Emerging Challenges in IT Security - Trends and Strategies to Protect Companies

May 13, 2024

Contemporary society is supported by the increasing amount of information that is generated on a daily basis. This information needs to be secure, both in its most diverse business environments and technologically. Therefore, IT security is essential to ensure that critical information, whether business or privacy-related, is protected efficiently and effectively, as it is an important asset for any organization.

In turn, the amount of information and its security are constantly being challenged by new ways and methods of accessing or blocking it. Remarkably, we are currently seeing a rise in the number of ransomware and social engineering (phishing) attacks, threats to the Internet of Things (IoT), DDoS attacks with 5G networks, among others, adding to the challenges that many companies face on a daily basis in managing issues related to cybersecurity and data storage in the cloud.

Growth of cyber threats

Cyber threats are constantly evolving and are driven by rapid technological innovation and the growing use of the internet in all sectors of society. The rapid evolution of technologies also means that cybercriminals' attack strategies and methods have become more complex, which has increased the sophistication and diversification of the threats faced by companies and society in general.

Emerging trends in cybersecurity threats

Ransomware attacks

Increasingly sophisticated, ransomware attacks remain a significant threat. The expectation for the future is that they will become even more refined, as cybercriminals increasingly refine their strategies, techniques and procedures, making these attacks more difficult to detect and contain.

Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT)

The increasing the number of connected devices makes them targets for cybercriminals, which consequently contributes to the growth of attacks on these ecosystems. The lack of robust security standards on many of these devices and their vulnerabilities make these systems more vulnerable to attack. In the future, we can expect a growth in the number of attacks targeting these smart devices, including security cameras, home appliances, wearables, among others.

Exploiting vulnerabilities in systems

As Artificial Intelligence becomes an increasingly integral part of various applications and services, cybercriminals are beginning to target specific vulnerabilities related to this technology. These attacks aim, for example, to manipulate machine learning models, altering the integrity of the results and compromising trust in AI-based solutions.

Cloud services

Attacks targeting a type of cloud environment or infrastructure are also on the rise. According to some analyses, we can expect more targeted attacks on cloud services, with an emphasis on breaches of sensitive data stored on these platforms. Cloud security is becoming an even greater priority for organizations.

Social engineering attacks

Phishing attacks, which tend to be more sophisticated, remain one of the most common forms of attack for cybercriminals. These scams become more advanced as they incorporate refined and personalized social engineering techniques. The ability to discern and avoid fraudulent emails and messages becomes an even more critical skill for all users, both business and domestic.

On the other hand, today's geopolitical situations continue to be a concern for cybersecurity, as possible state-sponsored cyberattacks in conflict scenarios are a reality. Tensions between nations persist and, as a result, the global cybersecurity community must remain vigilant in the face of possible attacks targeting critical infrastructure and sensitive information.

The development of real-time cyber attacks is also one of the growing and highly relevant trends. Automation and Artificial Intelligence are being used by attackers to develop, adjust and refine threats in real time, with the aim of bypassing the traditional and sometimes unsophisticated defences that many companies and other organizations still use. Real-time response and proactive detection of these threats will be essential to mitigate these dynamic attacks.

Use of emerging technologies in IT security

The growth of cyber threats suggests new and more sophisticated emerging IT security technologies.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

These technologies are being used to improve the detection and prevention of cyber threats in real time. They allow identifying suspicious behaviors, analyzing large volumes of data and automating responses to threats and attacks.

Zero trust security approach

This security strategy assumes that no one and nothing inside or outside the network should be trusted. This approach encourages continuous authentication and rigorous verification, limiting access only to those who need it, i.e., minimal privilege access.

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC)

In this area, the aim is to create encryption methods that cannot be broken by a quantum algorithm. With the evolution of technology and the promise of quantum computers capable of breaking traditional encryption algorithms, research into post-quantum cryptography aims to create systems that are resistant to these future threats, protecting the integrity and confidentiality of data.

Digital identity protection

Multi-factor authentication, the use of trusted digital identities and biometrics are becoming increasingly important in the fight against identity theft, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to their systems.

Collaboration and the timely sharing of information on cyber threats between various organizations and sectors is becoming an increasingly common form of collaboration. This sharing of information and knowledge allows for a more efficient, rapid and effective response, as organizations can benefit from collective experience in detecting and mitigating new threats.

Cybersecurity is a constant and ongoing battle between users and cybercriminals. As technology evolves, new challenges emerge, but so do new approaches and solutions. It is essential that all individuals and organizations are aware of these trends and adapt quickly and constantly to protect their digital assets - their information, in an ever-changing cyber environment.

We can say that there are four spaces where criminals can operate. Land, sea and air - created by nature itself - and the man-made cyberspace that surrounds all the others.

Just as Edward Snowden wrote "Massive Surveillance Permanent Record", I would say that nowadays, each of us must have active surveillance and permanent action in the face of the cyber threats we face