The rapidly evolving digital landscape keeps introducing new threats making it essential for security leaders to keep their organizations protected while embracing digital transformation. According to Forrester’s Security Survey conducted in 2022, 74% of security decision-makers reported their organizations’ sensitive data potentially compromised or breached in the past year. In an era dominated by digital connectivity and technological advancement, the protection of sensitive information has never been more critical. Read on to learn the top five cybersecurity threats that organizations face today and how to mitigate them.
AI will pose a top cybersecurity threat
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT has brought AI’s use and abuse into the mainstream. Adversaries now have access to AI-powered tools that enable them to scale their attacks and exploit vulnerabilities in unprecedented ways. As organizations are more likely to source AI from vendors, there’s a growing need to understand how these vendors protect their AI models. Cybersecurity heavily relies on AI and machine learning for threat detection, making it crucial to scrutinize vendors’ security measures.
If organizations are developing AI internally, security leaders must shift their focus from how technology transforms other areas of the business to how it affects security, risk, and privacy. This approach ensures that security teams can adapt to and secure any emerging technology while also embracing innovations that fundamentally change security operations.
Cloud security challenges
Cloud workloads are the backbone of modern IT infrastructure, but their adoption comes with security challenges due to the cloud’s vast footprint and complexity. The growth of different cloud computing and storage infrastructure options complicates security further. Successful organizations must establish robust cloud governance that mandates the integration of security instrumentation and tooling into all cloud workloads.
Nation-state threats increase
Cyber threats from nation-state actors have been a concern for some time, and in 2023, they are expected to escalate further, particularly targeting private enterprises. To defend against these attacks, security teams need to understand which nation-states are likely to target their organization and collaborate with risk management to prepare for geopolitical threats triggered by global events or market expansions.
Ransomware continues to affect organizations
Ransomware remains a persistent threat, with critical infrastructure often being the primary target. Threat actors have escalated their tactics by extorting customers of breached organizations, further tarnishing the victim’s reputation and trust. Combatting ransomware requires a multifaceted approach that combines proactive security measures with effective incident response protocols.
The evolution of social engineering
Social engineering, particularly business email compromise (BEC) attacks, has long been successful in targeting organizations. Traditional methods to combat these attacks are no longer sufficient. Organizations should adopt protocols like DMARC to reduce domain spoofing and focus on fostering a security culture among employees. Implementing human risk quantification solutions can help track changes in employee behavior over time and enable targeted interventions to enhance cybersecurity posture.
By staying vigilant, adapting to emerging technologies, and implementing robust security measures, security leaders can help their organizations strengthen defenses against an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Source: Forrester
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