These are the Top Cybersecurity Challenges of 2021
Companies can no longer ignore their desperate need for cybersecurity against the constant threat of an IT network breach. Information security and data protection have quickly become a greater priority for these organizations regardless of size or location, especially with the rise of remote working and the influence of the Coronavirus.
As the world accelerates towards increased technological dependency, cybercrime rises to meet it. Most infrastructures are unfortunately vulnerable, as they are ill-equipped to defend against these attacks because of a lack of budget, resources, and collaborative efforts between policymakers. The following year will continue to see more issues within the IT networks, with these five being the top cybersecurity challenges of 2021:
Sophistication of Cybercrime
Not only is cybercrime on the rise and becoming more commonplace, but it is also improving its techniques and strategies. It has always been considered a low risk for criminals to engage in digital attacks since it is improbable that they will be detected and prosecuted by the government, especially if they threaten foreign companies. Experts estimate that barely 0.05% of cybercrime in the United States was brought before a court of law, and an even lower percentage in other countries.
There are no internationally accepted or established criteria for prosecuting cybercrime and seeing justice for a hacked company. These users operate through the dark web and use tactics to obscure their existence, making it extremely difficult for organisations to prove an individual is guilty. The strategies employed by these criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated and easily accessible so that anyone can take advantage of them. The affordability of these tools isn’t an indicator of their complexity–malicious services are only getting better with each passing year
Complexity of Digitalisation
The constant advancements in technology and digitalisation of nearly every industry pose a considerable risk to our critical infrastructure. It seems that every aspect of our lives is susceptible to cyberattacks, from our government elections to our healthcare systems. Strengthening IT security features is not only a requirement for individuals and corporations but governing bodies as well. We have reached a point in our digital world where cybersecurity is now the leading priority regarding our national security.
This digitalisation has allowed for the rapid development of artificial intelligence and advanced machinery while also increasing our dependency on this software. It is exceptionally challenging for governments to fight off cyberattacks when they come from so many different angles and affect various industries and infrastructures. They need to constantly adapt to and defend against criminals who are anonymous, skilled, and ubiquitous.
Supply Chain Issues
The internet is a closed ecosystem that is volatile and dependent on a few key parties. As the pandemic causes a massive shift towards remote work and people cry for more technological innovations, the stability of the IT infrastructure dwindles. Most of the world operates on servers and networks that belong to only a few influential organisations, which is a massive concern when you realise how extensive their reach is and how weak their protection is.
If criminals target any of these providers, it can seriously damage the rest of the supply chain. Nearly everyone is dependent on other parties for IT services–if a significant provider is exposed, it puts all others at risk, too. Hackers can easily find an access point within the digital supply chain due to the concentration of providers worldwide. The only solution is for these various teams to collaborate regardless of location or industry to ensure visibility and fortification of the IT defenses.
Data Protection Regulations
It is even more difficult for these providers to work together and defend against cybercriminals when they belong to different jurisdictions and countries. Every governing body has its own set of rules and data regulations, meaning these organisations need to navigate an increasing number of laws to protect themselves.
There can be different regulations even within a single country, as seen with the California Consumer Privacy Act. Although these laws are intended to protect users, they can have the opposite effect and weaken their IT defences due to the complexity of conflicting boundaries. They have to balance their budget, resources, and protection plan while trying to comply with these confusing laws. Once again, the solution for this issue rests with policymakers and their ability to cooperate with different authoritative bodies and create protections that don’t harm the organisations they’re claiming to help.
Few Experienced Professionals
Despite the growing digitalisation of the world and the increase in cybercrime, there is still a lack of experienced professionals working in IT security. This career field is relatively new and doesn’t have workers to keep up with the demand. It is very challenging for companies to find qualified expertise and retain them as they compete with other organisations for these employees. However, developing a strong IT team is necessary to ensure a solid and successful infrastructure in the face of rapidly growing ransomware.
Organisations can combat the lack of professional security experts by cultivating the talent themselves and training in-house. They should take advantage of the situation and utilise the knowledge from veteran IT technicians to help build up the next generation of workers. These newcomers are willing to learn and can improve a brand’s reputation for its training results. Instead of struggling to find cybersecurity experts, companies should consider moulding their own.
Organisations must continue to be proactive against cyber threats and prepare themselves for attacks. It is best to accept ahead of time that your company might fall prey to criminals so that you can set up adequate recovery plans for the inevitable. You need to create and implement a plan to protect your infrastructure from severe damage in the event of ransomware or a hostile takeover. There is no ignoring this issue–cybersecurity is growing in importance and has quickly become of worldwide importance. Governments, corporations, and policymakers need to work together to secure the technological path and protect it against cybercrime.
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