Cyber Security Predictions for the Next Decade

Enterprise Systems Magazine just published my top 5 cyber security predictions for the upcoming decade and I wanted to share them with you.  I hope you enjoy them … and please send any comments my way as well.

Top 5 Cyber Security Predictions for the next 10 years:

1. Despite government efforts, cyber war will be more common with more severe Web application attacks. We’ve been predicting cyber wars for a couple of years and have started to see significant incidents in 2009.  In addition, hackers will target telecommunications and utility infrastructures of key nations. 
2. Social network sites like Facebook and Twitter will continue to be targeted for attacks due to their popularity and usage.  Game changing social networking apps will emerge each with a unique set of security challenges.  Social networking will become even more prevalent as hackers go after these user bases looking for personal financial information to enable them to siphon money from bank accounts and credit cards.  Data from social networks will also give rise to increased identity theft as hackers sort through social networks to gather clues to unlock passwords and steal identities. 
3. The rise in Smartphone use, particularly the popularity of specific phones (i.e. the iPhone), begets an escalation in mobile app use as more and more people use phone apps to enhance both their business and personal worlds.  These downloadable apps will increasingly become a target for hackers who see millions of potential targets, most of which use a Web infrastructure for hackers to exploit. 
4. Cloud computing will become more prevalent as organizations try to optimize their infrastructure to streamline costs.  However, inherent security risks are synonymous with Cloud computing, as hackers will target Cloud providers. 
5. The collective security consciousness will be raised.  Businesses large and small will adopt technologies to secure their Websites, regulations will be developed, and fines increased. Universities will make security, especially application security, a mandatory requirement for all development courses and there will be more regulations around cyber security including increases in fines to companies found negligent along with more severe criminal punishment for hackers. Yet, hackers will also become more organized and sophisticated.

by
Mandeep Khera, CMO
Mandeep@cenzic.com