Top 5 Cybersecurity Predictions for 2024
As we step into 2024, the cybersecurity landscape is marked by a dynamic interplay of evolving technologies and emerging threats. Expert predictions and industry insights highlight key trends that will shape the discourse on artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound impact on digital defenses.
*The following predictions are glimpses into the vast and ever-changing cybersecurity landscape of 2024. While not exhaustive, they highlight some of the top potential threats and innovations.
1. AI-Driven Attacks and technology
The year 2024 is set to witness a surge in sophistication as attackers leverage AI tools to elevate and automate phishing campaigns, craft evasive malware, and reduce the development time of threats. Simultaneously, the threat landscape is marred by the escalating menace of deepfakes. The dramatic improvements in generated voice and video, coupled with advancements in GenAI and large language models (LLMs), enable attackers to mimic executives convincingly.
As we navigate this intricate landscape, the interplay between generative AI and deepfake technology becomes a significant concern. This synergy empowers attackers to automate the creation of deceptive content on an unprecedented scale. Over the next 24 months, organizations are expected to face attackers mimicking their executives not only through email spoofing but also via perfect AI-driven mimicry of their voice, likeness, and diction. This escalation poses multiple challenges, especially during incident response, where distinguishing between the genuine and the deepfake becomes a critical aspect of cybersecurity.
2. Ransomware-as-a-Service Innovation
We saw a record-breaking number of ransomware attacks in 2023, and ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is anticipated to witness innovation, further empowering cybercriminals in 2024. This prediction, emphasizes the evolution of ransomware tactics and the potential surge in initial access brokers facilitating unauthorized access.
The RaaS model, a persistent threat, is expected to become more accessible, allowing less-skilled groups to participate in ransom attacks. Encryption-less attacks, a strategic evasion tactic, are projected to become more prevalent. Security experts stress the importance of comprehensive zero-trust protection strategies, emphasizing defense at every stage of the attack chain, which leads us to…
3. Rise in Zero-Trust Security
The escalating threat of AI-driven attacks, coupled with the proliferation of deepfake technology, underscores the critical need for a robust zero-trust security model. Organizations are urged to embrace a paradigm shift, moving away from traditional perimeter-based security to a model that verifies and secures every user, device, and application.
In 2024, the rise of zero-trust security will be a strategic imperative. Dr. Chaz Lever, Senior Director of Security Research at Devo, highlights the challenge of properly securing AI tools and technologies as organizations adopt them. Implementing zero-trust principles ensures that even in the face of sophisticated AI-driven threats, every element within the network is treated as untrusted until proven otherwise, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and lateral movement.
4. Enhanced employee training
In response to the evolving threat landscape, employee training will take center stage in 2024. Cybersecurity teams will intensify efforts to educate personnel about AI-specific threats, phishing techniques, and social engineering attacks.
Human error remains the leading cause of cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive training programs that equip employees with the knowledge and skills to identify and thwart evolving threats. Nick Stallone, Senior Director at MorganFranklin Consulting, predicts broader adoption of automated and advanced spear phishing/vishing tools, which is expected to vastly improve social engineering success rates. To counter these threats, organizations must focus on incorporating updated controls, awareness, and training to protect against evolving methods.
5. The Growing Need for Cybersecurity Specialists
As organizations ramp up their defenses against AI-driven threats, the need for cybersecurity specialists with expertise in AI and machine learning is becoming more pronounced. The accelerated adoption of AI-powered cybersecurity tools demands skilled professionals capable of interpreting and responding to the evolving cybersecurity landscape.
Mike Spanbauer, Field CTO of Juniper Networks emphasizes that organizations must adapt their approach to defense measures, leveraging new methods to detect and block threats. The rise of nearly real-time measures capable of identifying potential malicious files or variants of known threats at line rate will necessitate a workforce of cybersecurity specialists proficient in AI technologies. As AI becomes both a tool for defenders and attackers, the balance of cybersecurity professionals and threat actors will be crucial in shaping the security posture of organizations in the coming years.
As organizations brace for the challenges of 2024, the landscape of cybersecurity unfolds with generative AI-driven attacks, ransomware-as-a-service innovations, the threat of deepfakes, the importance of employee training, and the strategic adoption of AI-powered cybersecurity tools. The key to navigating this dynamic terrain lies in proactive measures, continuous education, and the seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies to fortify digital defenses against the evolving cyber threats.
At Perspective Omni Media, we have provided clients with focused and industry relevant threat intelligence and employee cybersecurity training from small to mid-size businesses in the tri-state area, Canada, and the Caribbean. Our team of cybersecurity experts provide you with a Security Operations Center to monitor and stop threats in real-time, managed detection and response with 24x7 network monitoring and proactive threat mitigation.
Contact our cybersecurity specialists at Perspective Omni Media for a personalized cybersecurity plan made specifically for you and your business!
References:
https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/top-5-cyber-predictions-2024-ciso-perspective
https://www.scmagazine.com/news/2024-tech-predictions-defenders-adversaries-will-fine-tune-artificial-intelligence-to-their-advantage
https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilsayegh/2023/12/19/navigating-the-cybersecurity-landscape-in-2024/?sh=5d3daf48179a
https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/7-cybersecurity-predictions-to-look-out-for-in-2024
https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/100271-top-cybersecurity-predictions-of-2024
https://www.f5.com/labs/articles/cisotociso/2024-cybersecurity-predictions