Strategic Relevance
Every organization should adopt a two-pronged strategy to enhance their information security posture and ensure an effective defense.
Act:
- People: Implement a robust user awareness program to educate employees about cybersecurity best practices.
- Process: Establish policies and processes based on a pragmatic and relevant framework. Monitor threats using threat intelligence and a Security Operations Center (SOC).
- Technology: Deploy modern perimeter and end-user (EDR) software to strengthen protective and preventive measures.
Measure:
Participate in a Cyber Maturity Measurement Program, conducted annually, which assesses all the aspects mentioned above. Consider obtaining necessary certifications if applicable.
Challenges & Opportunities
Kevin Mitnick emphasized that the strength of defense depends on people’s knowledge and actions. A single click can result in significant operational disruptions and losses for organizations. With the increasing role of AI in cyberattacks, reinforcing information security is crucial. The industrialization of the threat landscape, seen in services like Hall Of Ransom, enables both beginners and seasoned criminals to access hacking and ransomware tools easily. The actions of groups like ReVIL have caused significant damage in the Covid era.
Future Trends
The number of countries acting as safe havens for cyber hackers is expected to rise, as it has become a lucrative revenue stream. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and Natural Language Processing (NLP) will play significant roles in both offensive and defensive cyber operations. Additionally, the prevalence of human-led-AI attacks is anticipated to increase, with evolving techniques and growing complexities making them harder to detect.
