Cybersecurity Trends 2022: What to Expect
Between 2021 and 2025, experts predict that worldwide cybersecurity expenditures will reach over $1.75 trillion cumulatively. This is because it’s one of the quickest growing sectors in the informational age.
Moreover, recent attacks have proved to be a danger to people’s safety and personal data.
However, what will happen in the world of digital security in 2022?
As you read through this guide, you’ll learn how this year will transform cybersecurity trends. These trends will affect the world on a relatively small and massive scale. Afterward, you’ll have a better understanding of what to watch out for and how to keep your information safe online.
Top 9 Cybersecurity Trends in 2022
Due to increased cloud security and other measures set in place to deter hackers, times have changed. Cybercriminals have had to engage in their own problem-solving. Potential attackers have transformed their habits and how they go about stealing information.
Throughout this section, we’ll cover various vulnerabilities, security regulations. Moreover, we will discuss how cybersecurity will affect the corporate world in general.
1. Increased Security Threats From Ransomware
Ransomware involves locking files behind unbreakable cryptography on an infected device. Hackers will usually threaten to destroy the files if their demands aren’t met. Moreover, hackers may claim that they’ll publish private company data.
Attackers will usually deploy ransomware via phishing attacks or using infected USB devices.
These attacks can cripple vital infrastructure. However, they can be prevented. But organizations must employ safeguards against infected devices and education regarding phishing attacks. For example, several water treatment facilities in the US were hit with ransomware attacks. As a result of these attacks, hackers tried to raise the sodium hydroxide levels in the water by 11,000%.
2. Internet of Things Vulnerabilities
With a growing number of internet of things (IoT) devices, more criminals will search for opportunities. These could include finding weak points and gaining access to digital systems.
For example, more attackers can access smart appliances and remotely control them.
Throughout 2022, we’ll likely see more takeovers of smart home devices and an increase in personal data theft. However, we’ll likely see more companies weave better security into their products.
3. More Security Regulations To Take Effect
Due to an increase in cyber-attacks, more organizations may begin to take online security seriously. One example of what they could do involves having harsher penalties for security slipups.
Moreover, they may also have harsher penalties for companies that lack cyber resilience.
4. AI-Powered Threat Intelligence Detection
As AI develops, there have been more successful cybersecurity applications for it. AI can thwart attacks by observing patterns and identifying an unordinary event. Best of all, it can monitor thousands of events per second.
Because of the way AI works, hackers will have fewer opportunities to overwhelm an entity’s digital infrastructure.
Moreover, almost two-thirds of businesses believe that this Ai can potentially prevent and identify attacks.
5. Company Security Will Influence Business Partnerships
If a company has weak security, its weakness could leak into a partnering company and expose more data. Because of this, more businesses will reconsider their partnerships. For instance, they may use cybersecurity resilience to gauge whether a partner is safe.
Whether it’s a supplier, an online service provider, or anyone who handles a company’s users’ data. Moreover, more standards like Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into effect.
Because of this, more companies will find themselves under pressure to ensure they adhere to guidelines. Otherwise, they may face harsh penalties.
6. Geo-targeted Phishing Attacks
Geo-targeting uses a user’s location to display content based on their location. Nowadays, hackers can purchase software from other hackers. They can use it in tandem with phishing attacks to target information that links your computer to your location.
An attacker can use this information to target, for example, a bank in a specific region.
7. Cloud-based Cybercriminals
This year, we’ll likely see more attackers mimic DevSecOps. DevSpecOpts is a shortened version of development, security, and operations. It primarily scans systems for security vulnerabilities. Moreover, it performs threat modeling and additional means to help catch security flaws.
Cybercriminals will infiltrate these tools and target DevSpecOpts code. That way, existing tools have a harder time finding vulnerabilities. This also lets hackers access an enterprise’s network without being noticed.
8. Social Engineering Scams Will Continue
One type of attack that will continue as usual is social engineering scams. They’ve worked in the past and continue to work due to a lack of awareness and preventative measures.
However, the one part that will change with these scams is that the scammers will modernize their approach. With clip-based content and live streaming growth, we’ll likely see more scammers building content in these mediums.
9. Will Generate More Government Interest
Attacks in recent years, like the one on the Colonial Pipeline, have attracted the attention of global governments. Another area that has grabbed their attention is disinformation campaigns that have influenced elections.
Because of these events, governments will roll out initiatives to protect entities from attacks. As more governments upgrade their infrastructure, private organizations will likely follow suit.
Are You Taking the Right Cybersecurity Precautions?
An increasing change of cybersecurity trends has changed the ways businesses and governments operate. Whether it’s more regulations or changing how entities handle users’ data.
Do you worry that your company’s IT infrastructure may be susceptible to an attack? Talk to an expert. Get a vulnerability assessment before someone attacks your system.