Cyber security threats are evolving at an alarming pace. New vulnerabilities, loopholes, and lapses present themselves all the time, and highly motivated, well-equipped hackers will do anything to exploit them. That’s why companies of all sizes and across industries need to take cyber security seriously. Stay ahead of the curve by learning about some of the major threats projected for 2016.
Targeting the Cloud
It’s hard to find a business (or personal user) these days that does not take advantage of cloud computing to some extent. And given the well-noted benefits of the cloud, many enterprises use it to house their most sensitive information and mission-critical applications. That makes it a natural target for hackers. Cloud security has come a long way, but motivated hackers have shown a maddening capacity to bypass new security measures. Look for the frequency and intensity of cloud data breaches to increase in 2016.
Mobile Vulnerability
Our reliance on mobile devices has exploded over a short period of time, and you would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t use several on a daily basis. They are great because they are convenient, portable, and inexpensive. But those same qualities make them especially vulnerable to cyber security threats. Many users fail to add password protections, thoughtlessly download insecure apps, lose devices, or replace them without erasing the memory. Hackers know this, and they are increasingly targeting mobile devices and exploiting them to access huge repositories of personal information and intellectual property.
Automobile Targeting
Most new vehicles produced these days offer some kind of network connectivity. That is great for drivers who want to access music, apps, emails, and navigation instructions on the road. But it also means that automobiles are now vulnerable to hacking. Conceivably, a hacker could break into an on-board computer and use it to disable a vehicle, or a whole fleet of vehicles. So far, instances of automobile hacking are rare. But as connected cars increasingly become the norm, it’s an issue that we will surely have to grapple with. Don’t be surprised if an incident makes headlines in 2016.
It’s worth reiterating another cyber security trend seen over the past few years – the targeting of small- to mid-sized businesses. Hackers are no longer limiting their attacks to the world’s largest corporations. They have realized that smaller enterprises have data/resources that are just as valuable, and a lot less secure. That means cyber security must be a priority. Touch back with The Squires Group next month as we tell you about three more cyber security threats to watch out for in 2016.
