If the previous decade were any indication, hackers will become even more aggressive in 2020 and in the following years. Recent studies show alarming statistics that should keep those in the cybersecurity industry on their toes. These include the following:
- An average of 1 hack attempt occur every 39 seconds on devices connected to the internet
- As of 2018, hackers have stolen half-billion personal records worldwide
- Nearly half of all directed hacking attacks target small businesses
Fortunately, predicting the coming cybersecurity trends in 2020 is easier with the help of log events that reveal how data breaches and attacks have occurred in the past. So what cybersecurity trends are in store for 2020?
1. The surge in Cybersecurity Spending
Log management providers, as well as organizations with their own IT management teams, are bracing for cybersecurity developments this 2020. Log events play a vital role in cybersecurity and as IT technology enters a new decade, having reasonable foresight using logs can help keep IT techs one step ahead of threats from hackers and malware.
The cybersecurity stats mentioned earlier is the main catalyst for the growing but reasonable fear that business organizations and agencies have for hacking attacks. Nearly 80% of organizations worldwide are expected to earmark additional funds for cybersecurity. This can translate to trillions of dollars in spending for security measures globally for the next few years.
2. Major Uptick in Cybersecurity Job Openings
Along with the increased spending for cybersecurity, the demand for IT security experts is also expected to increase. As of this writing, approximately 300,000 cybersecurity positions remain unfilled in the US alone. In 2020 to 2021, job positions for cybersecurity experts are seen to grow past 3.5 million globally.
3. Focused Attacks vs. Cloud Security
The recent years saw the growing trend of businesses moving their IT processes to the cloud because of the notion that it provides more security. However, recent data suggest that there has been a massive increase in attacks against G Suite and Office 365, particularly against their IMAP protocols. It wouldn’t be a stretch to predict that migration of business processes to the cloud may slow down in 2020.
4. 200 Billion Devices Will Go Live
The Internet of Things keeps on growing bigger. How big by 2020? Symantec Internet Security Threat Report says that by 2020, approximately 200 billion devices will go online. The same report reveals that in the US, an average of 25 devices per family is hooked online. This data will likely influence the first two trends listed above.
5. Attacks Against Mobile Devices
Smaller yet more powerful processors for mobile devices have become all-too-common. This, along with more affordable mobile devices, undoubtedly has led to an increase in the number of mobile device users all around the world. Since this trend is expected to continue, more hackers are also expected to view mobile devices as primary attack vectors. Data stored in such devices, such as passwords are all too juicy for cybercriminals just to pass up.
6. Log Monitoring and Big Data Analysis
After detecting and exploiting a breach in network infrastructure, hackers try their best to hide their activities within the system. Try as they might, however, their activities or at the very least, the effects of it will be logged. A good chunk of cybersecurity expenditures, therefore, will be channeled towards log monitoring services, as well as to big data analysts, whose job will include detecting anomalies in the log events that may be indicative of security weaknesses or breaches.
7. 5G
Every techie is keeping a close eye on the rollout of the high-speed 5th generation mobile network (5G). Just like with any spanking new toy, 5G has everyone excited. Hackers too, are excited knowing only too well that such a new and even more complex system has weaknesses that are yet to be discovered and exploited. The race is on between cybersecurity experts and hackers.
All of these trends mean that the future of the cybersecurity industry looks bright for this year, and possibly in the following years, as well. On the flip side, however, such anticipated cybersecurity trends for 2020 also underlines the fact that various online threats are also on the rise. The onus now is upon the shoulders of cybersecurity experts and managed service providers to stay one step ahead of hackers and cybercriminals.
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