Top Cybersecurity Trends in 2024 Requiring Urgent Readiness from Everyone

As we approach the end of the upcoming year, it is anticipated that the global economy will face cyber attacks with a projected cost exceeding $10.5 trillion. This substantial figure underscores the growing imperative of treating cybersecurity as a strategic priority at the individual, organizational, and governmental levels.

Similar to other sectors in business and technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to bring about significant transformations in both offensive and defensive cyber strategies. Its influence is expected to extend across all the trends discussed here.

In recent years, there has been a notable acceleration in technological advancements across various domains, and the realm of cyber threats is no exception. As the saying goes, being informed is the first line of defense. So, read on to discover my predictions for the cybersecurity trends that demand heightened vigilance as we enter 2024.

The Persistent Shortage of Cybersecurity Expertise

The persistent shortage of professionals possessing the essential skills to safeguard organizations from cyber threats remains a prominent concern in 2024. Regrettably, this situation seems to be deteriorating. Research indicates that a majority (54 percent) of cybersecurity experts believe that the impact of the skills deficit on their organizations has worsened over the past two years. To address this issue, we can anticipate ongoing efforts to involve increased remuneration for individuals with the requisite expertise, along with greater investments in training, development, and upskilling programs.

Widespread Integration of Generative AI on Both Offense and Defense

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances at an astonishing rate, we can anticipate witnessing increasingly sophisticated and intelligent AI-driven cyber attacks. These encompass a spectrum of activities, from deceptive deepfake social engineering endeavors to malware that adapts intelligently to evade detection. Concurrently, AI will aid in the detection, evasion, or mitigation of threats through real-time anomaly recognition, intelligent authentication, and automated incident response. In the context of cyber warfare in 2024, AI is akin to the queen on a chessboard, capable of conferring significant strategic advantages to those who wield it skillfully.

Advanced Phishing Tactics on the Horizon

Social engineering attacks aimed at duping users into granting unauthorized access to systems will see heightened sophistication. The proliferation of Generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, will empower more attackers to execute more intelligent and personalized approaches. Deepfake attacks are expected to become increasingly prevalent. Addressing this trend will primarily involve raising awareness and educating the entire organization, but the role of AI and zero-trust approaches will also expand.

Elevated Importance of Cybersecurity in the Boardroom

In 2024, cybersecurity evolves into a strategic imperative that can no longer be confined to the IT department. Gartner’s projection suggests that by 2026, approximately 70 percent of corporate boards will include at least one member possessing expertise in this field. This shift enables organizations to transition from reactive defense to proactive readiness, opening the door to seizing new business opportunities.

IoT Vulnerabilities in Cybersecurity

As the number of interconnected devices communicating with one another and accessing the internet increases, the potential entry points for cyber attackers multiply. With the ongoing remote work trend, the risk persists of employees connecting or sharing data through inadequately secured devices. Often, these devices prioritize ease of use and convenience over security, while consumer IoT devices in home settings may be susceptible due to weak security measures and passwords. The tardiness of the industry in implementing IoT security standards, despite the long-standing awareness of vulnerabilities, maintains IoT as a cybersecurity weak point, though efforts are underway to change this.

Transition from Cybersecurity to Cyber Resilience

Two terms frequently used interchangeably, cybersecurity and cyber resilience, will see their differentiation grow in importance during 2024 and beyond. While cybersecurity primarily focuses on preventing attacks, the growing emphasis on resilience within organizations acknowledges the reality that even the most robust security measures cannot guarantee 100 percent protection. Resilience strategies aim to ensure business continuity in the event of a successful breach. Developing the ability to recover swiftly, minimize data loss, and reduce downtime will emerge as a strategic priority in 2024.

Scaling Back on Zero Trust

The core tenet of zero trust, which is the perpetual need for verification, undergoes transformation as systems grow in complexity and security integration becomes an integral part of business strategy. Zero trust asserts that there is no inherent perimeter within which network activity can be automatically considered safe. As the threat landscape evolves, this principle extends beyond the confines of the corporate network to encompass remote workers, affiliated organizations, and IoT devices. In 2024, zero trust shifts from merely a technical network security model to an adaptive and all-encompassing approach, made feasible through continuous AI-powered real-time authentication and ongoing activity monitoring.

State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare and Cyber Attacks

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, now entering its third year, has laid bare the extent to which states are prepared and capable of employing cyber attacks against both military and civilian infrastructure in 2024. It’s a reasonable assumption that future military operations worldwide will be accompanied by cyber warfare activities. Common tactics involve phishing attacks aimed at infiltrating systems for the purposes of disruption and espionage, along with distributed denial-of-service attacks to incapacitate communication networks, public services, transportation, and security infrastructure.

Rising Importance of Soft Skills for Cybersecurity Professionals

In 2024, cybersecurity professionals will confront increasingly complex responsibilities as the threat landscape becomes more sophisticated. This expansion doesn’t exclusively pertain to technical aspects; those responsible for countering cyber threats will also find themselves handling intricate social and cultural aspects of threat mitigation. This will result in a greater reliance on soft skills, including effective communication, relationship building, and problem-solving.

Source : https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/10/11/the-10-biggest-cyber-security-trends-in-2024-everyone-must-be-ready-for-now/?ss=cybersecurity&sh=468d16055f13