Cybersecurity is an issue of strategic priority to businesses, organizations, and governments at large. This is particularly because of the risk that cyber threat poses to enterprises and the already staggering figure of losses associated with cyber-attacks. One of the greatest issues with cyber-threats is that hacking attempts can expose your personal information and stall your entire business operations for days or weeks.
The growing sophistication of cyber-attacks has caused organizations to clamp down on attackers – the back and forth game defining the cybersecurity trends that we are experiencing today. Cybersecurity deficiencies are costing for-profit and non-profit organizations billions in losses, plus following companies shifting to remote working since the pandemic began, organizations are becoming more vulnerable to attacks. In this post, we will discuss the top cybersecurity trends for 2022 and how these cybersecurity shifts are reshaping IT security and cyber privacy in general.
1. User Awareness
Cyber threats are becoming more aggressive by the day, prompting businesses and enterprise organizations to strengthen their security measures. For most organizations, cybersecurity awareness is an essential component to preventing costly hacks and identity theft that can destroy a person or an organization’s reputation. Apart from deploying sophisticated IT protocols and firewalls, companies are finding it crucial to augment the capabilities and knowledge of their IT personnel via workshops, seminars, and so on. According to Cyber Observer, 80% of cyber-attacks can be prevented by practicing cyber hygiene.
2. Geo-targeted Phishing
Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies to obtain personally-identifying information like phone numbers, physical addresses, and credit card information. Phishing attacks are the most pervasive security threats in the IT sector, with many users falling victim to phishing attempts. Since attackers use advanced methods and sophisticated tools to create complex business email compromise BEC attacks, malicious URLs and phishing emails remain the most prevalent attacks on the internet – except that they are now more personalized, localized, and geo-targeted. According to a Data Breach Investigation Report published by Verizon, 32% of data breaches in 2018 involved phishing attempts. Experts predict that phishing attempts will become prevalent in the coming years and that being the case, businesses and organizations are now investing in cybersecurity awareness and training.
3. Targeted Attacks on the Healthcare Sector
The healthcare industry has drastically become a lucrative target for cybercriminals following the recent developments in the Covid-19 pandemic and increased healthcare spending by the government and individuals. It’s no doubt that failing to combat cyber threats exposes organizations and individuals to all sorts of security and liability risks. This has led hospitals and healthcare centers to invest in cybersecurity awareness. The Global News Wire notes that the value of the healthcare cybersecurity market was $9.78 billion in 2019. This figure is projected to reach $33.65 billion by 2027. And now, considering the impact of the COVID-19, experts project that the cybersecurity market may reach $125 billion by 2025.
Data breaches are among the leading cyber threats in healthcare. From 2015 to 2019, 157 million healthcare and patient-related records were exposed. According to IBM, data breaches like these cost healthcare organizations upwards of $7 million in 2020 alone. Thus, most healthcare organizations now pay due consideration to their digital security requirements and protocols.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, many healthcare organizations relaxed their firewall to make it easier for their staff to work at home. Many organizations also wanted to erect temporary medical facilities and telehealth services that sometimes bypassed some of the security protocols for vendors, or lacked the security infrastructure available in established hospitals. In 2022, the healthcare industry will need to reconsider their approach to cybersecurity.
4. Cloud Security
Cloud computing is the new frontier in internet security, as providers eye for managed IT services to secure their data and mission-critical business applications. Therefore, as most service providers move to the cloud with the assistance of managed IT service providers, there’s a pressing need to tighten cloud security. If the configuration of the cloud security is poor, it can expose critical loopholes to cybercriminals, thus compromising critical business applications and data integrity. The innovative and predictive capability in the cloud yields better security, locking out targeted attacks. In the last three years, the predictive security cloud has earned a whopping 261% ROI; proving that predictive security is an essential element for the cloud, especially in 2022.
Bastionpoint – Your Leading Partner in IT Support and Management
With decades of experience in IT support and management for companies and businesses in the Richmond Area, Virginia, Bastionpoint Technology can carefully guide you through your cybersecurity strategy. Our solutions cover cybersecurity, managed IT services, cloud computing, and IT consulting – all delivered as a full-service package at a fraction of the cost. Contact Bastionpoint for more inquiries about our IT support and management services.
Chief Information Officer / vCIO
I provide CIO and IT Support Services alongside a mid-sized technical support team of engineers for business. Bastionpoint Technology is a managed service provider for businesses ranging from 1-500 users! We specialize in Legal, Medical, and Professional services, but support so much more. Retail, Finance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Non-Profits, and you’ve certainly heard of our clients. We offer unlimited on-demand services, with an on-demand price point to meet every client’s needs. Just call on us – we put your business first!
