Cybersecurity Insights A Month Into 2022

Cybersecurity Insights A Month Into 2022 [Chicago Edition]

We generally associate a new year with hope and new aspirations. While this is excellent, we must remember that the rapidly changing world of technology, strategies, and processes means that every year also introduces new risks. As long as technology is in motion, so will conformity procedures.

2021 was a challenging year for cybersecurity in various ways: Colonial Pipeline and hundreds of other high-profile hacks that came with significant security and economic consequences. Ransomware struck with fury, wreaking havoc on small and medium-sized enterprises. Perhaps most concerning was how hackers sought after and attacked vital infrastructure and security flaws faster than before. We are only beginning to hear about some numbers that will undoubtedly trend in 2022 because it is only January. We may discover what we need to strengthen and reinforce regarding cybersecurity in the future year by analyzing the issues currently trending.

Integration of Artificial Intelligence

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence has become part and parcel of many organizations. According to the McKinsey State of Artificial Intelligence report issued in November 2020, nearly half of the organizations have implemented AI functionalities.

AI will become more crucial as companies continue to digitize day-to-day processes. Businesses have become more technologically linked than ever before since the COVID-19 pandemic broke.

It’s crucial to remember that people can use artificial intelligence for both good and harm. Hackers and other criminals can use more sophisticated assaults to get beyond antivirus software and terminal detection. On the other hand, cyber experts and governments may employ AI to forecast and prevent such assaults.

As a result, AI integration will become more prevalent this year. Other problems, such as AI bias, cybersecurity, and the continued necessity for human oversight, are expected to be raised in US courts.

The Government is Making Patchwork Modifications

As Nations focus more strongly on nation-state assaults, legislators will continue to prioritize new cyber-focused policies, as evidenced by President Biden’s executive order earlier this year.

As an outcome, firms in every industry will be exposed to continual legislative, regulatory, and compliance reforms. This is a global trend, as governments worldwide attempt to extend or introduce new regulations governing software development and information security.

For example, critical national infrastructure would be prioritized, including everything from electricity to the financial sector. International collaboration and shared standards on topics such as data security, when possible, would aid in the protection of more enterprises and consumer data.

More states will strive to pass legislation similar to the California Consumer Privacy Act at the state and municipal levels. New York and other states have introduced bills regarding cybersecurity patchwork modifications. While it is unclear whether these measures will become legislation, they indicate a rising willingness to improve data privacy protections.

Governments Across The World Are Putting In Measures To Protect Citizens

International cyber security conformity Regulations are rapidly evolving. Privacy laws are springing up throughout the United States and in other nations.

The most significant new privacy guidelines come from China. China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) entered into force in the final quarter of 2021. Businesses that do not adhere to the PIPL regulations will likely face little flexibility, given the country’s strict stance on fundamental norms and regulations.

The ramifications for international commercial relationships will be enormous. We shall see the true impact of this legislation in operation in 2022. High fines and license revocation will be among the most severe punishments.

If we get towards a world where we’re entirely reliant on these APIs [application programming interfaces], we’ll undoubtedly see a slew of software bugs that individuals will try to exploit.

Without government action, the spread of consumer-data-sharing partnerships would be stifled and delayed, and security and privacy concerns will undoubtedly worsen.

We need to be mindful of our organization’s crown jewels and how we can defend them from attackers, stopping us from accessing them, or disturbing and affecting their integrity.

As the year shapes its course, we should expect more government policies on protecting our data.

The Internet of Things is posing a Growing Cybersecurity Risk

IoT refers to physical devices that communicate with one another, encompassing machine-to-machine and machine-to-human communication. It includes computing, household appliances, wearable technologies, and automobiles. The Internet of Things (IoT) fuses the physical and digital worlds, but they vary from traditional computers in that they are specialized in physical dimensions and computational capability. The absence of transparency and the ability to assess if a gadget has been hacked or not working as intended is one of the cybersecurity challenges of IoT.

The Internet of Things faces a substantial danger from greater endpoint integration mixed with a fast-rising and poorly regulated attack vector. It’s not simple to defend such a significant attack vector, specifically when there are many security protocols on the gadgets. IoT will continue posing cybersecurity risks as connectivity continues growing.

What can you do to protect your Organization from Future Cyber Attacks?

As recent data breaches have demonstrated, organizations of all types and sizes are vulnerable to cyber-attacks at any time. To properly guard against cybersecurity threats, your organization should take the following steps:

• Encrypt and backup your organization’s data.

• Develop a security-centered environment.

•  Employ powerful firewall and antivirus software.

Bottom Line

We can’t only rely on rules and technology to adequately defend against cyberattacks. We must also take human behavior into account. Even though COVID-19 is unpredictable, hybridized workplaces are here to stay.

As a result, workers should access their data at any time and from any location. Companies must give this level of flexibility while also ensuring that they have all of the necessary processes and training in place.

The year 2022 will be a watershed moment for the cybersecurity sector. We say that every year due to the rapid speed of technological innovation. The sector, however, will be motivated to become more efficient at securing customer data as a result of new technology and procedures. There are plenty of threats on the horizon, as well as planned measures to counter them. On the other hand, Enterprises can better position their fortifications through AI and automation.

Secure your IT Services with CTI Technology

CTI Technology is a Chicago-based IT Firm. We have highly qualified technicians with outstanding technical and analytical skills in using the most up-to-date software guidelines, tools, systems, and structures. We constantly invest in training to enable our technicians to respond to new technological challenges. Contact us today to find out what our firm can do for your organization.

Thanks to our colleagues at Baroan Technologies, an IT support company in New Jersey for their help with this article.