As the importance of data continues to increase, and being online has become the new normal - from spending long hours on social media to using connected pillows, online shopping, and taking part in virtual meetings - improving data security and the infrastructure that supports online services has become a top priority for all businesses. This report presents some of the challenges in these areas for 2024, projecting trends that could alter digital defense and cybersecurity strategies, addressing key issues for understanding and adapting to changes in this domain.

The first topic, the "Zero Trust" approach, stands out as a central pillar for modern security. This concept, based on the premise of never trusting and always verifying, reshapes security strategies, requiring continuous authentication and rigorous monitoring, even within presumably secure networks. The implementation of this approach is essential to mitigate risks.

Next, programmable and autonomous security emerges as a vital component, allowing a more agile and adaptive response to threats by offering great customization power in mitigating attacks and responding to incidents. Static security solutions - buillt on a signature-based approach - are no longer sufficient to protect against simple attacks, let alone complex and targeted ones, like those that use polymorphism techniques, which alter the attack's signature, making it difficult or impossible to detect.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also playing a transformative role, both in threat detection and in responding to security incidents. AI is the ally that empowers security systems to learn and evolve, bringing visibility to threats that would go unnoticed and offering an additional layer of protection against increasingly smart, automated, and fast attacks.

In 2024 we will see an increase in the number of attacks that exploit the use of AI to infiltrate systems, gaining persistence in them and materializing C2 (Command & Control) attacks, for example. AI-driven threats will become increasingly sophisticated, from the creation of highly advanced deepfakes for phishing and other forms of social engineering, to the dissemination of malware with advanced evasion and autonomous propagation capability.

API protection emerges as a critical topic, especially considering its fundamental importance in service integration and facilitating communication between different digital platforms. With the extensive use of APIs - which have already surpassed the volume of transactions performed by users - the security of these interfaces becomes essential to prevent unauthorized access and data injection or theft attacks, or even to increase the reliability of these services. This report highlights the need to implement robust security strategies, including rigorous authentication and authorization and the encryption of data in transit and at rest.

Additionally, we highlight the critical need to implement rigorous security management practices in the software development supply chain. Ensuring integrity and security at each stage of the software development life cycle is essential to prevent vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cybercriminals.

This involves adopting a proactive approach in risk assessment, implementing robust security controls, and conducting regular security audits across all supply chain components. Such a strategy not only strengthens the software security posture but also ensures that the final products align with the best security practices, thus minimizing the potential for exploitation by external threats.

Lastly, the report explores the growing importance of cyber insurance, a trend that highlights the emerging need for approaches to mitigate the financial risks resulting from security breaches and data losses. As the cyber threat landscape becomes increasingly complex and the financial consequences of security incidents amplify, cyber insurance emerges as a vital tool for businesses of all sizes.

They not only offer a financial safety net, but also encourage the adoption of rigorous security practices by setting minimum requirements for coverage. Thus, integrating cyber insurance into risk management strategies represents a prudent step to protect against the adverse financial impacts of security incidents, reinforcing the importance of a holistic approach to cybersecurity.

This report provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the predicted trends for 2024 in the field of cybersecurity, offering valuable insights for professionals and organizations to effectively anticipate and mitigate the challenges that arise in this dynamic and ever-evolving environment.

We encourage everyone to delve deeply into this document in order to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge to successfully navigate the risks and opportunities of cybersecurity in the near future.

"The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create it."

Peter Drucker

US$ 8 trillion. That was the estimated global cost of cybercrime in 2023, according to a study by Cybersecurity Ventures [1]. If it were a country, this illicit activity would be the third largest economy in the world, behind only the U.S. and China. 

A market report from Checkpoint Security pointed to an 8% growth in the weekly number of cyberattacks worldwide in the second quarter of 2023 [2], the highest growth in the past two years. In the first half of the year one of the most well-known groups for ransomware, Lockbit [3], increased its number of victims by 20%.

Regardless of the industry, no business is safe. Companies of all types and sizes can fall victim to threats such as ransomware, data theft, and information leaks, which can damage business continuity, harm reputations, and even lead to legal repercussions.

In addition to protecting yourself against current threats, it's important to be aware of what's to come. As Wayne Gretzky once said, "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it is". To assist in this task, we have prepared this report on edge computing security trends.

Drawing on the experience of our executive team, we have discussed the most common themes in the market to identify those that will most significantly impact the development and delivery of applications on the edge in the coming year.

With this, we hope to help identify potential risks before they materialize at your doorstep, or opportunities that, if seized, may offer a competitive advantage. Happy reading!

In addition to the four trends presented, there are a few concepts that we consider worthy of attention for any company that takes the security of its operations seriously. Think of them as bonuses that will ensure an extra layer of protection to prevent the worst and bring peace of mind in case it happens.

Supply Chain Security Management

This concept refers to managing the risks associated with suppliers, partners, and external service providers. Your applications do not exist in a vacuum: they depend on external libraries and tools, and they are most likely hosted and executed in an infrastructure that is not entirely under your control.

In software development, the concept of an SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) is emerging, basically a list of all the "ingredients" required to build a specific application.

It's necessary to establish procedures to ensure all these components are up-to-date and protected, and that there are communication channels with suppliers so that any security alerts are received and incidents resolved. Similarly, when choosing a service provider, pay attention to their security history, SLAs for problem resolution (especially critical incidents), and available communication channels.

Cyber Insurance

The increasing number of cybersecurity incidents and the associated recovery costs have led to the emergence of a cyber insurance [16] industry that helps reduce the financial impact on attacked companies.

These policies can cover both direct costs, such as those related to recovering lost data and repairing compromised systems, as well as indirect costs, such as legal fees and compensation to affected customers.

On the other hand, they do not cover pre-existing faults, infrastructure failures, or incidents caused by employees. They also exclude coverage of incidents caused by known but unpatched vulnerabilities. In other words, it's not enough to just buy the insurance, a proactive security stance is required.

The modern hyperconnected economy brings countless opportunities, but also a series of challenges that, at first glance, can be considered insurmountable, like the need to protect a virtually global "perimeter" against increasingly complex and sophisticated onslaughts. To make matters worse, the characteristics of this scenario change all the time, as criminals quickly adapt to defense strategies and respond with new forms of attack.

Fortunately, trends like Zero Trust Security, programmable security, the use of AI, API protection, and IoT security provide us with the necessary tools to safely navigate these turbulent waters. Implementing them quickly and effectively is key to reducing operational costs while enhancing the protection of your business. Count on Azion's experience in this journey.