Cybersecurity is never static, and that’s especially true today. After widespread and frequent disruptions in the past few years, the cyber defense landscape is shifting. Favored attack vectors are changing, new threats are emerging, and organizations are rethinking their cybersecurity focus.

Staying safe in the next few years requires an understanding of these developments. With that in mind, here are five data-backed predictions for how the state of cybersecurity will change.

1. The Cybersecurity Talent Shortage Will Worsen

Cybersecurity professionals today face a pressing talent shortage that will only worsen over the next few years. As cybercrime risks rise, so will demand for these workers, but this workforce segment isn’t growing fast enough to keep up. While one study revealed that 700,000 people joined the industry in 2021, that same study indicates that the world still needs 2.7 million more.

This skills gap could exacerbate the lack of cybersecurity knowledge that already plagues businesses. In a recent survey, 67.6% of cybersecurity professionals said they often have to educate their companies on proper security practices. With ignorance being such a prominent challenge, businesses may be slow to realize they need to attract more security workers.

Cybersecurity can also be challenging to break into thanks to its high technical requirements and continually evolving landscape. As a result, the profession will likely grow slower than it needs to.

2. Ransomware Attacks Keep Growing

Ransomware is another growing concern across businesses and industries. These attacks have become one of the most prominent threats of the last few years, and they will likely keep growing in the future. This trend results from two others: growing vulnerability among targets and increasing profitability.

The shift to remote work, which will likely become a permanent fixture, makes ransomware more threatening. Employees at home on their own (Read more...)