and a leg for them.
5. Cybersecurity in the Remote Working Sphere
Most companies are going the remote working way. And hackers are shifting their attention on remote workers too. The number of cyberattacks on remote workers has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic, with incidents rising by an 238%. The sudden move to remote work due to worldwide lockdowns and social distancing measures opened up new avenues for cybercriminals to take advantage of weaknesses in home networks, personal devices, and remote collaboration tools. Cyber threats have targeted remote workers from phishing and malware attacks to unauthorized access and data breaches.
The first challenge that is associated with remote cybersecurity is a decentralized nature of remote work environments. Remote workforces are distributed across various locations and networks and use a combination of personal and company-owned devices, unlike traditional office environments that have centralized IT infrastructure and security controls. This poses special challenges for IT and security teams charged with maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of corporate data and systems in an increasingly decentralized and fluid environment.
6. Social Media Security
Social media security has become increasingly critical. I have been a victim of social media attacks. My Facebook account was brought down to its knees sometime back in 2018. I might have been careless with my account’s security but I am not the only. About 1.4 billion social media accounts are hacked each month. And this trend isn’t stopping any day soon. Because cybercriminals target users for data theft, identity fraud, and phishing scams, users need to be careful. Using powerful privacy settings, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and using strong and unique passwords can protect personal information.
7. Next-Level Social Engineering Attacks
Social engineering attacks such as phishing and spear phishing have been around for some time. But they just got better. These attacks range from highly-sophisticated phishing emails to impersonation scams that target trust and take advantage of weaknesses. Increased vigilance, ongoing training, and suspicion of unsolicited communications are necessary defenses against such threats.
8. The Dawn of Automotive Hacking
The advent of connected vehicles and autonomous technology has given birth to automotive hacking as a major issue. The latest reports have highlighted the worrying increase in automotive hacking cases. The number of automotive API attacks increased by an alarming 380% in 2022, making up 12% of all cyber incidents in the automotive industry. Although OEMs work hard to implement sophisticated IT cybersecurity measures, these attacks continue to grow, creating serious security problems for the industry’s landscape.
Cyberattacks on vehicle systems can lead to catastrophic results such as remote hijacking and physical injury. Manufacturers need to focus on cybersecurity in design and implementation, while users should remain alert to possible weaknesses.
9. State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare
Now, this one is interesting. Ever heard of state sponsored cyber warfare? It is a trend that will most likely be more conspicuous in the near future.
In 2021, The White House and its western allies accused the Chinese government of working with criminal gangs in planning large-scale cyber attacks. Among these attacks was one that targeted Microsoft earlier in the year, affecting hundreds of thousands of organizations.
These accusations came at the same time as the US Justice Department revealed an indictment. The indictment claimed that four Chinese nationals, linked to the Ministry of State Security, conducted a separate campaign. This was a campaign that involved infiltrating companies, universities, and government bodies in the US and abroad between 2011 and 2018. This is according to cyber threats reported by Financial Times.
State-sponsored cyber warfare is a serious threat to national security and global stability. Nations conduct cyber espionage, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns to gain strategic advantages. Increased collaboration between governments, effective cybersecurity measures, and diplomatic initiatives are required to address the threats of state-sponsored cyber attacks.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity trends present both challenges and opportunities for individuals and organizations. From the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning by both hackers and defense systems, 5G network and IoT-related threats, to the dawn of state sponsored cyber warfare and remote working threats, each trend emphasizes the need for a proactive approach. This article has spelled out some of the biggest cybersecurity trends we should expect in 2024 and the years to come.
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