The job description of an IT security professional 10 years ago probably wouldn’t look too familiar to today’s description for the same job. The cyber security landscape has changed that much. And while the threats that were battled a decade ago are still around, cyber attacks have become more complex and definitely more prevalent.
Take the internet of things (IoT) as an example. IoT had scarcely hit the market 10 years ago, but today, these devices are everywhere. In fact, the number of IoT-connected devices is projected to increase by around 43 billion by next year, which represents a 300% increase from 2018.
Today, ransomware “gangs” are targeting IoT devices, which means IT security managers need to take stock of every device on their network, whether it’s a security camera or a smart refrigerator, and update or upgrade security measures and continuously test security to make sure the bad actors don’t have a gateway in.
Enter Artificial Intelligence
You’ve likely embraced artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle, among other things, monotonous, manual, and time-consuming tasks. Cyber criminals are using AI to their advantage, too. IT security experts predict, given activity in 2021, that 2022 will be the year that hackers will weaponize AI, creating smart attack tools that bypass security solutions.
Some of the most feared tools in their arsenal will be registry alteration, metamorphic and polymorphic components, multi-packs, and random code insertion. Utilizing AI, hackers can find vulnerabilities in systems and exploit them. What’s scary is that AI continues to evolve and improve, which means when AI is instructed to hack a system, it has a high probability of eventually finding a way to do it.
Exploiting the Cloud
Looking to put a layer of protection between your data and ransomware? Many companies have chosen to migrate their data to the cloud to achieve this protection. Unfortunately, cyber criminals are also mapping out a route to the cloud, targeting the mass amount of data currently residing there.
For years, cloud security providers have offered shields that keep the bad guys out, but those shields are no longer sufficient. IT security experts believe that taking a layered approach will be the go-to strategy. While cloud providers will be working more diligently on keeping hackers out, you can do your part by using encryption, avoiding storage of super sensitive information, and ensuring your local backup plan is in action.
Independent Connections is focused on managing your IT so you can manage your business. We deliver the technology that will help you outsmart the cyber criminals and keep your workflow going uninterrupted in the right direction and your data free of viruses. Learn more about what we can do for you by contacting us today.