Last year, several cybersecurity experts warned about the dangers of advancing techniques like ransomware as a service (RaaS), a service lowering the barrier to entry for hackers seeking to exploit organizations for profit. Concerning trends like RaaS signaled that a new, more accessible era of hacking could arise in 2023.
In line with those predictions, we’ve watched ransomware become more nuanced this year. However, one of the major culprits of enhanced accessibility is not RaaS but rather the evolution of AI and large-language models (LLMs). LLMs like ChatGPT influence the threat landscape in several ways. For instance, although they can augment organizational security, GenAI tools can also improve the effectiveness of hackers’ malware and ransomware strategies.
How can leaders thwart GenAI-powered hackers in the future? Let’s discuss this trend and others important to consider as we advance into 2024.
As hackers evolve, organizational cybersecurity must follow suit
Hackers are becoming more advanced as they tap into new technologies like LLMs, which enable enhanced attack automation and the use of polymorphic malware. Developments like these underscore the importance of taking a proactive, collaborative approach to disaster recovery. Organizations must take a page from the hacker playbook and leverage emerging technologies to thwart attacks. Furthermore, leaders must work more collaboratively by merging certain aspects of the security and disaster recovery functions.
The DRaaS market is expanding
Demand for disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) solutions will surge over the next decade. Experts forecast the market will grow nearly 25% YoY through 2031. This rapid growth will drive innovation in several DRaaS offerings, in part by automating:
- Testing and simulation.
- Runbook creation.
- Incident detection and management.
The result of these advancements? Improved efficiency, less human error and faster recovery times.
Providers will also adapt their architectures and protocols to counter emerging ransomware strains. For example, a popular modern ransomware strategy is to target backup files, circumventing the utility of 3-2-1 backups. 2024 will see the rise of disaster recovery (DR) strategies accounting for these vulnerabilities in innovative ways.
Disaster recovery strategies may look different next year
With threat actors becoming more effective, leaders must reevaluate their cybersecurity posture in 2024. This development is a natural evolution of cybersecurity’s “not if, but when” mindset, which recognizes the inevitability of attacks and prioritizes proactive DR. As part of their reevaluation process, leaders must establish comprehensive KPIs about security performance and review their existing DR protocols. Finally, they must bridge the gap between security and business continuity by encouraging greater collaboration between security and DR teams.
AI will revolutionize how organizations protect themselves
In 2024, leaders will conduct due diligence about their organizations’ approaches to incorporating AI, machine learning (ML) and automation into daily operations. Most leaders will acknowledge that AI and ML have immense potential to transform DR by automating repetitious tasks like testing, runbook creation and threat detection – but AI’s benefits extend beyond automating tedious tasks. Next year, we’ll see these additional applications explored more thoroughly.
The manifestations of AI will vary by organization. However, we can expect a few common applications, including ML systems that analyze past DR performance to proactively identify and address potential failures. We should also expect to see optimized resource allocation suggestions as AI systems learn from rigorous testing protocols and performance updates.
Cloud-native cybersecurity will become a greater priority
Cloud computing and cloud-native systems have become a business standard. However, innovations in cloud-based DR and resilience have not kept pace with the market… until now. Next year, we’ll see the market reach critical mass as cloud-native cybersecurity becomes an organizational priority. New attack surfaces like serverless apps and object storage will encourage this transformation.
The message for cybersecurity professionals is clear: evolve operations to match the innovation of today’s hackers or risk compromising organizational resilience. By refining strategies and leveraging new technologies in 2024, leaders will defend against opportunistic criminals and unlock competitive market potential for their organizations.
