For all of the astounding technological developments over the last decade, there’s still one thing the computer can’t accomplish: predicting the future. But as we usher in the new year, we also usher in a new wave of possibilities for the cybersecurity industry, and experts still have speculations abound.
Technology advancing in leaps and bounds in the 2010s means that standards for cybersecurity will face a drastic shift. Gone are the days of “traditional” security practices; cybercriminals are becoming increasingly creative in their approaches, and the industry must match their creativity with innovative new strategies, skills, and alliances.
New Year, New Threats
Tech analyst Forrester predicts that one anticipated obstacle to cybersecurity, the deepfake (or audiovisual alteration using artificial neural networks), could cost businesses as much as $250 million in the coming year. Both shares and sales could be profoundly impacted by convincing deepfakes, depending on the extent of their scope.
Along with the development of deepfakes comes the risk of deepfake phishing. A few recent, isolated cases of fraud saw cybercriminals using AI to reproduce the voices of CEOs and initiate money transfers, and experts worry that the ruses may become increasingly elaborate, down to video chats with deepfaked company higher-ups.
As the Internet of Things expands to even the most mundane of office machinery, security teams will have to open their minds to protect new devices and applications in the workspace. The rise of 5G, another security concern, will increase the capacity of Internet connection and in turn, widen the routes for cybercriminals to hack into company mainframes.
Still, just because technology is taking a far wilder and weirder stance in our world doesn’t mean we can forget about the basics. Weak passwords, neglected software patches, and ill-configured cloud databases continue to be key risk factors for organizations nationwide.
A new year may mean thinking ahead for your company’s cybersecurity, but remember that sometimes the biggest threats sit right under our noses, and it’s your responsibility to weigh past, present, and future risks and create a balanced strategy to keep your data safe.
Make Your Resolutions
How will you enter into this new decade? 2020 is an opportunity to redefine your approach to cybersecurity, and you have the power to assemble the latest and greatest strategies on the market.
BAI Security’s Red Team Assessment combines cybersecurity assessments, penetration testing, and a full-scope attack simulation into one cohesive virtual assessment, including these key attack methods:
- Assessment of real-world threat vectors
- Circumvent security systems and controls
- Compromise perimeter/internal systems
- Establish persistent internal connections
- Gain network user account access
- Gain elevated privilege (admin) access
- Identify key systems and databases
- Establish backdoor access to key systems
- Capture sensitive data for validation
To ring in the new year with an exciting new realm of possibilities, contact us today.