What are the different types of cybersecurity threats?

Cybersecurity threats encompass a wide range of malicious activities and tactics aimed at compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and systems. Some of the different types of cybersecurity threats include:

• Malware is a form of malicious software in which any file or program can be used to harm a user's computer. Different types of malware include worms, viruses, Trojans and spyware.

• Ransomware is a type of malware that involves an attacker locking the victim's computer system files -- typically through encryption -- and demanding a payment to decrypt and unlock them.

• Social engineering is an attack that relies on human interaction. It tricks users into breaking security procedures to gain sensitive information that's typically protected.

• Phishing is a form of social engineering in which fraudulent email or text messages that resemble those from reputable or known sources are sent. Often random attacks, the intent of phishing messages is to steal sensitive data, such as credit card or login information.

• Spear phishing is a type of phishing that has an intended target user, organization or business.

• Insider threats are security breaches or losses caused by humans -- for example, employees, contractors or customers. Insider threats can be malicious or negligent in nature.

• Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are those in which multiple systems disrupt the traffic of a targeted system, such as a server, website or other network resource. By flooding the target with messages, connection requests or packets, DDoS attacks can slow the system or crash it, preventing legitimate traffic from using it.

• Advanced persistent threats (APT) is a prolonged targeted attack in which an attacker infiltrates a network and remains undetected for long periods of time. The goal of an APT is to steal data.

• Man-in-the-middle (MitM)) attacks are eavesdropping attacks that involve an attacker intercepting and relaying messages between two parties who believe they're communicating with each other.

• SQL injection is a technique that attackers use to gain access to a web application database by adding a string of malicious SQL code to a database query. A SQL injection provides access to sensitive data and enables the attackers to execute malicious SQL statements.

Other common types of attacks include botnets, drive-by-download attacks, exploit kits, malvertising, vishing, credential stuffing attacks, cross-site scripting attacks, keyloggers, worms and zero-day exploits.

What are the top cybersecurity challenges?

Cybersecurity is continually challenged by hackers, data loss, privacy, risk management and changing cybersecurity strategies. And the number of cyberattacks isn't expected to decrease anytime soon. Moreover, increased entry points for attacks, such as the internet of things and the growing attack surface, increase the need to secure networks and devices.

The following major challenges must be continuously addressed.

Evolving threats

One of the most problematic elements of cybersecurity is the evolving nature of security risks. As new technologies emerge -- and as technology is used in new or different ways -- new attack avenues are developed. Keeping up with these frequent changes and advances in attacks, as well as updating practices to protect against them, can be challenging. Issues include ensuring all elements of cybersecurity are continually updated to protect against potential vulnerabilities. This can be especially difficult for smaller organizations that don't have adequate staff or in-house resources.

Data deluge

Organizations can gather a lot of potential data on the people who use their services. With more data being collected comes the potential for a cybercriminal to steal personally identifiable information (PII). For example, an organization that stores PII in the cloud could be subject to a ransomware attack.

Cybersecurity awareness training

Cybersecurity programs should also address end-user education. Employees can accidentally bring threats and vulnerabilities into the workplace on their laptops or mobile devices. Likewise, they might act imprudently -- for example, clicking links or downloading attachments from phishing emails.

Regular security awareness training can help employees do their part in keeping their company safe from cyberthreats.

Workforce shortage and skills gap

Another cybersecurity challenge is a shortage of qualified cybersecurity personnel. As the amount of data collected and used by businesses grows, the need for cybersecurity staff to analyze, manage and respond to incidents also increases. In 2023, cybersecurity association ISC2 estimated the workplace gap between needed cybersecurity jobs and security professionals at 4 million, a 12.6% increase over 2022.

Supply chain attacks and third-party risks

Organizations can do their best to maintain security, but if the partners, suppliers and third-party vendors that access their networks don't act securely, all that effort is for naught. Software- and hardware-based supply chain attacks are becoming increasingly difficult security challenges. Organizations must address third-party risk in the supply chain and reduce software supply issues, for example, by using software bills of materials.

Cybersecurity best practices

Cybersecurity best practices are essential for protecting individuals, organizations, and systems from cyber threats. Implementing these practices helps to mitigate risks, safeguard sensitive information, and maintain a secure digital environment. 

Here are some cybersecurity best practices to follow:

• Use Strong Passwords: Create complex and unique passwords for each account, incorporating a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using passphrase or password manager tools to generate and manage strong passwords securely.

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to your accounts. MFA requires users to provide multiple forms of authentication, such as a password and a temporary code sent to a mobile device, to verify their identity.

• Keep Software Updated: Regularly update operating systems, software applications, and firmware to patch security vulnerabilities and protect against known exploits. Enable automatic updates whenever possible to ensure timely installation of security patches.

• Use Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software: Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on all devices to detect and remove malicious software. Keep the software up-to-date and perform regular scans to identify and quarantine potential threats.

• Secure Your Network: Secure your Wi-Fi network with strong encryption (e.g., WPA2 or WPA3) and change the default SSID (network name) and administrator passwords. Disable remote management features and implement network segmentation to isolate sensitive devices and data.

• Implement Firewalls: Use firewalls, both at the network perimeter and on individual devices, to monitor and control incoming and outgoing traffic. Configure firewalls to block unauthorized access and filter out malicious content.

• Encrypt Data: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit to protect it from unauthorized access. Use encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS for secure communication over the internet and encryption algorithms like AES for securing stored data.

• Back Up Data Regularly: Implement regular data backups to ensure data availability and recovery in the event of a security incident, hardware failure, or data loss. Store backups securely offsite or in the cloud and test restoration procedures periodically.

• Educate Users: Provide cybersecurity awareness training and education to employees, users, and stakeholders to raise awareness of common threats, phishing scams, and security best practices. Encourage a security-conscious culture and promote vigilant behavior online.

