Within the last year, cybersecurity has become an increasingly prominent issue in Australia. There have been several high-profile organisations in Australia that have become targets of cyber-attacks, including the Nine Network and JBS Foods. And cybercrime netted hackers profits of up to $3.5 billion in 2019.
A recent report from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) estimated the cost of cybercrime to Australian businesses as reaching up to $29 billion per year. While cybersecurity experts are working together on finding solutions to prevent and protect businesses from cyber-attacks, experts have made their predictions for trends in 2022.
Digital Assets
Digital assets such as cryptocurrencies or NFTs (non-fungible tokens) will become greater targets for cybercriminals, as society is beginning to implement them in the financial landscape. It was reported only a few days ago that hackers stole roughly $150 million worth of tokens from BitMart. BitMart is supposedly the most trusted and secure cryptocurrency trading platform providing real-time updates and trading services.
Lack Of Qualified Cybersecurity Professionals
Over the course of eight years, it is estimated that the number of unfilled cybersecurity roles will rise by 350 percent, from 1 million positions in 2013, to 3.5 million in 2021. From the candidates that have been applying for the cybersecurity positions, there are fewer than 1 in 4 that qualify for the job.
Ransomware Damages Expected To Grow
Global ransomware costs are expected to grow and reach $20 billion, up from $325 million in 2015. Ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations will increase three-fold by the end of 2022.
Linux- Based Operating Systems Will Become A Target
Linux is an easy target for hackers, as it is an open-source system. There has been an increase in tools that are being developed to target the Linux Operating Systems. It is believed that these targets will be Government organisations and big corporates that use this type of operating system. Many organisations focus on Windows-based malware, and often forget about this emerging threat until it’s too late.
Insider Threats A New Challenge
The number of employees leaving their roles within an organisation, and still having access to data and information within that organisation is creating a new challenge for IT teams. Insider threats have become a new challenge for companies, and will continue to grow in 2022. We are expecting to see an increase in the numbers of incidents occurring. Attackers will also start targeting employees to carry out their attacks, or plant a ransomware on their behalf.
Contact Agilient for the latest advice to keep your organisation secure.
Author: Mahdi Kobeissi, Cyber Security Consultant