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Cybersecurity Predictions for 2023

Our 2023 cybersecurity predictions attempt to capture a big picture view of a field evolving in all directions.

While no one can predict every risk in the coming year, current trends and the lasting influence of the pandemic offer insights into the most convincing possibilities for 2023. As the attack surface expands, cyber threats mature and focus on lingering vulnerabilities created by the sudden shift to remote work. The new year also brings new opportunities to advance protections for all organizations, despite their size. Below, we present our 2023 cybersecurity predictions:

More Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Supply chains will become increasingly targeted for ransomware and state-sponsored attacks. As geopolitical tensions increase, more businesses are at heightened risk, especially critical infrastructures and healthcare organizations.
The potential impact of these attacks has far-reaching consequences for our supply chains. Organizations may become less operational for days or even weeks, not to mention the vast physical safety implications these attacks impose on critical infrastructure. Risk management that allows organizations to identify vulnerabilities and set responsive policies will be crucial for resilient supply chain security.

Maturing Attacks

Ransomware, geo-targeting, and distributed denial of service attacks will become more sophisticated. Cybercriminals may also go after specific executives who hold sensitive data as cyber threats mature. We can also expect more advanced attacks on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud security strategies.

Attack Surface and Mobile Device Attacks

Remote work and a persistent increase of IoT devices have dramatically expanded the attack surface. Remote workers using their own devices from their homes challenges administrative control for IT departments. Accordingly, cybercriminals will target mobile devices, IoT devices, and remote workstations.

Increasing Threats to Education and Healthcare

No sector is immune to cybercrime, but the education and healthcare industries are particularly vulnerable to cyber incidents and will continue to be in 2023. Both industries are target-rich environments made of networked devices that often lack essential security controls and may run on outdated technologies.

The healthcare industry often has inadequate or obsolete security to protect valuable patient records. Not only is Patient Health Information (PHI) incalculably crucial for healthcare to function, but it is also one of the most lucrative items on the dark web. Thus, healthcare is more likely to pay up in a ransomware attack to avoid the risk that a breach presents to patient safety.

The education sector faces a similar lack of security around valuable data and intellectual property. Recently, k-12 education has been a valuable target as hackers are keenly aware that users within their security chain are children. Elementary education is a target-rich environment with plenty of sensitive data for cybercriminals to exploit.

Growth of Cybersecurity as a Service (CSaaS)

As the cyber threat landscape grew significantly over the pandemic, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are disadvantaged by their limited budgets, resources, and time. Meanwhile, the cyber skills shortage and growing list of compliance requirements have made hiring in-house experts a challenge. The CSaaS model allows organizations of all sizes to gain the insight necessary to create lasting, cost-effective security improvements. We predict many organizations, especially SMBs, will employ CSaaS to obtain essential assessments at an affordable cost.

Zero Trust Initiative Boom

Zero trust architecture will rise in remote and hybrid workplaces. Government agencies and product vendors will continue to adopt zero trust initiatives by mandate. Similarly, private sector organizations will also incorporate these designs into business strategies. Tech-savvy organizations will employ multi-year plans designed to enforce zero trust strategies through layered, practical implementation.

 

Beyond our Cybersecurity Predictions for 2023

As 2022 concludes, cyber attacks will become easier for bad actors to employ and require fewer skills to succeed. Our security strategies must evolve more aggressively than ever as we try to catch up to the mass scaling brought on by our changing businesses. Whether your business needs fundamental cybersecurity assessments, an IT risk assessment, or help with IT controls, we can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.