Top Cybersecurity Trends In 2023

By 2028 the global cost of cybercrimes is estimated to increase by 69% to a whopping US $13.82 trillion. According to IBM’s 2023 report, the average cost of a corporate data breach is $4.45 million.

With a global average increase of 15% per year, the companies that stand out the most in saving from such catastrophes are the ones that use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. Corporations that invest in AI and cybersecurity automation have saved on average $1.76 million this year alone.

Here are the top three trends right now that are worth considering.

AI And Cybersecurity Automation

Automation and AI integrations have become crucial allies in modern corporate cybersecurity. For businesses all across the world, this transition is a strategic need, not just a passing trend. The recent partnership between the American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC) and the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) highlighted the increased influence of AI and automation in the cybersecurity sector. In the AI and automation for cybersecurity report, it’s evident that the great majority of businesses either use AI in their security operations currently or are actively exploring doing so. Impressively, 64% of respondents said they have utilized AI for security capabilities, and another 29% said they were considering it.

The use of AI in cybersecurity has several benefits. By quickly spotting odd behaviors, dynamically analyzing vulnerabilities and alerting to possible threats, AI-driven insights and automation enhance the skills of security specialists. AI ensures a degree of consistency and depth that is impossible by even the most experienced security experts, which acts at a size and pace that exceeds human capabilities.

Proactive Ransomware Defense Is A Must

Organizations all across the world are still subject to developing ransomware assaults. In addition to encrypting data, cybercriminals are now also taking private data and requesting ransom payments to keep it from being made public.

The same IBM report quoted above finds that 82% of breaches included cloud-based data. Businesses need to find solutions that safeguard data as it travels across clouds, databases, apps and services while also enabling visibility across hybrid environments.

In order to do that, there are some rules to follow:

Robust Backup And Recovery: Make sure you have thorough backup and recovery procedures in place so that data can be restored quickly in the event of an attack. Test backups often to ensure their dependability.

Regular Patching: Maintain software and security patch updates to close holes that hackers can exploit. This procedure may be automated with the use of vulnerability management technologies, ensuring that no crucial updates are overlooked.

User Training: Train staff to spot phishing efforts and dubious emails, which are frequently used as ransomware entry points. Regularly mimic phishing attacks to evaluate the success of training.

Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits to find any potential security gaps in your firm. Vulnerabilities can be found before an attacker can exploit them with the use of penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.

This, however, is not always enough. And a zero-trust cybersecurity architecture is the most viable solution that any organization could adopt.

Zero-Trust Architecture

The security paradigm known as "zero trust" is founded on the maxim "never trust, always verify." It makes the assumption that risks might occur both within and outside the network of an organization.

In order to apply zero trust, the following practices must be adopted:

Identity Verification: Access to business resources requires constant identity verification from all users and devices. To add another level of security, multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be employed.

Micro-Segmentation: To prevent lateral attacker movement, partition networks into smaller, more isolated sections. Apply stringent access constraints based on the principle of least privilege (PoLP) between segments.

Strict Access Control: Implement stringent access restrictions, enabling staff members-only access to the resources they require to perform their assigned duties. Before allowing access, use network access controls (NAC) to confirm that devices comply with security requirements.

Continuous Monitoring: Keep an eye out for any irregularities in user behavior and network traffic that might point to malicious activities. Use UEBA (user and entity behavior analytics) tools to quickly identify risks.

Secure Remote Access: Implement secure access solutions, such as virtual private networks (VPNs) or zero-trust network access (ZTNA) solutions, for remote employees and third-party providers to ensure secure connections.

Zero trust is a work frame that must be continuously monitored, assessed and adjusted; it cannot be implemented once and left in place. In addition to ensuring that trust is never assumed, even within the boundaries of the corporate network, it assists companies in reducing the attack surface.

Security Is An Investment That Pays Off

In 2023, improving company security will demand a proactive and flexible strategy. Rather than being a measure, it is an expenditure made to protect against prospective intrusions. The constantly changing threat environment necessitates a complete approach that incorporates reliable backup mechanisms, AI-powered defenses, the application of zero-trust principles, thorough protection across many settings and the streamlining of security tools through consolidation.