EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
HOW SHOULD CISOS PREPARE FOR THE LONG- TERM CYBERSECURITY IMPACTS EXPECTED TO TRANSPIRE FROM COVID-19 ?
In the midst of COVID-19 , we ’ re seeing a
pandemic of cyberattacks , says Adrian Taylor , EMEA VP , A10 Networks .
“ With 2020 dominated by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic , there was a sharp rise in cybercriminal activity ,” said Taylor .
“ From simple phishing attacks to one of the largest DDoS attacks ever recorded , we saw the cyberthreat landscape evolve . We also saw a rapid growth in the tech and cybersecurity industry .
“ The challenges arising from these cybersecurity developments – including COVID-19 – will continue to have long-term implications in 2021 and beyond .”
One of these implications is that cybercrimes will experience a surge . “ 2020 was a busy year for both attackers and hackers , as well as cybersecurity personnel defending against the plethora of attacks to which they were subjected ,” said Taylor .
“ In 2021 , such attacks will not just be more frequent , but they will also be very specific regarding who they target . International cyberespionage will be one of the main motivators for cyberattacks ; we will see security vendors being attacked and compromised at an even greater pace .
“ Even the attacks that happened in 2020 , like the FireEye or Sunburst attack that targeted the SolarWinds supply chain , will have long-lasting effects .
“ Investigators suspect , for example , that up to 250 organisations may have been compromised in the SolarWinds attack .”
It is expected that such attacks will not only create opportunities for newer attacks , or variants / branches of the existing ones , but will also drive cybersecurity innovation .
“ 2020 has taught us that vigilance in cybersecurity cannot be taken for granted ,” Taylor continued .
International cyberespionage will be one of the main motivators for cyberattacks ; we will see security vendors being attacked and compromised at an even greater pace .
“ We are facing new , persistent threats of all shapes and sizes and we have to make sure that , going forward , we face these threats with the best of our collective abilities .
“ 2021 will be the year of cybercriminal activities , but it will also drive innovations in cybersecurity like never before .”
Therefore , the only way to manage such attacks is to prepare and adapt accordingly .
34 INTELLIGENTCIO EUROPE www . intelligentcio . com