If 2020 has shown us anything, that is IT strategy must remain adaptable. For years, experts had predicted that we have been ripe for a pandemic, but nobody really predicted that we would need to reconfigure our operations instantly owing to curfews and social distance regulations. Many planned projects and efforts have to be postponed in order for IT workers to focus on providing remote access.
Hackers have been working hard as well. According to a recent survey done by research company Opinion Matters, ninety percent of cybersecurity and IT professionals have witnessed a growth in cyberattacks in the last year. Eighty percent of respondents reported that the assaults had gotten more sophisticated. A large majority (94%) reported a breach in the previous year.
Cybercriminals have used the fear and confusion surrounding the COVID-19 epidemic in their computer assaults. According to Microsoft, social engineering assaults and pandemic-related phishing have increased to 30,000 per day in the United States alone. According to MonsterCloud threat experts, ransomware assaults have increased 800% during the epidemic.
What can we anticipate in 2021? According to cybersecurity professionals, the following 5 cyber security risks in 2021 will most likely have the greatest impact on organizations in the coming year:
- Increased phishing related to the pandemic
The COVID-19 epidemic will continue to be used as a subject by cybercriminals in their phishing efforts. Attacks frequently coincide with important events, like an increase in new patients or the release of a potential medicine or vaccination. Their goal is to trick unsuspecting victims into clicking on a harmful link or file or disclosing sensitive information.
- New variations of the “Nigerian Prince” con
A criminal posing as foreign nobility promises you riches if you supply your bank account details in the traditional Nigerian Prince scam. Phishing fraudsters are now purporting to be from a government organization that is disbursing economic stimulus funds. Otherwise, the fraud operates in the same manner.
- Enhanced ransomware attacks
According to Cybersecurity Ventures’ analysis of historical cybercrime data, a firm will be the target of a ransomware assault every 11 seconds in 2021. This is a decrease from every 14 seconds in 2019. The entire worldwide impact of ransomware could reach $20 billion.
- Growth in cloud breaches
While cloud technology is extremely safe, users are responsible for adding and appropriately configuring cyber security protections. Cloud misconfigurations are really a major cause of data breaches, and also the frequency is likely to rise as more businesses use cloud programs to assist remote employees.
- Assaults on IoT
Increasingly, businesses are using IoT devices and apps to collect data, remotely operate and monitor infrastructure, improve customer service, as well as other purposes. Many IoT systems lack adequate security, leaving them open to attack. Attackers can acquire control of computers to be used in botnets and exploit IoT flaws to obtain network access.
Conclusion
Tackling these threats necessitates a multifaceted security strategy. We must enhance information security awareness and clarify why our current security procedures may be insufficient.
