The cyber security landscape is continually changing. According to Inc.com, over half of cyberattacks target private businesses. When the risks of an insecure network are so costly, what can be done to prepare for the worst-case scenario? Network security, implementing security practices and technological advancements allows for a business to better protect its IT infrastructure. In order for companies to maintain a consistently reliable and protected network, below are four predictions for 2019 you should be most aware of:

 

1. Supply chain attacks

Supply chain attacks, also known as value-chain or third-party attacks, occur when hackers infiltrate your system through an outside partner or provider with access to your systems and data. With more suppliers and service providers touching sensitive data more than ever before, cyber criminals go a step further by exploiting a service provider’s supply chain and data supply. Ultimately, you have to trust your service provider, but now they are at risk too.

 

“We’re putting large parts of our lives in the hands of others, where we don’t always realise how much we’re relying on others or trusting others. And we don’t really have a way of verifying that they are still worthy of that trust.” – Artturi Lehtiö │ F-Secure │ Service Technology Lead

 

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence is an important part of cyber security and technology. Reinforcement learning is where the big advances in AI will happen in 2019. Reinforcement learning is teaching an algorithm to learn by rewarding it when it makes positive progress. Other companies are using it to train financial trading models, video streaming, and more.

 

3. Increase in automation, detection & response

Targeted attacks will start costing adversaries more money as more companies take advantage of advances in automation and detection and response. The increase in automated detection will be discouraging for some attackers and this makes it more difficult for other attackers to try and slip into companies in an undetected way.

 

4. Growth in IoT increases interest from attackers

The ever-growing market of the internet of things (IoT) will directly result in major security implications, due to manufacturers not being on par with security protocols for these devices. Different exploits of these devices will definitely be prevalent in the year ahead.

 

Once a company understands who all the vendors are and who has access to their sensitive data, they will be able to better utilise advances in technology such as AI, automated detection solutions and IoT devices. Understanding where risks lie within a digital landscape helps to tailor protocols according to those risks and collaborate with service providers to remediate and mitigate those risks.

Ultimately, these technological advances enable companies to be in control of their overall network security.