Attacks against industrial control systems (ICS) are on the rise. Cyberattacks are more prevalent, creative and faster than ever. So, understanding attackers’ tactics is crucial. The IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023 highlights that backdoor deployments enabling remote access to ICS systems were the most common type of attacker action in 2022.

As cyber threats grow more frequent and sophisticated, the need for vigilant defense is paramount, and cybersecurity is top of mind for organizations nationwide. Understanding the threat landscape and current and future trends is crucial to designing effective security strategies to mitigate risk and keep companies, their employees, and their data safe. The following threat trends are of particular importance, affecting organizations of all sizes.

Data is expanding beyond environments, applications, and geographical boundaries. It is safe to say that we are currently experiencing the era of the Big Bang of Data. It is driving economies and industries. Organizations that can leverage data to its fullest potential take the helm of their industry, leading it peerlessly. However, with the proliferation of data comes increasingly serious risks to data security and privacy.

Compliance and security often go hand in hand as ideas that attempt to protect against cyber threats. While both compliance and security are designed to lower risk, they are not mutually inclusive—that is, not everything that is required for compliance will necessarily help with security, and not everything that bolsters security will necessarily put you in compliance.

A joint cybersecurity advisory from the United States's National Security Agency (NSA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has shone a light on the top ten most common cybersecurity misconfigurations found in large private and public organisations. The report aims to detail the weaknesses found in many large organisations, and the need for software makers to properly embrace the principles of security-by-design.

While always a part of business, compliance demands have skyrocketed as the digital world gives us so many more ways to go awry. We all remember the Enron scandal that precipitated the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Now, SOX compliance means being above board on a number of cybersecurity requirements as well. Fortra's Tripwire recently released a new guide: How Managed Services Can Help with Cybersecurity Compliance.

Cyber Security Awareness Month kicked off its nineteenth anniversary this year. One would hope that after nearly two decades, this would be a time to celebrate, however, the outlook is not as bright as one would expect. There are so many aspects of cybersecurity that have been promoted to make the world a safer place, but one that stands out as the largest failure seems to be the use of password managers.

One of the most pervasive and unavoidable threats on the internet, domain impersonation can be used by bad actors as the basis for a wide range of attacks. The various ways in which cybercriminals make use of lookalike domains often fluctuate, and the first half of 2023 has exemplified this fact. Staying on top of security and not falling victim to these attacks requires knowing what the dangers are and keeping track of the threats that are likely to spring up.

Electric grids are part of every nation’s critical infrastructure. Every societal activity and business depends on reliable and safe electricity distribution. The US electric grid is a huge network of powerlines, distribution hubs, and renewable and non-renewable energy generators that is increasingly exposed to cyber-physical risks due to the accelerated reliance on cyber-enabled systems and IoT-connected devices, such as smart meters.

On August 10th, the Pentagon introduced "Task Force Lima," a dedicated team working to bring Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the core of the U.S. defense system. The goal is to use AI to improve business operations, healthcare, military readiness, policy-making, and warfare. Earlier in August, the White House announced a large cash prize for individuals or groups that can create AI systems to defend important software from cyberattacks.