What Unexpected Event Might Happen Today?
Another morning where you go to work and carry out your usual duties and activities. Strange occurrences disrupt the current work process. Computers and office equipment stop functioning, unusual messages appear, and critical data mysteriously disappear. What is actually happening? The certainty that you are the target of a cyber attack is now more obvious than ever, and you wonder what to do next and how it came to this?
In the digital world, which is growing exponentially, such incidents are becoming increasingly common. The world of cyber security is a constant battlefield, where businesses and organizations must stay one step ahead of cyber attackers. Prevention is essential in this case, but the ability to detect and respond ultimately determines the extent of losses and the severity of cyber attacks. A significant portion of the cyber security budget is currently directed towards prevention, while only about 35% goes towards detection and response.
Considering the seriousness of attacks, which are increasingly sophisticated, companies can no longer rely solely on the traditional approach of strengthening their defense mechanisms. The growing dependence on outsourcing business processes, data flows between companies, and the potential use of artificial intelligence, both within companies and by cyber attackers, make focusing on early detection and response imperative.
Regardless of investments in cyber security, companies must be aware of the fact that not every attack can be prevented, but detection and response mechanisms can play a significant role, potentially reducing costs by up to 1.000 times if attacks are identified early (compared to unknown and uncontrolled attacks). In today's world, technologies for early detection are readily available and constantly advancing. Technologies such as Security Operations Centers (SOC), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, Extended Detection and Response (XDR) systems, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are becoming increasingly essential for companies.
New Reality or Enhanced Traditional Solutions?
It is alarming that 67% of small and medium enterprises believe they lack the internal expertise to handle illegal access and data theft. However, this issue is mitigating as more of these companies establish collaborations with cybersecurity firms: 89% in 2022, compared to 74% in 2020. Outdated and traditional cyber defense methods, which are no longer sufficient to protect against today's sophisticated attacks, have prompted organizations to adopt new cyber defense methods that are more proactive, scalable, and efficient.
- IPification is a mobile authentication technology that allows users to verify their identity using their mobile devices, primarily by using their mobile phone numbers. It is often used as a safer and more user-friendly alternative to traditional usernames and passwords for accessing online services and applications. IPification is frequently utilized across various online services including mobile apps, websites, and financial institutions to enhance security and user experience. However, it is important to ensure that proper security measures are in place to protect against SIM card swapping and other potential attacks on mobile authentication systems.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are powerful tools in the fight against cyber threats. AI and ML can analyze large volumes of data in real time to detect unusual patterns and anomalies that indicate a potential attack. These technologies can automatically respond to threats and block them before they even reach your network.
- Quantum encryption – quantum computers promise a revolution in the field of computing, but they also pose a threat to existing encryption methods. Quantum encryption uses the principles of quantum mechanics to ensure that data cannot be breached, even with the most powerful computers. Although still in the experimental phase, this technology promises a revolution in data protection.
- Blockchain technology – a database composed of smaller databases (blocks) digitally interconnected, which underlies cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, also has applications in the field of cybersecurity. It enables transparent and immutable data storage, making it difficult to manipulate and steal data. Blockchain is used to ensure the integrity of information in various sectors, including finance and healthcare.
- Biometric identification and authentication, such as fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, and eye scanning, are becoming ubiquitous in the world of cybersecurity. These biometric data are harder to forge and provide precise user authentication. The implementation of biometric authentication protects your systems from unauthorized access.
- Application-level security (AppSec) – attackers often target vulnerabilities at the application level. Application-level security involves the practice of regularly testing and updating software to ensure that all vulnerabilities are patched. A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is also used to block cyber attacks targeted at applications.
Although it’s better not to be attacked at all, data indicates that about 90% of incidents can be mitigated in their early stages, staying within the coverage of insurance policies. If an incident progresses beyond the policy limits, the consequences will become more serious and costly, underscoring the need to take all available measures.