The cyber threat landscape in 2022

Last year saw more cyber-attacks take place than ever seen before, with a surge of 105% in ransomware attacks alone. Cybercriminals are becoming ever more sophisticated and slyer in their attempt to steal your private data, so you need to be prepared.

To keep pace with the fast-paced digital world, we need to ask and answer new types of questions about cybersecurity. What are the top cybersecurity trends in 2022? What are the top cybersecurity predictions? And how can you plan for the future?

Biggest cyber threats to businesses

The attack on business networks and systems is what drives most of the trends in the cybersecurity landscape. In 2021, ransomware dominated headlines and threatened the security of critical infrastructure, businesses, and government agencies.

Advanced persistent threat groups still pose a serious threat to businesses of all sizes. These cybercriminals are skilled at infiltrating networks and exfiltrating sensitive information, such as emails, documents, usernames, and passwords.

Malware trends

Malicious software is designed to disrupt computer functionality. It can be a virus, worm, spyware, or Trojan horse.

It’s not just your computer that gets infected with malware – it can also infect your mobile device or tablet. Tools like malware detection, phishing protection, and antivirus software can help to combat malware threat.

Growing phishing threats

Phishing emails remain one of the most popular techniques used in social-engineering attacks. These emails pose as legitimate messages from trusted companies, such as a bank or a tech support company.

It is crucial that organisations train employees to identify and avoid falling for these types of attacks. In addition, it is important to monitor and enforce policies that limit the distribution of sensitive emails. This includes limiting the distribution of sensitive emails to only authorised recipients.

Ransomware risks

Ransomware encrypts data on a drive or in a computer and then demands payment in exchange for a key to decrypt the data. Ransomware is difficult to prevent, but it is important to keep track of the domains hosting your software and data.

In some cases, a cyberattack may require a ransom payment in order to obtain the key. However, in other cases, the key may be freely distributed by the attacker. In either case, it is important to have a strategy in place in case of a ransomware incident. This includes having a plan for how to respond if a ransom is paid.

The impact of data breaches

The severity of these data breaches is a growing concern for many companies, especially those in the financial sector. Data breaches can have a devastating effect on businesses of all sizes and industries, causing them legality issues, fines, reputational hits, and customer losses.

In 2019, Australian unicorn Canva suffered a data breach that impacted 137 million of its users. The cybercriminals stole data related to email addresses, payment data, passwords, and more.

Cloud security

Cloud adoption has grown dramatically in the last few years. The benefits of using the cloud to host business applications, such as increased agility, scalability and availability, are well documented. However, cybersecurity has been an area of significant concern for cloud providers.

In many cases, the security of data in the cloud remains a major concern. Data in the cloud is often stored in centralised locations, making it more vulnerable to cyberattacks. It’s estimated that 40% of businesses have suffered a data breach in the past year.

The importance of cyber vigilance

Cybersecurity is a continuous battle that requires vigilance and constant monitoring. It is crucial to keep an eye on the cybersecurity landscape and stay informed about the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

Businesses prepared for an incident are much less likely to suffer a breach. This includes keeping networks and systems up-to-date with the latest security patches and implementing strong password policies. It is also important to train employees on the proper use of corporate resources, such as laptops and mobile devices.

Adopting a security posture

The security posture of a business depends on a number of factors, including the type of data that needs to be protected, the level of protection required, and the level of risk that each action or behaviour may bring.

Your business’ security posture can be determined by assessing the risks presented by all of the assets composing the network. This includes the software and hardware used, the networks that exist, and the types of connections in use.

Employee training and awareness

In order to protect sensitive data, it is important to educate employees on the proper use of resources. This includes educating users on laptop and mobile device best practices, as well as educating employees on the risks posed by popular cyberattacks.

Employees should also be made aware of the proper use of passwords and encryption. Incorporating security awareness training into the corporate culture can go a long way in educating employees on the risks posed by common cyberattacks.

Stay secure with the cybersecurity experts

2022 is a critical year for cybersecurity. It is crucial for businesses to stay informed about emerging cybersecurity trends and to adopt an appropriate security posture.

Whether you need cloud security, vulnerability management, penetration testing, or any other cybersecurity service and support, the security specialists at Essential Tech have all the tools, knowledge, and experience to keep your business secure.