• Establish Incident Response Plans: Develop and maintain incident response plans and procedures to effectively respond to and mitigate security incidents. Establish clear roles and responsibilities, define escalation procedures, and conduct regular incident response drills and exercises.

• Monitor and Audit Systems: Implement continuous monitoring and logging of system and network activities to detect and respond to security incidents promptly. Regularly review logs, audit trails, and security alerts to identify anomalous behavior and potential security breaches.

• Conduct Security Assessments: Perform regular security assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration tests to identify weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications. Use the findings to remediate vulnerabilities and strengthen security controls.

How is automation used in cybersecurity?

Automation has become an integral component to keeping companies protected from the increasing number and sophistication of cyberthreats. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in areas with high-volume data streams can help improve cybersecurity in the following three main categories:

• Threat detection. AI platforms can analyze data and recognize known threats, as well as predict novel threats that use newly discovered attack techniques that bypass traditional security.

• Threat response. AI platforms create and automatically enact security protections.

• Human augmentation. Security pros are often overloaded with alerts and repetitive tasks. AI can help eliminate alert fatigue by automatically triaging low-risk alarms and automating big data analysis and other repetitive tasks, freeing humans for more sophisticated tasks.

Other benefits of automation in cybersecurity include attack classification, malware classification, traffic analysis, compliance analysis and more.

Cybersecurity vendors and tools

Vendors in the cybersecurity field offer a variety of security products and services that fall into the following categories:

• IAM.

• Firewalls.

• Endpoint protection.

• Antimalware and antivirus.

• Intrusion prevention systems and detection systems.

• Data loss prevention.

• Endpoint detection and response.

• Security information and event management.

• Encryption.

• Vulnerability scanners.

• Virtual private networks.

• Cloud workload protection platform.

• Cloud access security broker.

Examples of cybersecurity vendors include the following:

• Check Point Software.

• Cisco.

• Code42 Software Inc.

• CrowdStrike.

• FireEye.

• Fortinet.

• IBM.

• Imperva.

• KnowBe4, Inc.

• McAfee.

• Microsoft.

• Palo Alto Networks.

• Rapid7.

• Splunk.

• Symantec by Broadcom.

• Trend Micro.

• Trustwave.

What are the career opportunities in cybersecurity?

As the cyberthreat landscape continues to grow and new threats emerge, organizations need individuals with cybersecurity awareness and hardware and software skills.

IT professionals and other computer specialists are needed in the following security roles:

• Chief information security officer (CISO). A CISO is the person who implements the security program across the organization and oversees the IT security department's operations.

• Chief security officer (CSO). A CSO is the executive responsible for the physical and cybersecurity of a company.

• Computer forensics analysts. They investigate computers and digital devices involved in cybercrimes to prevent a cyberattack from happening again. Computer forensics analysts uncover how a threat actor gained access to a network, identifying security gaps. This position is also in charge of preparing evidence for legal purposes.

• Security engineers. These IT professionals protect company assets from threats with a focus on quality control within the IT infrastructure.

• Security architects. These people are responsible for planning, analyzing, designing, testing, maintaining and supporting an enterprise's critical infrastructure.

• Security analysts. These IT professionals plan security measures and controls, protect digital files, and conduct both internal and external security audits.

• Security software developers. These IT professionals develop software and ensure it's secured to help prevent potential attacks.

• Network security architects. Their responsibilities include defining network policies and procedures and configuring network security tools like antivirus and firewall configurations. Network security architects improve the security strength while maintaining network availability and performance.

• Penetration testers. These are ethical hackers who test the security of systems, networks and applications, seeking vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit.

• Threat hunters. These IT professionals are threat analysts who aim to uncover vulnerabilities and attacks and mitigate them before they compromise a business.

Other cybersecurity careers include security consultants, data protection officers, cloud security architects, security operations managers and analysts, security investigators, cryptographers and security administrators.

Entry-level cybersecurity positions typically require one to three years of experience and a bachelor's degree in business or liberal arts, as well as certifications such as CompTIA Security+. Jobs in this area include associate cybersecurity analysts and network security analyst positions, as well as cybersecurity risk and SOC analysts.

Mid-level positions typically require three to five years of experience. These positions typically include security engineers, security analysts and forensics analysts.

Senior-level positions typically require five to eight years of experience. They typically include positions such as senior cybersecurity risk analyst, principal application security engineer, penetration tester, threat hunter and cloud security analyst.

Higher-level positions generally require more than eight years of experience and typically encompass C-level positions.

Advancements in cybersecurity technology

As newer technologies evolve, they can be applied to cybersecurity to advance security practices. Some recent technology trends in cybersecurity include the following:

• Security automation through AI. While AI and machine learning can aid attackers, they can also be used to automate cybersecurity tasks. AI is useful for analyzing large data volumes to identify patterns and for making predictions on potential threats. AI tools can also suggest possible fixes for vulnerabilities and identify patterns of unusual behavior.

• Zero-trust architecture. Zero-trust principles assume that no users or devices should be considered trustworthy without verification. Implementing a zero-trust approach can reduce both the frequency and severity of cybersecurity incidents, along with other zero-trust benefits.

• Behavioral biometrics. This cybersecurity method uses machine learning to analyze user behavior. It can detect patterns in the way users interact with their devices to identify potential threats, such as if someone else has access to their account.

• Continued improvements in response capabilities. Organizations must be continually prepared to respond to large-scale ransomware attacks so they can properly respond to a threat without paying any ransom and without losing any critical data.

• Quantum computing. While this technology is still in its infancy and still has a long way to go before it sees use, quantum computing will have a large impact on cybersecurity practices -- introducing new concepts such as quantum cryptography.