Cybersecurity Landscape for 2021

In 2020, we saw a change as companies attempted to adapt to the “new normal” caused by the pandemic. As such, there has been an increase in cyber threats. Going into 2021, we will see a rise in cyber threats with new intelligent edges.

Let’s look at some of the predictions for the 2021 cybersecurity landscape.

Changing Cyber Landscape

With the increase of work-from-home and the adoption of newer technologies such as the cloud, the number of opportunities for hackers increase, meaning more attacks will happen. On top of that, the ever-changing technology landscape requires businesses to have a dynamic and proactive cybersecurity system to keep their data safe.

Remote Workers will be under Threat

In 2020, we saw an increase in phishing, vishing, ransomware attacks, amongst other attacks that took advantage of companies’ gaps in security. This will continue in 2021 as employees all over the world will continue to work from home.

This year has led to organizations paying 25% in unexpected costs to address cybersecurity breaches and malware infections. Organizations need to rethink their approaches to security as cybercrime continues to evolve and exploit remote workers. Not only do company’s systems need to be secured, but employees need to be trained adequately to understand and identify suspicious emails and messages.

5G and Advanced Swarm Attacks

New technologies like 5G mean new opportunities for more advanced cyber attacks. Cybercriminals are making progress in developing and implementing swarm-based attacks. 

5G-enabled networks will be able to create networks that send and process information very quickly.  By compromising 5G devices, cybercriminals can therefore rapidly identify and share weaknesses in networks. This allows them to refine their attacks so that they can better exploit vulnerabilities.

Social Engineering Attacks

Smart devices and home-based systems will become a channel for deeper cyber-attacks. Accessing critical information could make social engineering attacks more prominent and successful. This could include users’ habits, routines, and finances. With smarter attacks comes the possibility of ransoming or extorting additional data. 

Present both at the organizational level and at the personal level, social engineering attacks are becoming a dual threat as they can result in the compromission of personal data and credentials to then bounce and become a direct compromission of business data, doubling the potential payoff for hackers.

Greater Risk Of Data Exposure

Cybercriminals take advantage of global events and adopt new technologies. Thus, can constantly refine their methods. 

As the number of internet users increases over the coming year and organizations continue to support work-from-home infrastructures, users need to be aware of the types of cyberattacks they are vulnerable to. If not, we will see more and more data breaches.

Cybersecurity’s New Role

Due to the increase in cyber-attacks and the changing cybersecurity landscape, there needs to be a greater emphasis on cybersecurity. Cybersecurity needs to be defined as a critical business function to ensure that your company is protected.

Whether you are a well-established business or just starting, making sure that business data is properly protected should always stay top of mind, from the passwords being used, to the accesses and apps being installed. 

Final Thoughts

While it looks like every year we hit “peak cyberthreats”, the landscape proves that 2021 will be no different than prior years, we will see more attacks and more breaches across the globe. That being said, the possibility of cyberattacks should not stop organizations from implementing new technologies. Businesses should work on ensuring that their cybersecurity posture reflects the threats appropriately. 

To get a better understanding on how your business is doing and what it should do when it comes to cybersecurity, contact one of our MicroAge locations and our experts will be glad to help you define a plan that fits your business reality.