Four Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2024
As we dive into 2024, several trends are shaping the future of cybersecurity. While we can’t predict exactly how these trends will affect our lives in the upcoming year, looking ahead, we already know a few things about the state of security and compliance.
To start, we’re facing a significant election year which inevitably comes with an increase in social engineering. We also face unreconciled data breaches like the consequential MOVEit hack in 2023, and we continue to see a rise in the cost of cybercrime. With those facts in mind, it’s no surprise that security and compliance initiatives are becoming a more integral part of how organizations structure their policies and procedures.
Let’s explore four key trends that are not only defining the cybersecurity landscape but also influencing how organizations approach their security strategies.
The Rise of AI Standards and Frameworks
In 2024, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) for business procedures will be more prominent than ever. While AI-driven systems help organizations leverage their capabilities, with new technologies comes an increase in potential risks. Several cybersecurity standards and frameworks have already begun implementing solutions for the trustworthy use of AI.
For example, in 2024, ISO will release ISO 42001, a new standard designed to help implement safeguards for AI systems’ security, safety, privacy, fairness, transparency, and data quality. HITRUST and NIST have also adopted new initiatives to ensure compliance with the rapidly evolving technology.
The rise of AI risk management solutions in cybersecurity signifies a shift towards proactive security programs, enabling organizations to stay ahead of cyber attacks.
Ransomware Tactics Continue to Develop
Despite efforts to combat ransomware, we continue to witness an escalation in ransomware attacks. It’s predicted that cybercriminals will continue to deploy increasingly sophisticated tactics in 2024, targeting both large and small organizations.
To counter this growing trend, organizations are investing in robust contingency plans, which help define responsibilities and accountability for incident response and reporting activities and create a process for tracking an incident and the corresponding remediation procedures. Overall, staying ahead of ransomware attacks requires a multi-faceted approach involving preparedness in terms of day-to-day operations and readiness to respond to more significant incidents.
National U.S. Data Privacy Act Becoming More Likely
The importance of data privacy has gained considerable attention in recent years, leading to increased discussions around the need for a comprehensive, federal data privacy law in the U.S. In 2024, the momentum toward an American Data Privacy and Protection Act is growing, driven by concerns over protecting personal information.
In fact, five states’ privacy acts will go into effect this year, and as organizations continue to navigate the complex landscape of data privacy and rising cost of data breaches, the potential enactment of a national privacy standard becomes more urgent.
Zero Trust Becomes a Core Business Function
The concept of zero trust, where no entity inside or outside the network is inherently trusted, is evolving from a cybersecurity strategy to a core business function. In 2024, organizations may further recognize the importance of continuous verification and authorization, moving away from the idea that zero trust is merely a technical concern.
For example, CSA recently launched a training and certificate program to develop skills in zero trust methodology, providing individuals and organizations alike an opportunity to build their knowledge of zero trust and implement zero trust in cloud environments.
Organizations that proactively embrace these trends can better position themselves to navigate the complex and ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, ensuring cyber resilience in the face of emerging threats.
Contact us today for more information about our security and compliance services that can help your organization stay threat-adaptive in 2024 and beyond.