Everything you need to know about cyber security in 2016

The internet is an omnipresent part of modern society. This much we know, but how educated are we on the threats posed by such unrelenting access to the World Wide Web?

Our ever-increasing dependence on the internet for everyday tasks has simplified many elements of our lives, but inevitably opens us up to a heightened threat of cyber-attacks. With every convenience comes a potential threat, as demonstrated in the HM Government-commissioned 2015 Information Security Breaches Survey. The report found an increase in the number of large and small UK organisations who experienced cyber security breaches, including a massive 90% of large companies who said they had experience a breach within the past year. It’s not just the big hitters who are getting stung, either. Twelve percent of European internet users have experienced their social media or email accounts being hacked, according to a 2015 Key Issues briefing paper from the UK Parliament, while 7% have experienced credit card or banking fraud online.

As technology accelerates and we continue to rely on the internet for even more processes, we must also pay closer attention to information security. We’ve compiled key information from some of the world’s leading experts on cyber security, helping you keep abreast of what you need to know in 2016.

• Malware isn’t the only threat: Malware has long been a major player in the cyber-attack game, but it’s predicted to be accompanied by many more threats in the coming years. According to McAfee, the last year has seen more threats that are harder to detect. Fileless attacks, credential theft and encrypted infiltrations are just some of the security breaches we can expect as time goes by.

• We’ll keep collecting devices: If you think you’ve hit your device threshold, think again. Gartner, Inc has predicted that the number of connected things will continue to swell in 2016, hitting a total of 6.4 billion. This means we’ll have more devices than ever to keep secure.

• With more threats comes more jobs in cyber security: The increase of cyber security risks has led to a thriving job market. According to Forbes, there are more than one million unfilled cyber security jobs worldwide, which makes now an excellent time to find your next cyber security role.

• Attacks will get more sophisticated: Cyber criminals are moving away from attacking the end user and increasingly focusing their efforts on large financial institutions. Kaspersky warns of attacks on ATMs, alternate payment systems and – perhaps most worrying of all – stock exchanges. Attackers will become savvier in their efforts to avoid being caught out, says Symantec, and may turn to hijacking companies’ infrastructure to use against them.

The ongoing threat of cyber-attacks remains high for large and small organisations, along with individuals using private devices. As organisations realise the need for heightened security measures, there will be a corresponding need for skilled cyber security professionals. If you would like to find out more about job vacancies in cyber security contact Barclay Simpson and we will introduce you to the best opportunities available.