Cybersixgill, a global provider of cybersecurity intelligence, has released its forecasts for cybersecurity trends for 2024 and beyond. The company’s experts anticipate a future shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, intricate regulatory demands, expanding attack surfaces, and heightened geopolitical challenges.
The significance of digital threat intelligence in guiding sound business decisions as organizations transition to proactive security approaches like Threat Exposure Management (TEM) is underscored by Cybersixgill.
AI’s Broad Influence on Cybersecurity
Cybersixgill’s first forecast delves into the escalating impact of AI on cybersecurity. The organization posits that the quality and reliability of data will dictate the efficacy of AI in safeguarding systems.
A future where AI becomes more accessible to practitioners of varying expertise levels is envisioned by the company. AI vendors are striving to enhance the depth and accuracy of outcomes, making AI a ubiquitous tool in security operations.
However, as AI adoption proliferates, concerns regarding data security are expected to mount. Cybersixgill predicts the emergence of governmental regulations in the U.S. and other countries by 2024, with more defined frameworks likely to surface in 2025 and beyond.
Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence
AI as a Dual-Edged Weapon in Attack Scenarios
Cybersixgill’s next projection raises red flags about the potential misuse of AI as a pivotal component in cybersecurity defenses. Threat actors are projected to leverage AI in orchestrating large-scale cyber assaults, orchestrating deceptive phishing campaigns, and crafting precise malicious content.
Malicious tactics such as data poisoning and exploiting AI model vulnerabilities are anticipated to gain traction, potentially leading to inadvertent exposure of sensitive data to unauthorized entities.
Moreover, a concerning trend dubbed shadow AI is predicted to emerge, wherein employees clandestinely employ AI tools sans corporate oversight, potentially resulting in data breaches, compromised accounts, and widened vulnerability gaps in organizational attack surfaces.
Heightened Corporate Responsibility Through Regulations
Regulatory frameworks are poised to heighten the accountability of senior executives for their firms’ security postures amidst escalating virtual threats, especially with the proliferation of attack vectors. To comply with stringent reporting mandates, companies may onboard cybersecurity experts onto their management boards.
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) mandates a set of security protocols to ensure the secure handling of credit card data. The impending PCI DSS 4.0 update is anticipated to impose additional reporting obligations on financial, healthcare, and funding entities by March 2024, intensifying the pressure to adhere to new compliance standards.
This regulatory shift is expected to fuel the demand for strategic threat intelligence, aiding organizations in risk management, vulnerability identification, and fortification of cybersecurity measures.
The Vital Role of CTI in Proactive Cybersecurity
Cybersixgill’s third prognosis accentuates the pivotal role of digital threat intelligence in amalgamating strategic cybersecurity with tool integration. Threat Exposure Management, a strategic security approach focusing on identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks and vulnerabilities in an organization’s contemporary landscape, is poised to incorporate cyber threat intelligence (CTI) as a cornerstone, furnishing actionable insights to mitigate operational risks.
Escalating Motivations Driving Cyberattacks
Cybersixgill’s subsequent prediction sheds light on the escalating motivations propelling cyberattacks in 2024. Threat actors are expected to target entities for purposes beyond financial gains as geopolitical tensions and other factors come to the forefront.
With 40 national elections slated globally, threat actors’ motives are projected to transcend monetary incentives. Cybersixgill anticipates a surge in attacks on non-profit entities like educational institutions, healthcare facilities, public services, and other critical sectors. This shift in motivation may also manifest in the burgeoning trend of cybercriminals offering their expertise for hire through services like ransomware, malware, and DDoS attacks.
Sharon Wagner, CEO of Cybersixgill, remarked, “We’ve witnessed significant advancements in security over the past year, including the rise of generative AI enhancing risk intelligence efforts for organizations, and the ascent of Threat Exposure Management as a consolidation mechanism to proactively identify and mitigate risks, bolstering cyber defenses.”
Wagner added, “Curated threat intelligence is gaining traction, offering relevant insights based on an organization’s attack landscape and security infrastructure success.” These trends are poised to play a pivotal role in the forthcoming period as security teams refine their strategies against malicious actors.
