Cybersecurity is constantly developing and evolving to new threats and increasingly sophisticated hacks and hackers, with the next decade set to present a host of new challenges.
On average, companies spent $9.6m on cybersecurity last year. That ranged from $0.6m for those with less than $1b in revenue to a whopping $29.2m for firms with more than $20bn in revenue. That underlines the importance of staying abreast of the latest challenges and developments with some experts believing that information we believe is safe now could be vulnerable ten years down the line.
In March 2020, computer manufacturers Honeywell announced they were set to unveil the world’s most powerful quantum computer. Whilst that holds obvious benefits in terms of tackling complex scientific and business challenges, it also presents a possible cybersecurity risk. Such power presents a possibility to crack even the most complex encryption in existence right now.
Whilst the threat wouldn’t be immediate, the reality is data could be stolen now and decrypted 10 years down the line as the technology evolves. Your encrypted data might not be of use in 2030, but what of classified government files, or sensitive financial information?
Another possible cybersecurity challenge comes from the ever-growing field of artificial intelligence (AI). Every passing month sees a new development in the abilities and limitations of AI, which could present a severe cybersecurity risk in the future.
For instance, what if a hacker’s tools incorporated the sort of AI that could mimic a sophisticated human cracker when attempting to break into a protected network? That level of AI may not be available right now, but it does present the potential for AI-led infiltration in the future.
Hackers are already using an AI ability to reap information and adapt their attacks, helping them to model adaptable threats and create intelligent malware programs. That is just one of the many uses of AI set to present challenges to cybersecurity over the coming decade.
Biometric security is one aspect of cybersecurity which we’re likely to see much more regularly over the next decade. Your mobile phone is likely to use biometrics for entry, in addition to some of the more traditionally accepted uses such as fingerprint keypads.
One challenge here is ensuring the technology keeps up with the increasing demand for fresh innovation. PCB design services are required to help companies reach hardware solutions that will enable effective biometric security, but those hardware applications must then integrate seamlessly with the software. Simply keeping the tech progressing at the same pace as the threats is a huge challenge.
Even with biometric security, your phone is one element of risk that will become more of a threat over the next decade. Increasingly sophisticated techniques to infect your mobile devices through apps are on the rise, and are looking to steal data from you. They might be hoping to harvest bank details, payment methods, or take any stored passwords from these devices.
With every new development in technology, a new threat rises at the same time. Our lives are becoming reliant on tech, be it around the home, on our phone or in our place of work, and where there’s technology there’s a threat of cybercrime. Over the next ten years, expect to hear more about how you can protect yourself every step of the way.
For further reading on this subject, please consult our post on examining the state of cybersecurity practices and the growing trends impacting the industry.
by Katherine Drake
