In 2022, cybersecurity is more important than ever before. It seems as if we’ve shifted many aspects of our lives to the online realm, which is something that cybercriminals have noticed as well. No matter what you do for a living, cybersecurity should be one of your top priorities, so here are some 2022 trends to keep in mind.
Phishing attacks are on the rise
One big issue that we’re facing is phishing attacks. They have been around for a while but many people still don’t know how to recognize them and prevent getting compromised. This is especially the case when it comes to big companies as someone is bound to click on a tricky link that looks legitimate and create a breach. Regardless of whether someone is using their personal computer or a work one, getting caught up in a phishing scam can easily lead to stolen data, which is not something that should be taken lightly. In addition to phishing, credential theft is another common occurrence. As a matter of fact, these mechanisms are often combined so companies are investing more in vulnerability assessments and risk scoring to minimize the damage. However, cybercriminals know better than to go after vulnerabilities and they target users with phishing and social engineering. Training employees and learning how to recognize scams is of utter importance in order to stay safe.
It’s not just companies that are being targeted
While targeting companies is still on the cybercriminals’ agenda, they are also turning towards regular people. This type of cyberattack gained traction in 2021 but has continued into 2022. Even though these attacks typically require humans to click a link or enter their financial info to succeed, they still manage to trick a large number of people.
Work-from-anywhere jobs present a new challenge
The option to work from home has been very beneficial during these pandemic times, but it is slowly but surely turning into a work-from-anywhere situation. That means that instead of working in the comfort of their own home, where people can ensure they have a safe internet connection, many individuals are working on the go when on the train, at the airport, or in any café they find themselves in. The problem that this comes with is that there is no widespread network of safe Wi-Fi connections. People often opt for any network they can find to finish their work on time, without any VPN or antimalware program that would keep them safe. Cybercriminals know how to make the most of this opportunity and even specifically create new Wi-Fi hotspots in order to target unsuspecting people. What is more, this is not only about humans but the internet of things technology as well. More and more devices are connecting to wireless networks without people even realizing it. This creates a perfect environment for cybercriminals. To lower the chances of an attack, it’s vital to put all possible preventative measures in place and adopt some new safety practices.
Ransomware comes with high costs
According to some estimates, ransomware costs will be as high as $265 billion by 2031, which shouldn’t be a surprise as an attack happens about every two seconds. These extortion practices come with an average price of $761,000 per incident. Cybercriminals target smaller companies and ask for smaller amounts of money but quite often, seeing as how they know that these organizations are willing to pay in order to not lose data and their reputation. In time, these sums can even increase as attackers are aware of the power they hold as the victims rarely take action to prevent these.
Virtual events also have to be properly secured
Companies have been resorting to virtual events more and more, as they are sometimes more practical, even without the whole pandemic. However, they do come with their share of risks. They are more susceptible to cyberattacks seeing as how most companies tend to trust the company they use for hosting their event. Therefore, it’s vital to look for a reputable platform for organizing webinars that will not only ensure everyone is safe but also offer various useful insights as well as leads. It’s good to consult with service providers to see how they can benefit a business.
In-house teams are overburdened and understaffed
Many companies decide to have an in-house team that will handle their security. However, it often happens that they don’t properly prepare and equip employees for these tasks. They are not willing to invest in their ongoing education in order to be up to date with the latest scams and technologies and they are usually not ready to hire more employees that will help shoulder the burden. With that in mind, it might be easier and safer to outsource this task to trustworthy cyber security specialists that will ensure everything from vulnerability assessment and phishing simulations to incident response and continuity planning is covered.
The cloud is in high demand
The migration to the cloud is nothing new. Many companies have been implementing it into their everyday operations, especially since the pandemic started as it allows them to support remote workers as well. Additionally, larger companies are using multi-cloud, aka using multiple cloud systems for their data, in order to minimize downtime. This practice will surely continue well after 2022. That being said, with this trend also comes the issue of cloud-based breaches, as 40% of companies suffered some sort of incident in 2021. Cybercriminals are now also focusing on cloud systems as there is oftentimes not much security in the infrastructure. It is quite possible that we will see an attack on public cloud vendors in 2022.
Not all is lost
However, it must be said that just as cybercriminals are aware of certain vulnerabilities, so are those working on their defenses. Companies that specialize in cybersecurity are working on software that will detect threats in real-time and produce automated response capabilities.
While there are many ways how cybercriminals can threaten our personal and financial information, it’s good to know that there are still ways of staying safe. Learn the best practices when it comes to recognizing scams and turn to professionals when you need something more advanced.
