Cybersecurity solutions provider Palo Alto Networks sees a variety of cyber threats that may proliferate in the coming year. According to its latest “What’s Next in Cyber Survey,” one of these threats is how cybercriminals will find ways to exploit the Metaverse.
In the past year, cybercriminals were able to exploit cryptocurrency boom, hybrid working, and unsecured APIs.
“From prevention-first Al (artificial intelligence) to adopting Zero Trust strategy and architecture, it will be imperative to adopt the broadest and deepest cyber expertise and threat intelligence into their defenses to stay ahead of the curve,” said Steven Scheurmann, regional vice president for ASEAN, Palo Alto Networks. “But, more importantly, they must build resiliency to respond and recover from those that inevitably get through.”
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Palo Alto Networks has identified five key cybersecurity trends to watch out for in 2023:
- Accelerated 5G adoption will deepen vulnerabilities
Quoting a recent report by the industry association GSMA, Palo Alto Networks said 5G connections in the Asia Pacific (APAC) are expected to reach 430 million in 2025, up from 200 million at the end of end-2021. While the cloud provides greater agility, scalability, and performance, it also exposes the 5G core to cloud security vulnerabilities. Large-scale attacks could come from anywhere, even from within the operator’s network. - Securing connected medical devices will be critical
Digitization enables new healthcare capabilities (virtual healthcare and remote diagnosis). The prevalence of legacy systems and sensitive data attractive to cyber criminals makes healthcare a soft target, and cyber threat actors will focus on it. The closer a device is to a patient, the more likely it is to impact patient safety, and the more likely a threat actor will weaponize it. Ensuring the cybersecurity of medical IoT (Internet of Things) will be important as ever for patient safety. - Cloud supply chain attacks will disrupt businesses
Companies adopting cloud-native architectures are also inherently consuming third-party code in their critical applications. Log4J recently demonstrated how many organizations can be immediately vulnerable due to a piece of dependent code tucked deep into the software packaging process. According to Palo Alto Networks, it has seen attackers targeting the volunteers who maintain these open-source code constructs to infiltrate organizations through the package update processes. This issue falls under the cloud supply chain, and will see more disruptions due to cloud adoption trends in the coming year(s). About 37% of organizations expect software supply chain attacks to increase most in 2023. - The debate on data sovereignty will intensify
As the world becomes more reliant on data and digital information, the volume of regulations and legislation emanating from a desire to control and protect citizens and ensure the continued availability of critical services will increase. As a result, the conversations around data localization and data sovereignty will likely intensify in 2023. - Metaverse to be the new playground for cybercriminals
With an estimated $54 billion spent on virtual goods every year, the metaverse could open up a new playground for cybercriminals. The immersive nature of the metaverse will unlock new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, as it allows buyers and sellers to connect in a new way. Companies will take advantage of mixed reality experiences to diversify their offerings and cater to the needs of consumers in the metaverse.
“The fluidity of today’s cyberattacks will require business leaders to reimagine their cybersecurity approach constantly,” said Scheurmann. “Leaders must consider innovative solutions, technologies, and approaches that outperform traditional mechanisms. Organizations have much to consider in 2023, but remaining vigilant and aware will empower them to defend against the evolving threats.”