Current threat landscape and challenges

This year too, the digital landscape continues to expand for a wide spectrum of business sectors. The media is full of current affairs regarding cyber threats that continue to challenge us to protect sensitive information and remain operational. At CREDS, we see these threats not only as obstacles, but also as action points - actions that require innovative solutions and collaboration on a day-to-day basis. We have highlighted five of them for you.

• 1. Shortage of cyber security professionals
  The demand for skilled cyber security professionals exceeds the supply. This poses quite a challenge in defending against advanced cyber threats. Due to this shortage, many vulnerabilities remain unresolved because there simply are not enough experts to design, implement and manage comprehensive security strategies.
  We see organisations slowly turning to internal and external training and certifications to encourage employees interested in cyber security. Indeed, the consequences of this shortage go even further. Constantly increasing workloads lead to burnout and reduced efficiency. Critical security tasks are then postponed, patch management lags, increasing the risk of successful cyber-attacks one-on-one.
  One effect is also that external consultants come to supervise specific projects to support internal teams. Innovation and implementation of advanced security measures in the form of security automation tools, for example, are high on the agenda to remain resilient to new threats.

• 2. Generative AI and its influence on phishing
  Generative AI has transformed phishing attacks, making them more convincing and harder to detect. These AI-generated emails mimic legitimate communications with unprecedented accuracy, posing a significant threat to even the most vigilant professionals.
  Phishing campaigns created by generative AI send personalised messages that use specific details of their targets. This level of realism makes it difficult for traditional spam filters and detection systems to identify malicious emails. On a day-to-day basis, we see a higher risk of falling victim to these scams, leading to data breaches, financial losses and reputational damage.
  Resilience against this starts with a healthy level of awareness. Increasingly, we see organisations embracing offensive strategies that expose attack paths that put concrete areas for improvement on the agenda.

• 3. Malware is becoming more sophisticated
  Malware attacks are increasingly common and sophisticated. Modern malware is capable of modifying its code signature and behaviour to bypass traditional security measures. The evolution of malware includes techniques such as polymorphism, where the code changes every time it is executed, and metamorphism, where the malware completely rewrites its code. These advanced methods make detection and removal extremely difficult. On top of this, the integration of AI now means that malware learns from its environment and thus adapts its behaviour, making it even more difficult to combat. The consequences of a successful malware attack can also be devastating if, as an organisation, you do not have the attacker’s perspective on your side.

• 4. The rise of digital extortion
  The accessibility of sophisticated cybercrime tools has led to an increase in digital extortion cases. Cybercriminals are increasingly using these tools to extract sensitive information from victims, which is then used for ransom or coercion.
  In a nutshell, extortion tactics have evolved into sophisticated ransomware attacks in which cybercriminals encrypt an organisation’s data and demand payment for releasing it. The widespread availability of extortion tools on the dark web continues to lower the threshold for cybercriminals, which only leads to even more attacks. Therefore, develop sufficiently in-depth prevention and response strategies with high adaptability.

• 5. Vulnerabilities in IoT devices
  The proliferation of IoT devices in the workplace brings with it numerous security vulnerabilities. These devices are often not designed with security in mind. Consequently, they are usually easily overlooked in cybersecurity strategies.
  IoT devices we have for all kinds of applications. It ranges from smart thermostats to screen casting, industrial sensors and remote working peripherals. It is devices without robust security features that often go unpatched, as a source of potential entry points for attackers. Once compromised, these devices can be used to launch attacks on the wider network, disrupt operations or steal sensitive data. The rapid adoption of IoT technology poses an unseen risk to organisations of all sizes. So ensure that every attack path to your crown jewels is continuously transparent so that they are protected - within the entire chain - unconditionally.

Conclusion

At CREDS, we are deeply aware that the cyber security landscape is constantly evolving. In addition to challenges, these developments also present opportunities. Use those opportunities by adopting the attacker’s perspective.
By conducting real cyber-attacks, you identify vulnerabilities and provide yourself with actionable insights to strengthen the defences of your organisation and supply chain. If we all adopt a proactive approach to resilience against the ever-changing cyber risks, we will together build a safer digital world anno 2024.
Has this article triggered your interest? Feel free to contact us for more details and tailored advice.