Fighting cybersecurity threats is like playing the arcade game Whac-A-Mole: As soon as you tackle one problem, a new one pops up. Just as there will always be another mole to whack, there will always be new security threats to combat.
Although it’s impossible to say for sure what issues will surface, experts can make educated guesses about which phenomena will have the biggest impact in the coming year. If you’re wondering how to target your IT security efforts during the next 12 months, here are some notable cybersecurity trends to watch in 2023.
1. Businesses looking to combat increasingly advanced threats will continue to face a cybersecurity talent shortage.
As malware and hacking tactics have ramped up in sophistication, so has the demand for highly specialized security expertise to neutralize those complex threats. Eighty percent of organizations around the world have suffered at least one data breach due to a lack of cybersecurity talent or awareness, according to Fortinet’s 2022 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Global Research Report.
The worldwide security talent shortfall and its consequences will likely continue to affect businesses across all industries in the coming year. Outsourcing to a managed security service provider (MSSP) can benefit companies seeking access to high-level security skills to fight evolving threats.
2. More businesses will adopt a zero-trust approach, but most will struggle to implement it effectively.
Gartner has predicted that while 60 percent of companies will designate zero trust as a starting point for cybersecurity by 2025, more than half won’t achieve the desired advantages and outcomes of a trust-no-one security strategy.
“As a mindset — replacing implicit trust with identity- and context-based risk appropriate trust — it is extremely powerful,” a press release from Gartner states. “However, as zero trust is both a security principle and an organizational vision, it requires a cultural shift and clear communication that ties it to business outcomes to achieve the benefits.”
3. Regulations and compliance requirements will intensify.
New and updated cybersecurity laws and regulations will affect businesses in 2023 and beyond. For example, the compliance deadline for certain provisions of the updated FTC Safeguards Rule is June 9, 2023. After that date, covered financial institutions must meet new information security requirements detailed in the Rule.
4. Internet of Things (IoT) security will matter more than ever as the number of devices balloons and creates a greater attack surface.
The approximate number of IoT devices is expected to grow from 13.14 billion this year to 15.14 billion in 2023, according to Statista. By 2030, if the forecast is correct, there will be a whopping 29.42 billion IoT devices. These internet-connected endpoints will also create a greater potential attack surface for cybercriminals, so the need to proactively protect against IoT attacks will become increasingly urgent.
5. Artificial intelligence (AI) will gain prominence in the cybersecurity solution space.
AI and machine learning can analyze large volumes of data and often identify threats more efficiently than humans, according to the Forbes article “The Top Five Cybersecurity Trends In 2023.” As a result, cybersecurity solutions powered by AI are growing more popular. The global AI in cybersecurity market size is expected to reach $133.8 billion by 2030, according to Acumen Research and Consulting.
However, hackers have also started leveraging AI (e.g., to craft phishing messages), so businesses and security pros must prepare for a battle of artificial wits.
These are only some of the trends that industry experts predict will dominate the cybersecurity space during the new year. If you’re interested in minimizing your risk level, our trusted technology advisors have in-depth IT security knowledge and can connect you with leading managed security solution suppliers in our partner network. Based on an assessment of your current situation, we can identify products and services that align with your specific needs.
Don’t get caught off guard in 2023. Explore your options for better security today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
