Cybersecurity trends for 2022: get prepared.
In 2022, there will be 6 billion people connected to the internet, interacting with data. This number has increased by 1 billion since 2020.
What challenges are waiting for everyone on the internet? Did the cybersecurity landscape change during the past two years? What new emerging tendencies should one be aware of in the upcoming year?
Let’s unwrap the cybersecurity trends for 2022. What users and enterprises should get ready for?
2021 recap: what happened?
2021 was a challenging year.
With economics trying to regain the pre-pandemic state, the number and sophistication of cyber threats became the real struggle for businesses and individuals.
66% of small or medium businesses experienced at least one cyber incident within the past 12 months.
In 2021, the new record for the highest ever ransomware payout was set by one insurance company. It paid $40 million ransom to the cybercriminals.
Phishing attacks made up 83% of all large corporations’ data breaches reports.
So, what lessons from 2021 can we bring to the next year? Will the landscape change? What are the forecasted cybersecurity trends for 2022?
Cybersecurity trends for 2022 : what is new and what remains?
- Spending on cybersecurity will increase.
The one tendency that is there for granted – information security will be the focus area in enterprise budgeting. More financial and human resources and reliable software will be needed to defend against rising cyber threats. It is predicted that the global information security market will reach $170.4 billion.
The increasing budgets for cybersecurity correlate with the growing cost of cybercrime. Forecasts show that the cybercrime cost steadily increases around 15% annually, reaching an alarming $10.5 trillion by 2025.
Make sure to review and adjust the yearly budget today to keep up with the market.
- Ransomware attacks are forecasted to grow in number and complexity.
The new ransomware payout record set in 2021 disrupted the market and opened the limitless financial potential to hackers. Despite the institutional efforts to regulate cryptocurrency (the main currency for ransom payments), the frequency and complexity of the crime are only growing.
Since ransomware is one of the most financially rewarding cybercrimes, it is expected to affect businesses of all sizes during the upcoming years.
- Challenges for remote workers are expected to remain.
After the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of employees working from home 5+ days a week rose to an impressive 44% compared with the pre-pandemic year. In 2022, it is expected that half of the U.S. workforce will work fully or partially remotely.
Although these are promising news for employees, that also means remaining cyber security challenges. Cyber hygiene, responsible password management, and employee literacy will continue to be mandatory defense practices.
- Mobile devices vulnerable to sophisticated malware infections
In 2020, Microsoft 365 Defender Research Team discovered a new, sophisticated mobile malware, vulnerable for Android devices. In 2021, at least half of the companies had one employee installing a malware-infected mobile app. It was observed that the victim’s phone was totally disabled until the ransom was paid.
The cybersecurity trends for 2022 direct attention to an expected alarming increase in mobile malware. Likely, the demand for data protection tools such as password manager mobile apps will increase.
- Social engineering attacks are still there – be aware.
In the first half of 2021, incidents of smishing (SMS phishing) increased by a spectacular 700%. However, the email phishing method was also successfully used.
The increase in social engineering attacks was linked to cleverly constructed, pandemic-related messages targeted remotely working people. Other phishing scams included health advice, details on remote work or financial services.
The trend for 2022 is clear – cybercriminals are becoming savvier. Social engineering attacks will be among the top cybercrime that individuals and companies should be aware of.
How to prepare for 2022?
Allocate your enterprise budget for the tools that might be the leading factor in your business growth next year.
Invest in reliable password management tools, educate employees on cyber hygiene, strengthen up your cybersecurity team to increase the level of defense and readiness.
Cybersecurity trends for 2022 show an alarming but manageable situation in the market. Look ahead and respond to the upcoming predictions today. Your financial stability, global reputation, and smooth operations depend on it.
