The growth of cyberattacks in 2023 continues. This is due to conflicts in the digital environment, the activity of hackers, as well as the updating of old and the emergence of new ransomware. Under such conditions, the cybersecurity of companies comes to the fore and becomes the most important strategic direction. In this article, we will look at the most relevant cyber threats in 2023, as well as the technologies used to protect against them, in particular, SIEM security monitoring services, DLPs, and firewalls.
Main Types of Cyber Threats
The main types of cyber threats used by attackers do not change. However, hackers regularly improve them to penetrate the target system more effectively. Let’s take a look at the cyber threats that are most relevant in 2023.
- Brute force.
So-called brute-force attacks involve hacking the infrastructure by calculating user accounts. To do this, use special scripts and applications that help bypass authentication. If the password is simple enough, it will take no more than a few seconds to crack it.
- Targeted attacks.
Targeted attacks are always long-lasting and are aimed at gaining access to the network with the ability to remain undetected for an extended period of time. Their task is to steal confidential information from holdings, companies, or government agencies.
- Bots.
Software robots that mimic human behavior and are able to perform simple tasks at high speed. If their work is aimed at user support, it will be useful. At the same time, malicious bots can cause a lot of trouble. So, they are used to scan websites in order to identify vulnerabilities or carry out simple cyber attacks.
- Malicious software.
Malicious software (trojans, viruses, spyware, etc.) can cause serious damage to an individual PC, an entire network, or a server. Their task is to encrypt, erase and steal confidential data, capture the computing functions of PCs and applications, and monitor their work.
- Internal threats.
This type of threat is always created by the company’s customers, employees, or contractors. This can happen due to negligence, unwillingness to comply with security algorithms, or with malicious intent. As a result, confidential information may be leaked.
- DoS and DDoS attacks.
These include attacks in which it is impossible to provide a particular service. With DoS, requests come from one system, with DDoS – from several at once. Thus, attackers can block access to PCs, servers, entire services, and networks, or to certain operations in applications.
- Cryptojacking.
Cryptojacking is a relatively new type of threat in cyberspace. It involves the use of software that can steal the computing power of the device. This allows an attacker to use them for mining. The process itself is not visible to the user, suspicions arise only with a serious increase in electricity bills.
- Supply chain attacks.
Through such attacks, there is an undermining of trust between the company and its counterparties. After compromising one facility, attackers move up the supply chain in order to gain access to another. If the enterprise system fails to break, they direct efforts to break into an untrusted provider in order to try again through it.
- Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
The peculiarity of this attack is that the cybercriminal passes web traffic through himself, receiving all the login credentials. The user does not suspect anything, and his data can be used to steal information or transfer funds to other accounts.
- Phishing.
Phishing is a form of social engineering where users receive emails that look very similar to those that usually come from trusted sources. Such mailings are carried out by scammers in order to lure bank card details or credentials.
Business Cyber Defenses
A well-chosen set of tools designed to protect the company’s IT landscape will guarantee the safety of confidential information. It includes three areas: technical means, organizational measures, and regular audits of the level of security for preventive purposes.
Technical Means
First of all, this should include email protection by creating a secure gateway that can filter out emails that carry threats in the form of malicious links or attachments. Other means:
- WAF complex. This is a firewall for web applications designed to detect and block attacks, to determine which ones are aimed at business-critical systems.
- Antivirus software. Such solutions are focused on the prevention and detection of infection, as well as on the implementation of actions aimed at eliminating them.
- Firewalls. Such solutions represent a digital security barrier around the company’s IT infrastructure, preventing unauthorized access to it.
- SIEM security monitoring as a service. The task of such systems is to accumulate and combine data from the IT infrastructure, classify them, analyze events and incidents, and notify the security administrator about them.
- DLP. Software designed to prevent information leaks or their illegitimate use by tracking all corporate network traffic.
Organizational Arrangements
This includes working with employees, in particular raising their awareness through webinars and training in the basics of cybersecurity, developing skills to detect and counter-attacks. In addition, it is necessary to delimit the rights and roles of employees, excluding or restricting the access of certain user groups to equipment, files, and systems.
Information Security Audit
Auditing and PenTest are used to check security. So you can get an independent assessment of compliance with recognized standards in the field of information security in accordance with the international standard. An audit is one of the most important activities in creating a concept for protecting the IT landscape of enterprises, but it needs to be carried out on a regular basis.
PenTest simulates real attacks using methods that attackers use. Thanks to it, you can detect weak links in the company’s IT infrastructure, assess the state of its protection and draw up a list of measures that will help increase the level of security.
Final Thoughts
The cybersecurity system of any enterprise can be compared to the immunity of the human body: the stronger it is, the more protected the business will be from any kind of attacks. To do this, it must work as a single mechanism and ensure data protection at all levels, including physical, organizational, legislative, moral and ethical, software and hardware. If you are looking for SIEM security monitoring services in 2023, we recommend that you pay attention to UnderDefense. The provider offers three options for the provision of SIEM services; they differ in the volume of services transferred under management.
