It is predicted the end of 2023 will showcase a total cost of cyber attacks on the global economy topping $10.5 trillion. With this amount expected to end the year on such an extremely staggering note, it is safe to assume that 2024 will be a year when cybersecurity will become a strategic priority on individual, organizational and governmental levels alike.
All fields of business and technological endeavours will witness artificial intelligence (AI) have a transformative impact on both attack and defence. Over the last few years, there was rapid acceleration of technological advancement in all fields – and cybersecurity was no exception.
Here are the high-alert cybersecurity trends set to be 2024’s essential advances.
The Skills Crunch
One area everyone is having to catch up with is the shortage of professionals with relevant skills to protect organisations from cyber attacks. That will remain a running theme throughout the next 12 months.
Not only will it continue, but many expect it to get worse a year from now. Over half of cyber security professionals believe that the impact of skill shortage has gotten worse over the last two years. Efforts to rectify this situation over the next twelve months will focus on a continued increased salary for those possessing the relevant skills and greater investment into training, development and upskilling.
Generative AI Conflict
Generative AI has increased at a rate that has many concerned, with smarter and more sophisticated AI-powered attacks destined to be one of next year’s biggest problems.
From deepfake social engineering attempts to automated malware able to adapt quickly to avoid detection, the fast-developing threat of AI will pose more concern than comfort. However, generative AI can also be used to detect, evade or neutralise threats courtesy of real-time anomaly detection, smart authentication and automated incident responses. 2024 could see cyber-attacks become a game of chess for generative AI, an alarming scenario being that both attacks and defences will begin to learn from combating each other.
Next-Generation Phishing Attacks
Social engineering attacks that trick users into giving attackers access to systems will boost by increased sophistication over the next year.
Generative AI such as ChatGPT will enable attackers to make smarter, personal approaches – and we will see stronger deepfake attacks as the year continues. Alongside that, there will be a more-positive drive around organisation-wide awareness and education – as well as AI and zero trust.
Of course, no one can successfully determine how the future of cybersecurity will bolster over the next 12 months. With new threats appearing overnight in most cases, it will be a year of attack and defence in the cybersecurity landscape for everyone.
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