In this article, Ted Shorter, CTO and Co-founder, Keyfactor shares three emerging cybersecurity trends that you can expect in 2019.
The Marriott Starwood Hotels breach was the biggest US hack in 2018 that exposed the information of 500 million users. As data breaches continue to pose security threats across every industry, companies must learn to prioritize two things in the coming year: planning for operational enhancements and getting ahead of the latest risks. Here’s why you should be on guard for these three emerging cybersecurity trends in 2019.
1. Quantum Computing and Cryptography
Quantum computing has historically been perceived as a threat of the future, as opposed to a near-term concern. That’s quickly changing as most experts now predict that quantum will become viable within the next 5-10 years. In fact, IBM just announced the world’s first quantum computer for commercial use, and the scale of potential impact to cryptography is immense.
Quantum aside, all cryptographic algorithms will eventually become ineffective, meaning the cryptography deployed today will not be secure in the long-term. In order to successfully plan and execute your strategy for future-proofing, while protecting your IoT devices, you’ll need both preparation and significant runway.
To get started, take an audit. Learn how many certificates you have, where they are, what they’re used for, and when they expire. Develop response plans, outline actions, and create processes you’ll need to implement if and when crypto events happen. Be prepared for certificate expirations, algorithm breakage, public root breaches, and quantum breakthroughs.
2. New IoT Security Standards
While IoT security has taken a hit this year, there is still hope for improvement. The FDA and other organizations have begun to release more guidelines, regulations, and best practices around IoT security.
This is especially true for industries where a hack from cyber criminals could lead to harm or even fatalities. For example, the automotive and healthcare industries have been wounded by major breaches and are now taking device design and security into the next generation. As more industries follow the lead of automotive and healthcare, we’ll see IoT security become a higher priority.
3. Cloud-First and Containerization
Expect more of a cloud-first and containerization approach to PKI management. Being able to detect and respond to threats on a global scale becomes much easier in a collaborative environment. Additionally, securing data can help drive behaviors of end users. If increased agility and transformation aren’t already enough, enterprise PKI management in the cloud is a preferred method by many organizations because it allows for outsourcing the process as a managed service.
In addition to cloud collaboration, we’re also seeing a rise in containerizationOpens a new window , which is a lightweight alternative to full machine virtualization that involves encapsulating an application in a container within its own operating environment. Containers help software run more reliably when transferring from one environment to another by removing limitations of various OS and infrastructure fragmentation. This, more cost-effective approach, enables companies to use its features to get the most from its cloud resources.
This year, organizations will be more challenged than ever to protect the identities of themselves and their customers. Whether you’re an IoT device manufacturer or an IT professional who secures digital identities across your entire enterprise, it’s important to be informed and ready for what’s coming in order to steer your company towards better cybersecurity.