Cybersecurity threats are increasingly pervasive in 2024. With global conflicts intensifying and no clear path to peace, malicious actors exploit various methods to breach company systems on a large scale. The cybersecurity industry faces a series of challenges from hackers across an ever-expanding range of attack surfaces.
Given the heightened geopolitical tensions, addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities with the most effective strategies is more crucial than ever. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are adopting proactive solutions such as Threat Exposure Management, with advanced threat intelligence forming the bedrock of strategic business decision-making.
Artificial Intelligence Technology for Automating Cybersecurity
Few elements are as important in the cybersecurity arena in 2024 as artificial intelligence technology. Sweeping moves to adopt AI are afoot, but many small, medium, and large enterprises believe that artificial intelligence adoption rates depend on the data's scope and reliability.
We have already seen vast improvements with AI vendors this year. It's all about the comprehensiveness and fidelity of results, and industry stakeholders are seeking broadly accessible AI systems to be implemented, regardless of practitioners' skill levels. From AI integration to the importance of AppSec, the world’s leading companies face tough challenges.
A critical AppSec advancement in 2024 is the implementation of Static Application Security Testing (SAST) scans through powerful security platforms. An effective SAST scan is designed to identify vulnerabilities in the source code before deployment, providing an essential layer of security for enterprises.
Effective SAST systems are noted for their speed and accuracy, reducing false positives by 80% and increasing scanning efficiency by up to 90%. This enables developers to swiftly address security concerns, ensuring that applications are watertight by design. By integrating SAST scans into the development lifecycle, companies can proactively mitigate risks and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture.
Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures
There are growing concerns about data privacy and the integrity of personal information with increasing AI adoption. Impending regulatory legislation remains a sticking point in this regard. While the creation of legal frameworks is already underway, this is expected to gain momentum in 2025.
Concerns remain about adopting AI technology in cybersecurity, notably its abuse. If bad actors abuse AI systems, they can automate massive cyber attacks against companies with malicious content, including phishing email campaigns, malware, adware, spyware, corrupted source code, etc.
Identity theft prevention is a hot topic in cyber security. Leading companies worldwide are already hard at work creating innovative capabilities that segment user IDs through automation measures. Nowadays, user credentials are routinely stolen, posing a major threat to companies.
User ID segmentation solutions are automated—they don't require hardware installation or software parts on endpoint units and fully enable multi-FA. Smart technologies allow company officials to publish their usernames/IDs online without hackers being able to use those credentials for shady purposes. User ID segmentation reduces the risk of data theft.
Companies are now focused on preventing attackers from freely roaming within company networks, rather than merely notifying IT professionals of their presence. Fully automatic SaaS platforms understand all aspects of network traffic.
This security protocol limits access of computers on the systems to the required minimums necessary for optimal performance. And it reduces the overall number of threat vectors facing the company. As always, multi-factor authentication protocols are strongly recommended for all sensitive operations.
Major Focus on Expanded Attack Surfaces
The expanded attack surface concept is an important one as it relates to ongoing cyber threats. We are seeing regulatory measures designed to make executives responsible for organizational security, particularly cybersecurity.
PCI DSS measures governing the acceptance, processing, storage, and transmission of credit card information are indispensible. Now that there is an updated PCI DSS 4.0 version, reporting requirements are mandated to ensure enhanced security of information on servers, across systems, and frameworks.
Interestingly, many online security challenges in 2024 and beyond are not solely financially motivated. Many different threat vectors are targeting companies with malicious intent, including antidemocratic efforts, election interference, and anti-Israel sentiment, to name a few.
For this reason, cyber threat intelligence systems are being expanded for personal platforms, SMEs, government networks, nonprofits, and more. A notable rise in services being provided by cybercriminals dominates in 2024, with malware as a service, DDOS as a service, and Ransomware as a service offerings proliferating on the web.
For these reasons, security consultants are intensely focused on tightening defenses against cybercriminals. It’s a battle royale between offensive and defensive forces, with the integrity of networks, platforms and systems at stake.
This article was written in cooperation with GSD Media LTD