In this second of two blogs on future cybersecurity threats, we explore some categories these threats fall within as well as a big picture look at the methods being used to defend against them.
Cyber Threat Categories
Most cyber threats encountered by organizations can be classified into four categories:
1. Industry-Specific Cyber Threats
Industries operating in certain sectors may be at greater risk of being targeted by a cyber-attack. Such industries may include the financial sector, central government and defense, logistics and transportation, social and health care, the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, the food industry, the media, and internet, energy production, and telephone services. In addition, the partner companies and subcontractors associated with these companies can be at greater risk of being targeted.
2. Universal Threats
Some Cyber threats are common to almost all industries—like invoice fraud, ransomware, and phishing. Employees can unintentionally open a malicious link, download malware, or fall for an offer too good to be true, leaving themselves and their organization open to a cyberattack.
3. Generic Threats Related to an Organization’s Operations
A company could be targeted because of the technology it uses, such as content management systems, e-commerce platforms, etc. In such cases, the attackers find a vulnerable web page or information system via an opportunistic search without actually caring about the organization’s line of business.
4. Targeted Attacks
The objective of a targeted attack is to give the attacker access to a specific organization’s systems or data. Possible motivations include gaining access to corporate secrets or personal data, influencing political decision-making or hacktivism, paralyzing critical functions such as energy production or the water supply, spreading fake news, or obtaining financial benefit, either directly or by blackmailing the victim.
Types of Defenses Against Future Cyber Threats
It’s clear to anyone who reads about the current cyber threat statistics, that we need to continue to push forward with various means to protect ourselves. Here are some of those methods:
Machine learning:
With the widespread adoption of machine learning, it is possible to detect newly created malware based on the characteristics of malware seen in previous attacks. Using this technology can decrease the labour cost of personnel performing cyber surveillance, and increase the efficiency with which businesses can defend themselves against cyber threats in the future.
Bug bounty programs:
Bug bounty programs offer rewards to anyone identifying or resolving bugs. The bug-finder wins and so does the organization that can now work on fixing the problem.
Testing or security audits:
Testing and security audits work by recruiting people to put the organization’s security system to the test. Just as there are unethical hackers, there are also ethical hackers to run penetration testing or security audits through which companies can identify mis-configurations and security vulnerabilities in systems and products before the cyber criminals discover them.
Protecting your organization from cyber criminals is not an option but a necessity. At BSC Solutions Group, we’ve developed the expertise to identify your risks and help you with a security strategy that fits your goals. Book your cyber security assessment now.
