2019 Risks
Cybersecurity reports by Cisco show that thirty-one percent of organizations have at some point have encountered cyber-attacks on their operations technology. Cybersecurity breaches are no longer news. It is a topic that is finally being addressed due to the intensity and volume of attacks. 2019 is a fresh year and you can be sure that data breaches will not let up.
The following are some of the threats that you should watch out for.
Data Breach
Cloud data storage is increasingly becoming popular in 2019. Many organizations ditch traditional methods of data storage and are transferring their data to the cloud. Sounds safe, right? Well, yes, to an extent. However, note that while you are backing up your data offline, other virtual machines can have access to your information. Therefore, machines get access to your cryptographic keys. It comes as a result of many applications operating in the same environment. To remedy that, you need to be picky when it comes to choosing a cloud provider. Additionally, you need to reinforce your encryption system to bar the attackers from accessing your information.
Insecure Application User Interface (API)
If you have a cloud service provider, you will not be using the interface alone. What does that mean? The security of the particular interface lies primarily in the hands of your service providers. Breaches through Application User Interface are caused by lack of tight security starting from the authentication to encryption. The solution to this is that you, as the client, should be keen on the security measures that your provider has put in place, Additionally, the encryption and authentication process must be stringent.
Cloud Abuse
Unfortunately, Cloud storage is susceptible to abuse. A large risk factor is that Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which is responsible for functionality, has no secure registration process. What does that imply? Provided you have a credit card, you have the key to signing up and using the cloud as soon as you are done. The simplicity, in turn, makes the cloud vulnerable to spam mails, criminals, and other malicious attacks. To mitigate the situation, it is advisable that cloud service providers develop authentication and registration processes. Additionally, they should have a way of monitoring credit card transactions. A thorough evaluation of network traffic is also crucial in eliminating cyber abuse.
Malware Attack
Malware attacks are another consequence of breaches that you need to watch out for in 2019. A malware attack refers to the activities of malicious software platforms that the owner of a system is not aware of. There are many causes of malware attacks. One is the use of bundled free software programs, removable media, file sharing like the use of Bit-torrent, and not having an internet security software program in place. The solution to this would be putting in place a strict security mechanism and compliance.
Loss of Data
Important data may get lost due to many reasons. One may be through alteration, deletion, and use of an unreliable storage medium. Such a breach may have serious implications on your business. For example, a breach can spoil the reputation of a business, cause a loss of customers, and drain your finances. What do you do to curb this? The first thing is to ensure that the API security available is tight. Additionally, use SSL encryption to secure our data and evaluate the data protection plan of the provider.
Hacking
Hacking has been a concern for a long time now. The trend may not change anytime soon, so how can we employ security measures to minimize the threat? As the Internet of Things takes over, more weak points are created in the computer systems. Since hacking is usually caused by sharing credentials and access to passwords, simply do not share your credentials. Also if you are a service provider, you should have restrictions towards sharing. You can also take extra measures of tracking the activities of employees to ensure that no unauthorized takes place.
Single factor passwords
2019 may very well usher in the death of the password. The use of single-factor passwords is a large security risk. It gives intruders easy access to data. To reverse the situation, organizations need to be more serious with the passwords. Use of multi-factor authentication is the best way to go about it.
Insider Threat
Organizations will continue to face insider threat as a major form of cybersecurity breaches. The users in organizations are a weak link. Ex-staff are also a major threat to cybersecurity. This is not to mention the importance of monitoring the staff, training them on how to patch up weak points, and measuring their activity. The antidote to this problem is educating the staff on cyber, monitoring their activities, and testing. The process can also be automated using EUBA systems.
Internet of Things (IoT)
As aforementioned, the Internet of Things will have an upward trend in 2019. Most devices connect through the internet of things. This creates weak points. As much as the internet of things has become useful, there are many concerns surrounding it. Its deployment has brought along security concerns. Studies have shown that the IOT possess architectural flaws like inadequate security measures stemming from weak points. Proper ways of deploying security systems and awareness will go a long way in ensuring the threat is under control.
Shadow IT Systems
Shadow IT is software used within an organization, but not supported by the company’s central IT system. What causes a breach in shadow IT is the fact that the risk of data loss does not receive much attention when it comes to data backups. More so, there is no control over who gets to access the data. Also, the backup and recovery processes have no one to monitor. Due to these inefficiencies, you become vulnerable to hackers. To mitigate this, spread awareness regarding the security threat that shadow IT brings. Additionally, be sure to purchase shadow IT resources from a reputable vendor.
As technology advances in 2019, so do the threats to the security. Organizations need to be steadfast in protecting their data by employing the best data management practices. Also, it is important for employees to comply with a management-deployed regulatory framework in a bid to reinforce security. As most organizations turn to cloud data storage, they should ensure that they are working with reliable cloud service providers.
Tags: Cloud, Cybersecurity, EUBA, Internet of Things, IoT, IT, SSL
