Top 9 Cybersecurity Trends To Watch Out For In 2021

With the pandemic dominating headlines at the moment, cybersecurity concerns seem to come at a distant second. Unfortunately, hackers don’t seem to be taking a time out. They are trying to outwit small business owners by initiating a ransomware attack every 14 seconds. It almost feels like a chess game where business owners are on the losing side; checkmate after checkmate.

There’s still some hope, though. By keeping current on recent security developments in the cyber landscape, small business owners can remain prepared against any threats. 

Below is a list of the top cybersecurity trends to watch out for in 2021, and how they might impact your small business moving forward.

1. 5G Presents New, Steeper Challenges

We’ve heard about the benefits of 5G since 2019, but it wasn’t until mid-2020 that rollouts intensified across use cases and industries. 

Today, 5G is well on its way to becoming an integral part of running any business. By offering greater speeds, more bandwidth, lower latency, and unlimited data capacity, 5G will certainly have a greater impact on small businesses over the next year.

However, this is bound to allow hackers the chance to control all 5G-related systems. These creepy opportunists will likely throw plenty of security hurdles in the way of small businesses. 2021 will see a widespread focus on device and network security efforts as businesses will move to contain any potential threats. Yours should be right at the heart of it all!

2. Ransomware Attacks Will Intensify

Last year we saw ransomware causing panic across health facilities as well as large government institutions. In 2021, hackers will take things a notch higher through collaborative partnerships. 

Tighten your belt and prepare yourself for more intensive ransomware attacks. Rather than just threatening your data, hackers are threatening to disclose it or sell it. 

As the pandemic continues to lurk, we expect them to intensify their attacks on businesses come 2021. Top-notch ransomware protection is more important than ever.

3. Remote Access: The Achilles Heel of Cybersecurity

More and more businesses continue to advise their employees to work from home, and it’s easy to see why.  

Not only does it allow your staff to work collaboratively from any location, but it has been proven to boost efficiency and productivity.  

Unfortunately, the trend of businesses not staying on top of remote access security comes into effect, leaving them even more susceptible to hackers.

It’s prudent to secure your firm’s remote access points properly; otherwise, nothing would stop hackers from compromising your networks and data for the foreseeable future.

4. Cloud Breaches

Small businesses have quickly embraced cloud storage, thanks to the pandemic. 

However, the rising confidence in hybrid, private, and public data cloud gives way to more unique challenges. As more small businesses move to the cloud, so will the attention of hackers. 

2020 has seen a sudden spike in malware attacks against web applications. These attacks are so powerful that they can almost bypass two-factor authentication. The result? Shared mailboxes and service accounts have become more vulnerable than ever.

As the new year draws closer, it’s important to adopt a practical approach to cloud security. By rethinking your company’s web security infrastructure, you’ll not only ensure real-time threat management but also maintain control of critical data.

5. Mobile Devices: The Easiest Target

With mobile internet quickly outpacing desktop, hackers are also shifting their attention from computers to smartphones.

Many employees keep their private data on mobile phones and tablets. What’s worse, IT managers don’t see the value of investing in top-notch mobile security infrastructure despite the glaring risks.

If your business has rolled out BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) strategies, the time to revamp mobile security is now or never. 

6. Employees : Your Biggest Threat?

A 2019 Verizon report shows that 34% of cyberattacks were misconducts of insider employees. Surprising? Not really.

The human character is by far the trickiest and weakest link in the field of cybersecurity. Contrary to other threats, insider attacks can be triggered just by how staff members feel. 

All it takes is a frustrating day in the office and a $15 flash disk to steal millions worth of information.

7. Sharp Rise in Spear-Phishing

Phishing has been around for as long as some of us have been alive, but despite that, it’s still one of the most powerful methods of hacking. 

However, as businesses are upping their game to protect their assets and staff from this kind of threat, bad actors have not been left behind. They have evolved from sending good old phishing emails to using spear-phishing. It’s a more targeted form of phishing and guarantees more success compared to typical phishing.

Keeping your systems up-to-date with the latest security patches might just do the trick, but for a more holistic and long-lasting impact, managed IT services are your best bet. 

8. Ever-growing Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The demand for cybersecurity experts exceeds supply. In fact, research shows that there will be 3.5 million available cybersecurity jobs over the next year- all unfilled. 

Why? Bad actors are not slowing down anytime soon, and businesses still want to be in businesses. That said, it’s best to consider outsourcing some or all of your security needs. Hire Contego as part of your IT team, and we won’t disappoint!

9. Integration & Automation: A Match Made in Heaven?

Security experts are increasingly under pressure to do more with less. They’re expected to deliver quick and efficient solutions, making automation more important than ever.

By integrating security into agile processes, such as DevOps and CI/CD, small businesses can easily build more secure software. They’ll also be able to keep up with the required quality and pace of software development. 

Large and complex web apps are even more difficult to secure, making automation and cybersecurity an integral part of software development in 2021 and beyond.

Wrapping Up

This year has been a rollercoaster by all standards. Buckle up- we’ll see even more bumps in cybersecurity the coming year as well. It’s not all doom and gloom, however. By following our 2021 cybersecurity trend list, you’ll not only protect your business from potential threats but also forge ahead of the competition. 

Want to analyze the level of risk of your small business? Don’t hesitate to schedule a free cyber threat assessment with us today., and we will be more than willing to assist.