The reopening of borders and relaxation of social distancing measures have accelerated digital transformation and boosted the economy, but they have also expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals. In the new normal, businesses are launching new online services and products, creating more opportunities for cybercriminals to take advantage of.
Risks and Challenges
The expanding attack surface of organizations is making it difficult for them to have full visibility over their network. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of this to gain access to sensitive data, which they trade on the dark web. The rise of advanced persistent cybercrime, including ransomware, is also a significant challenge. In the first half of 2022, FortiGuard Labs documented 10,666 new ransomware variants, compared to just 5,400 in the second half of 2021. Additionally, cybercriminals are using more sophisticated methods such as impersonation, fake websites, and social media pages, making it harder for businesses to detect intrusion and data breaches.
Moreover, the ongoing emigration wave has widened the gap in IT security skill shortage, leaving many organizations with limited resources and staff. This leads to increased employee negligence, making it even more challenging to detect cyber threats. Recent examples have shown how cybercriminals can impersonate legitimate businesses to lure customers, resulting in lost revenue and damaged brand reputation.
Solutions
Organizations need to adopt a proactive cyber defense strategy to prevent cyber-attacks before they occur. They should consider partnering with external attack surface management (EASM) and digital risk protection (DSP) providers to monitor their brand reputation, dark web activities, and cyber deception. Additionally, Network Detection & Response (NDR) and Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) are critical to providing real-time threat detection and automated response.
Finally, businesses need to find the right technology partner to help them maximize their digital investments while ensuring data privacy compliance. By investing in proactive cyber defense measures, organizations can reduce the risk of cyber-attacks and protect their sensitive data from malicious actors.
In conclusion, the post-pandemic era presents both opportunities and challenges for businesses. With the right proactive cyber defense strategy and partnerships in place, organizations can stay ahead of cyber threats and achieve business continuity in the digital age.