The year has just begun, and organizations are already under siege by an army of new cyber-attackers. As COVID-19 has increased technological use on a global-scale, so has it also exposed us to the next generation of cyber threats. With cyber-attacks now a board-level issue, organizations are having to set cybersecurity as a priority focus for the year ahead. To help organizations prepare for the coming year, we’re outlining the top 5 cybersecurity challenges of 2021.

1. Fighting Multiple Battles at Once:

With rapid digitalization spreading across the private and public sectors, organizations and governments are having to fight multifaceted cyber-battles at once. From the spread of fake news to cyber-attacks on hospitals—2021 is turning out to be very much a mixed bag, and organizations need to equip themselves with the right tools to defend themselves.

2. Complex Regulations and Their Impact on Cybersecurity:

With increasingly complex regulations, organizations are struggling to protect themselves while also adhering to new regulations. Governments must consider these predicaments when putting forth new regulations, as they should not greatly hinder organizations from protecting themselves against the onslaught of new threats.

3. Critical dependence on 3rd Parties:

The global pandemic has only highlighted our dependence on technological devices, which is leading to a rise in technologies surrounding 5G, the internet of things and smart systems. Cyber criminals now have access to a plethora of network entry points, allowing them to potentially do a massive amount of damage to organizations on a global scale.

4. Lack of Cybersecurity Experts:

With the rise of cyber-attacks, organizations are feeling greater pressure to strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure, to prevent the onslaught of new attacks. The problem? There aren’t enough experts to go around. Organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to source and retain top cybersecurity talent. Sounds like a golden opportunity…

5. Difficulty Hunting down Cyber Criminals:

Cybercrime is a pretty lucrative business. How lucrative? “Being a cyber criminal offers big rewards and few risks since, until recently, the likelihood of detection and prosecution of a cybercriminal was estimated to be as low as 0.05% in the US. This percentage is even lower in many other countries.” It is incredibly challenging to prove someone committed specific cyber-crimes, and without solid evidence it is nearly impossible to convict a hacker.

To wrap things up—we as a global society are facing some pretty large cybersecurity challenges in 2021. Although it’s an uphill battle, not all is lost. The good news? With cybersecurity becoming more of a priority as time goes on, more resources will be dedicated to better prepare the world to defend itself against the next generation of cyber-criminals. With that, you can rest easy tonight.

Read the full article here.

Like what you’re reading? Take a look at more top articles, trends and experts by signing up to our newsletter—By getting to choose which topics interest you the most, you get the latest news delivered with ease: https://essentials.news/cybersecurity/my-essentials