EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

In 2021, the number of cyber attacks on businesses is expected to surpass prior year records. In the past two years, cyber attacks have increased by 400 percent. Of these attacks, 80 percent were launched by cyber criminals.

The shift to distributed working environments has contributed to the increased volume and severity of cyber threats. As organizations continue to configure and reconfigure their distributed network infrastructure, attacks are unlikely to decrease.

Cyber adversaries are searching for new means of turning up the heat. VPN attacks have become popular. Phishing attacks are continually evolving, as are malware threats. Will we see smarter ransomware in 2021?

Cyber adversaries are also turning towards the idea of launching multiple threats against an organization simultaneously. Combining cloud-based threats and mobile threats is an attractive modus operandi. These types of attacks can inflict major damage on businesses and permanently scar reputations. Many organizations lack the ability to contend with multi-vector mega attacks.

Mitigating multi-vector campaigns

As hacks evolve, organizations must adapt. Threat prevention is paramount. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said American thinker, Benjamin Franklin. The first step involved in sidestepping multi-vector campaigns is to improve defensive capabilities.

Managing multi-vector mega attacks

Organizations can improve odds of fending off a multi-vector attack by:

• Implementing zero trust access controls
• Increasing threat visibility
• Ensuring that high quality threat intelligence is available
• Taking an in-depth approach to endpoint protection

These are strong starting points.

In the event that a multi-vector attack infiltrates a system, timely and accurate detection are key. Once properly identified, containing the attack and remediating quickly ensures minimal disruption to business and productivity.

For more on cyber threats in the age of distributed work, visit The Washington Post.