When we look back at the previous year, we find that cyberattacks were at an all-time high, with an increased number of data breaches. As we look toward the end of this year, one thing we can say for sure is that expectations remain unchanged: the ongoing cybersecurity war is unrelenting.
When it comes to cybersecurity, the best approach is a proactive one to identify threats, rather than the reactive stance so many misguided individuals adopt. In an environment with an ever-increasing security threat, relying on last year’s threat levels is no longer the right strategy.
Organizations need to be as forward-thinking as possible and consider a couple of years into the future. When we examine cybersecurity for this year, we encounter several unanswered questions. But one thing is certain: there will be numerous unexpected events that many individuals and organizations will be unprepared for. What new innovative technologies will take the lead in cybersecurity?
Which attack methods will cybercriminals favor most? And what approaches will organizations adopt to counter these threats? While companies ponder the most pressing cybersecurity concerns for this year, they must also remember to maintain a proactive approach.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the biggest cybersecurity predictions for this year to help both individuals and organizations stay one step ahead of criminals.
Ransomware Will Become More Destructive
Over the years, we’ve seen ransomware grow increasingly sophisticated, capable of evading even the most advanced security solutions. Today’s ransomware attacks can infiltrate top-tier security systems with enhanced mechanization and complexity, particularly through Trojan alterations.
Moreover, with current security solutions, it may take hours before ransomware is detected, often enough time for cybercriminals to inflict significant damage.
Phishing Attacks to Be a Big Concern
Security experts are constantly seeking solutions to the ever-rising tide of phishing attacks. Nowadays, most companies investing in email security do so to block the growing number of phishing attempts they face.
These attacks are expanding rapidly, with even seasoned professionals struggling to identify them all. A successful phishing attack today is more severe than ever before.
There’s a rising demand for technologies capable of detecting and blocking these attacks, especially when they’re delivered via email.
Fake News Will Become More Commonplace
This is something we’ll have to get used to. Companies like Twitter and Facebook have deployed systems such as AI (deep learning) to combat it, but these technologies remain inadequate, failing to detect the vast majority of fake news.
The primary issue is that these AI systems rely on historical data to determine whether a story is true or false, data that’s sometimes available but often not. As a result, false positives become common.
Unfortunately, attackers don’t care about these errors, while defenders do. When one fake campaign is detected, an attacker simply creates another.
For these AI systems to improve, we’ll need better deep learning, which should lead to more effective detection.
Automation of Cyber Threats
Traditional forms of automation are used sparingly and cautiously in cybersecurity due to the large amount of misleading information generated by this outdated technology. There’s also the problem of such systems hindering legitimate users from doing their work.
However, with the ever-increasing number and speed of cyberattacks, automation will need broader adoption. This automation must be trusted to prevent threats without causing harm in the process.
When adopted, it allows cybersecurity teams to spend far less time neutralizing attacks through labor-intensive methods. Over the next year or so, we predict an improvement in the efficiency of this new AI-driven technology.
This will be used to routinely detect and stop unusual attacks whenever there’s cause for concern.
Securing the Cloud Becomes Increasingly Important
A secure cloud will become critical for companies in the years ahead. Organizations aiming to gain a competitive edge will naturally migrate to the cloud, a trend already underway that will accelerate massively in the coming years.
Last year, many organizations ranked cloud services among their top three technology investment priorities. As more companies shift to the cloud, we can expect cybercriminals to intensify their focus on attack methods like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) and other strategies.
Passwords: Coming to an End
In the next year or so, passwords will reach their tipping point. The result? We’ll see far fewer of them, with many services offering alternative authentication methods.
However, this shift will prompt cybercriminals to redirect their efforts toward password-less technologies as they become more common.
Significant Increase in Cyber Insurance
Over the past year or so, we’ve seen more organizations forced into remote working, which has heightened their exposure to cyber risks. To protect themselves from the inevitable attacks they’re likely to face, companies will turn to cyber insurance.
Though not as widespread now, its popularity is already on the rise, and we can see this trend growing.
Final Thoughts
As we go deeper into this year, cybersecurity isn’t just about tech, it’s a race against time and new ideas. The predictions above show how fast things are changing, with criminals keeping up just as quickly as the good guys.
For people and companies, the big lesson is clear: don’t wait for an attack to hit. Staying ahead means using new tools, dropping old habits like passwords, and getting ready for surprises.
The future of cybersecurity isn’t about stopping every threat, it’s about being strong enough to recover when they happen.
Questions and Answers
Q: Why is ransomware getting worse?
A: Ransomware is trickier now with sneaky methods like Trojans. It slips past good security, and slow detection lets attackers do more damage.
Q: How can companies stop phishing attacks?
A: They should use email security tools to catch and block phishing, plus teach workers to spot weird emails since these attacks are tougher to notice.
Q: Can fake news ever be stopped completely?
A: Not soon. AI needs better info and learning to spot it, but attackers keep making new fake stories, so it’s a constant fight.
Q: Why is automating cybersecurity helpful?
A: Automation quickly finds and stops threats, saving time. It lets teams plan better instead of fixing things by hand, especially as attacks speed up.
