Network Security: The Top 5 Attacks We’ll See in the Next Three Years

When discussing current network security threats, it can become so overwhelming that it’s a challenge to hone in on one thing at a time. One thing’s clear, though: the next few years are going to become a minefield when it comes to cyber threats for everyone. No matter if you’re a business, or an individual working from home, you need awareness of what you’ll be facing up through 2020.

Business Insider and their BI Intelligence division recently compiled a list of the most common network threats we could see between now and the end of the decade. It’s not a pretty story by any means, though security protection is getting better, allowing everyone to protect themselves with more astute awareness.

One thing BI found out is 86% of all executives in corporations worldwide now have major concerns about network security threats. Let’s take a look at what they compiled, what the names of these threats are, and how you can protect yourself with proper IT management.

Zero-Day Attacks

BI above says Zero-Day attacks will become one of the most prevalent cyber issues in the next 72 months. These target software vulnerabilities that companies don’t immediately catch.

The reason these are so dangerous is the vulnerability in each software gets exploited the same day it’s discovered–hence the Zero-Day moniker. It doesn’t leave enough time for the vendor to create a fix, leaving many businesses an open target.

This can get averted when you have proper IT managementin place monitoring your system for suspicious activity.

Cloud Data Leakage

The cloud is truly a miracle of technology for storing data, but without proper management, it can become a security problem. Cloud data leakage is on BI’s list where employees upload sensitive information to less reliable cloud services like DropBox.

It’s important to use IT consultants to find out what your best options are for cloud platforms. You want a solution that you can trust so any uploading of critical data doesn’t get compromised. Further, with IT management, you can set up who accesses this data to prevent theft from inside your company.

Mobile Malware

As more workers use mobile devices on the go, the potential threats go into the stratosphere. Last year, mobile malware became marked as one of the worst threats today, and BI has it listed in their Top Five.

At stake here is hackers targeting the operating systems of your mobile devices and being able to steal sensitive data at will. It’s particularly problematic if you and your team use public Wi-Fi systems when working out in the field.

Again, though, quality IT management can scope out hacking events and cut them off with reliable blocking tools. This is essential when all your mobile devices go off the same network.

Targeted Attacks

Expect to hear about more targeted attacks going after particular organizations. We’ve already seen this recently with major corporations to send some sort of statement. Many of these take place over a long-term period, and the attackers usually have a certain type of expertise to do their dirty work.

Last month, ISIS-led hackers targeted 3,000 New York residents by posting each victim’s personal information online with threatening messages. It’s just one example of how targeted attacks can frequently be the result of political or religious differences.

SQL Injections

With this threat, you’ll start to see hackers install malicious code in servers to steal or delete data whenever they want. Database-driven websites are going to have trouble with this over the next few years because the SQL flaw is so easily detectable to hackers. Since you likely store confidential information in your database, you could end up violating compliance if you don’t take this threat seriously.

Learn about how you can up your network security with our free Business Owner’s Guide to Data Protection & Security.