Companies adapting to evolving cyber threats
In the wake of the global pandemic, the cybersecurity landscape has undergone a significant transformation. According to recent data, spam has increased a staggering 6000% since March 2020, and data breaches have risen 175% over the same period last year.
One of the most significant threats to enterprises today is the underestimation and failure to address cybersecurity across all systems. With the rise of cloud deployments, threats targeting cloud integration and management interfaces, exposed orchestration layers, and default-open system deployments are also on the rise.
The shift to remote work has made employees easier targets for phishing and traditional attacks. Security teams lack the same level of visibility into devices used by employees working remotely, which compounds the problem.
The adoption of new technology and services, coupled with a lack of time and expertise by IT, creates opportunities for cyberthreats. More organizations are adopting SaaS services, but IT administrators have less time to effectively manage and secure their SaaS environment.
Human behavior is a significant risk to cybersecurity, especially with the increase in remote jobs. Sixty-seven percent of businesses anticipate that remote work will remain permanent or long term. This trend is evident in Germany's business and healthcare sectors, where some organizations have expanded or introduced universal work-from-home policies.
The convergence of IT/OT and physical systems requires a new, holistic approach to cybersecurity for effective protection against changing dynamics across the threat landscape. Industrial IoT (IIoT) is an emerging target for attacks, and IT and OT security professionals need to understand and be prepared to defend against the growing threat of IIoT attacks.
Organizations are trying to maximize their existing investments to secure the growing dependence on SaaS, but this approach yields limited returns. Continuously monitoring SaaS deployments for threats and acting in real time when unauthorized behaviors are detected is important for cybersecurity. Cloud workload protection tools can help in this regard.
However, many employees are using personal computers while working from home, and security protocols for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) are largely undefined. This presents a new challenge for organizations to address.
The coronavirus pandemic has not only led to a shift in cyberthreats infiltrating organizations but has also been exploited by phishing emails. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant and follow best practices to protect themselves and their organizations from these threats.
In conclusion, the cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, and organizations must adapt to these changes to protect their systems and data. This includes understanding the risks associated with remote jobs, the adoption of SaaS services, and the growing threat of IIoT attacks. By continuously monitoring their SaaS deployments, addressing the risks associated with BYOD, and adopting a holistic approach to cybersecurity, organizations can mitigate these risks and ensure the security of their systems.
