Offensive Security, Cyber Insurance & Cryptocurrencies: 2018 Predictions

Cybersecurity, or rather the lack thereof, dominated headlines throughout 2017. This isn’t likely to change in 2018, with GDPR just around the corner.

Charl van der Walt, Chief Security Strategy Officer at the UK’s largest independent cyber security company SecureData, shares his thoughts on the key trends that will impact cybersecurity next year.

Businesses are living on borrowed cyber time

The 2007 financial crisis brought to light just how interconnected today’s economy really is. All areas of business were affected, with exposure to debt being shared. The cybersecurity industry is no different. Security ‘debt’ is a liability or obligation to pay or render something. Technical Debt is already a well understood concept in software development, the cost of additional rework caused by choosing an easy solution now instead of using a better approach that would take longer or cost more. 

This translates well into security; not as the potential downside resulting from a decision to compromise, but as the direct, concrete, real-time and quantifiable cost of a trade-off between the best possible approach to securing something and the more attractive, practical, convenient or affordable approach. 

Security debt, can be compared to, monetary debt. If debt is not repaid, it can accumulate ‘interest’ and grows over time until it is repaid. It sits on a business’ balance sheet in big red letters for all the world to see, speaking to the very heart of the business, its value. If business have more liabilities in the form of security and other debt than it has assets, then you’re bankrupt and eventually you must fail.

In 2018 we may see the damaging effects of Security Debt that has been stacking up in the form of legacy code, 3rd party libraries and dependencies, and even architectures used by companies. This has been building up for the past 30 years, and may be catastrophic if the right set of circumstances come to pass. Companies have been living on borrowed security for too long, and 2018 may the year when those debts get collected.

Offense is the best defence

Governments globally have been reading up on von Clausewitz, Thucydides and Patton, before settling on Sun Tzu’s teachings to inform next-generation cyber capabilities and techniques that support national and international interests. 
As a result, we’ll see a rise in offensive cyber security with ability and budget beyond civilian imagination. Eventually, these techniques will find their way into the civilian internet, where they will wreak havoc, think Stuxnet and WannaCry, but on steroids. As the threat level escalates behind the weight of massive government investment, an industry-led clarion will herald a call for governments to protect a civilian Internet that cannot be expected to defend itself against military-grade threats. 
Throughout 2018 and beyond, business will accept and expect that their governments will take responsibility for national infrastructure defence, and policing in the cyber realm will become an extension of your Bobbies on the beat.

Cyber insurance becomes big business

GDPR fines come into play next year, and business is still running around in a mad panic. Nobody wants to be fined an inordinate amount of money for a data breach. This has led to a business area blossoming out of recognition that Government can only do so much when it comes to protecting business. Cyber insurance policies will come to the fore, and businesses will lap them up in an effort to plug the residual risk. The approach promises to remove uncertainty and angst from the issue of information security. 

Unfortunately, this will mean that businesses of all sizes will seek out the minimum cyber security investment laid out by insurers, government, and regulators, rather than going above and beyond to protect their own, and their customers’ data.

Cryptocurrency will get regulated

With new technologies there is often a fear of what is not understood. As cybercrime evolves, and hackers find new ways of monetising pre-existing attack methods, suddenly we see cryptocurrency and ransomware uttered in the same breath. In 2018, we might see governments the world over adopting cryptocurrency, and therefore regulating it in order to stem the flow of cryptocurrency-driven cybercrime. This will undoubtedly be a regulatory challenge, but to ensure a safer online ecosystem for business and consumers alike, it will be one that needs to be addressed.

It’s the beginnings of a cyber bloc party

As governments battle it out in cyberspace, the question of cyber balkanisation rears its head. In 2018, we will see an escalation of the drama around Kaspersky and the US government. 

The long-term implication of this could be game-changing. As governments globally take America’s lead and start rejecting security software, and then sensitive apps and entire operating systems on the grounds of National Security, we will inevitably see cyber balkanisation levels not seen since the Cold War. 

Smaller countries that don’t have their own security vendors, or can’t afford to build their own OS stacks will be forced to align with one major power or another, creating new blocs that will spell out the state of play sooner than we realise. How this will impact enterprise security is unknown, but we won’t be able to rule it out as an area for concern.

Information Security Buzz

You Might Also Read:

Cyber Security Insurance:

Bitcoin: UK And EU Will Crackdown On Crime & Tax Evasion:

Three Cybersecurity Trends Business Should Address:

Ransomware Analysis Suggests A  Bleak Future:
 

« UK Cybersecurity Firm Sophos Is Trouncing Silicon Valley
Iran Turns Off The Internet »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

FT Cyber Resilience Summit: Europe

FT Cyber Resilience Summit: Europe

27 November 2024 | In-Person & Digital | 22 Bishopsgate, London. Business leaders, Innovators & Experts address evolving cybersecurity risks.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Idemia

Idemia

Idemia is a global leader in security and identity solutions.

Conscia

Conscia

Conscia provides IT infrastructure solutions and 24/7 services in network, data center, security and mobility.

Adlink Technology

Adlink Technology

ADLINK is a leading provider of embedded computing products and services for applications including IoT and industrial automation.

Certis

Certis

Certis is a leading advanced integrated security organisation that develops and delivers multi-disciplinary security and integrated services.

CopSonic

CopSonic

Copsonic provide a technology solution based on ultrasonic waves to send secure and encrypted data between two devices in order to achieve authentication.

Desec Security

Desec Security

Desec's training platform allows professionals around of the world to acquire knowledge and practical experience in Information Security.

Data Terminator

Data Terminator

Data Terminator provide a comprehensive range of secure data destruction equipment and services are in compliance to US Department of Defense (DoD) and National Security Agency (NSA) standards.

Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT)

Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT)

IIT carries out activities of research, assessment, technology transfer and training in the field of Information and Communication Technologies and of Computational Sciences.

Exire Technologies

Exire Technologies

Exire Technologies is comprised of a team of professionals who are specialised in cybersecurity and a value added reseller and integrator of ICT security systems.

Uptycs

Uptycs

Uptycs combines the open source universal agent, osquery, with a scalable security analytics platform for fleet visibility, intrusion detection, vulnerability monitoring and compliance.

Babble

Babble

Babble is a Unified Comms, Contact Centre and Cyber Solutions provider. We believe in making next-generation technology simple to use, deploy and manage.

Eviden

Eviden

Eviden is an Atos business that brings together its digital, big data and security business lines. It will be a global leader in data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation.

Cyber Octet

Cyber Octet

Cyber Octet is an IT Solution, Security, Training and Services company. We provide training and services from Web Application Security to ISO 27001 implementation.

AdviserCyber

AdviserCyber

AdviserCyber provide Cybersecurity and Compliance Solutions for Registered Investment Advisers.

AUCloud

AUCloud

AUCloud is a leading Australian cyber security and secure cloud provider, specialising in supporting businesses and Governments with the latest cloud infrastructure.

InfoTrust

InfoTrust

InfoTrust is a leading specialised cybersecurity practice that combines a customer-first consulting approach with next-generation security solutions.