Top trends to watch out for in Cybersecurity in 2022

With the introduction of new-age technologies, the cybersecurity space is evolving and now offers better protection against data hacking attempts and malware attacks than ever.

With the ever-expanding horizon of data usage across industries, cybersecurity threats are also on the rise. Hackers are constantly trying to break into the systems and network infrastructures and in response, agencies are also pulling out all stops to remain a step ahead of these infiltrating attempts. We have discussed below some of the significant changes that are likely to shape the industry in coming times while helping it effectively counter the menace of data theft and information snooping.

1) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): The combination of AI and ML is proving instrumental in strengthening cybersecurity for firms cutting across industries and business categories. While AI is helping in identifying abnormal usage patterns, ML helps machines to imbibe these patterns to effectively block and safeguard against hackers and malware attempts.  Both these technologies are proving complementary to each other and their combined usage can go a long way in helping organizations effectively combat the menace of cyber threats.

2) Mobile Hacking: With mobile devices increasingly becoming a mainstream replacement for computers, laptops, and tablets, they are now the prime target of data hackers. From our personal information to bank account details to images, there are loads of sensitive information on our mobile phones, making these handheld devices top on the priority list of scammers. Keeping this enhanced threat perception in mind, cyber agencies have now refocused their efforts on solutions for smartphones and we can definitely expect some crucial developments in the field of mobile security in the coming months.

3) Distributed Cloud Technology: Cloud storage instantly became popular among firms belonging to a wide spectrum of industries. By letting firms outsource their storage requirements to big data companies, the technology saves a lot of resources for participating stakeholders in the value chain. However, the vulnerability of centralised cloud storage systems has increased over the years. Data hackers have found these centralized repositories a convenient target and as a response, companies have now concentrated their efforts on developing distributed cloud storage technology. The essence behind the idea is to significantly reduce the hacking threat by spreading cloud storage across different locations in the world. In such a scenario even if one data storage is hacked, other sources will not get impacted and remain safe and secure. The technology is fast catching up with the industry players and the likes of Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are working at a tremendous pace to excel in the technology of distributed cloud storage systems.

4) Targeted Ransomware Attacks: The prospect of making money fast is pushing many tech aficionados to indulge in illegal activity of ransomware attacks. Experts have noticed that now these attacks have become more targeted with a flurry of these choosing healthcare, IT, and big corporates as their prey. The healthcare industry is particularly vulnerable to ransomware attacks and no one can forget the WannaCry ransomware attack on the National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in the UK in 2017, leaving the entire healthcare system crippled and disrupted.  To keep these targeted attacks at bay, it’s required that the existing security of the data networks must go under a comprehensive transformation. No doubt, this requires a substantial investment on the part of the stakeholders although every penny that goes into strengthening the IT infrastructure of companies is worth it.

5) Country-Backed Cyberattacks: In order to establish their strategic dominance, countries across the globe are increasingly carrying out cyberattacks against their rivals. The raging geopolitical tensions between nations today have further coaxed governments to use cyber attacks as a prominent tool in their strategic arsenal. The year 2022 is expected to witness a large number of transnational cyberattacks and the intensity could be well over anticipation as elections are also due in many countries.

6) Roll out of 5G Technology: With the data speed all set to take a massive leap with the launch of 5G, experts warn that this could significantly enhance the cyber attacks on users of the technology. On the line of attack will be IoT devices as interactions between different gears make them vulnerable to hacking attempts. Further, the emerging nature of the technology means attackers can very well exploit its loopholes once its commercial applications go live in full force.

The nature and modus operandi of cyber threats has changed significantly in the last couple of years. The attacks are now more targeted, swift, and concentrated in terms of their geographical locations. This mandates that the entire ecosystem of the IT industry must come together to combat the new-age hackers and their nefarious designs. All stakeholders must focus on a collaborative approach so that formidable solutions can be invented to blunt cyber threats. The role of policymakers is equally crucial as they can help the industry in catalysing innovation and bringing new solutions to the market at a faster pace and with enhanced agility.

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