Cybersecurity or information technology security is the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft of or damage to hardware, software, or electronic data as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide according to Wikipedia.

In an article by Samantha Ann Schwartz entitled, “5 Cybersecurity Trends For 2020,” from CIO DIVE on January 6, 2020, the author writes how hackers are fine tuning and evolving their tactics as businesses are struggling with the cyberattacks. The author further writes about what to watch for with cybersecurity trends in 2020. These include (a) security is integrating with data science, (b) ransomware is rising to a crisis level, (c) vendors are infusing machine learning into offerings, (d) managed service providers beware of increasing attacks, and (e) security tools and protocols moonlight as privacy safeguards.

With regard to security integrating with data science, data gives companies a vying edge while data scientists leverage AI algorithms. AI models depend on quality data, expandable computing and reliable algorithms. As companies are modernizing rapidly, while the Cloud lifts computing restraints, this opens the door for unethical practices. Algorithms and the handling of personal data will need to become more perceptive and careful.

As ransomware is causing tremendous impacts to our industry, and rising to a crisis level, cybercriminals have taken encryption even further by threatening to publicly disclose or sell stolen data to competitors.

In order to deal with human error in security, vendors are infusing machine learning into the picture. Machine learning (ML) is an application of artificial intelligence that provides systems the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. Machine learning focuses on the development of computer programs that can access data and use it to learn for themselves.

As businesses continue to be targets by cybercriminals, so to will Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Attacks on remote monitoring and management software unfortunately enable the hackers to attack businesses simultaneously. Patched remote access solutions, protected by two or multi-factor authentication, or entirely disabled, may best alleviate the risk.

Finally, companies will have to rely on existing security tools and protocols as privacy safeguards to keep incidents from threatening consumer data.

https://www.ciodive.com/news/5-cybersecurity-trends-for-2020/569169/