Organizations attempting to navigate the cybersecurity landscape must be in-the-know about attackers and tactics
Key Points
Email and messaging are the channels through which most cyberthreats are launched, and organizations need to stop threats that arrive via email and messaging before they are successful. This requires using the most advanced, AI-based tools, but also staying in-the-know about the latest attackers and the techniques. Enter the Mimecast Global Threat Intelligence Report covering January-June 2024.
AI Leads to Advancement on Both Sides
The adoption of AI technology by both sides of the cybersecurity warfare landscape continues to promise massive changes in the way cybersecurity is conducted. And while the impact has been limited on both sides so far, the battle for dominance of the cyber domain is unrelenting.
Cybercriminal cloud services and as-a-service offerings continue to expand the availability of attack tools, phishing kits, and databases of stolen information, while at the same time, law enforcement agencies have shown signs of adapting, with cross-jurisdictional collaboration resulting in the disruption of major cybercriminal groups.
The Current Threat Landscape
A temporary surge in attacks against medium-sized businesses has subsided, and small business users are once again seeing the most threats. Credential theft has become a major focus of attackers, who then sell stolen credentials on underground markets or use them in credential-stuffing attacks to gain access to organizations’ cloud services.
In addition, as organizations further migrate to the cloud and develop their infrastructure, the attack surface has expanded. A growing dependency on data stored within the cloud means security control is increasingly blurred. Inherent reliance on third-party software and infrastructure makes supply chain security a major problem.
In continued ransomware attacks, maintaining data confidentiality, integrity, and availability is key to successful outcomes, as attacks on data can lead to service interruption and a devastating impact on business operations.
Also, generative AI and machine learning will improve the targeting and content of phishing campaigns, driving the defenders’ requirement to be able to detect and quickly respond to new and novel attack techniques.
Mimecast Threat Intelligence Report
Given that there can be an abundance of information for cybersecurity professionals to sort through, twice each year, Mimecast distills the insights gleaned by our threat intelligence analysts over each half-year period. Our report for the first six months of 2024 includes analysis of threat activity, statistics revealing attack trends, and a series of recommendations for businesses of all sizes to better mitigate the risks of cyberthreats.
Threat Intelligence Key Findings
In the current report, readers will discover:
Predictions for the Future
This year promises to deliver users surging spam, phishing, and disinformation attacks. The 2024 election season with major votes in the U.S. and Europe will be one of the biggest in history according to The Economist1. Regional conflicts will also add to the surge.
Learn More
In addition to what has already been spelled out here, the Mimecast Global Threat Intelligence Report for 2024 H1 delivers five insightful charts, delves into the major cyberthreat campaigns impacting users, and provides easily actionable recommendations to keep your organization safe. Download the report to learn more.
1 Source: 2024 is the biggest election year in history | The Economist