Sign Up
This article is about Cyber Security
Hottest Technologies in Cyber Security in 2021
By NIIT Editorial
Published on 07/05/2021
8 minutes
Cybersecurity is the process of protecting computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It is also recognized as information technology security or electronic information security.
Cybersecurity encompasses all aspects of security; physical, technical, environmental regulations, and compliances, including the third party involved in delivering an objective.
Need of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is necessary since it helps to secure data from threats such as theft or misuse and safeguards your system from viruses. With the increasing amount of people connecting to the internet, security threats also increase.
Hottest emerging technologies in cybersecurity
With the digital uprising, all-around businesses, small or large corporations, organizations, and even governments are relying on computerized systems to manage everyday actions and thus making cybersecurity a primary goal to protect data from various online hackers or any unwanted access. Continual change in technologies indicates an identical shift in cybersecurity trends as the data breach, ransomware, and hacks become very common. Here are the hottest cybersecurity technologies for 2021:
Context-Aware Behavioural Analytics
Issue: Companies are being overwhelmed by meaningless security alerts.
A context-aware system is comprehended as a system that uses any context information previous to, or in the duration of, service stipulations, while the main purpose of this system is to identify any ambiguous activity done by the users. The mobility feature of most computing devices has made the 'context of the user' an important element of the system. Context-aware behavioral analytics is established on the assumption that unusual behavior equals scandalous doings.
Factors to keep in mind while creating context-aware security :
To create a successful context-aware system, sufficient factors are evaluated to maximize the attention to detail while minimizing employee privacy intrusion. Nowadays, context-aware security systems are established on operating the following factors:
1. Bio-printing: Using the bio-printing technique, we can analyze how rapidly
users type their procedures and how they use the mouse. For example – if an employee types slowly but unexpectedly at 3 AM (not the usual office hours), someone from the same device is typing at a comparatively higher rate, then we can know that this is not the same user, and the risk score increases.
2. Location Tracking: Location is a very important factor of behavior. The main task of this feature is to detect whether any request is emanating from a particular location or not. For example – if a user plea access to a system from a hotel room, then his risk score increases. But access initiated from particular geographic locations that are known to aid malicious actions can be prevented.
3. Behavioural Profiles: Many companies uphold profiles of users and clients where they stock data related to their manners. They observe the change in behavior with change in time and device. The companies then compare the user's present behavior with past behavior and analyze whether there is a security concern or not. Users can also maintain two lists, i.e., a blacklist and a whitelist. The blacklist will restrict the request to access, and the whitelist will approve to request access. These lists can be made from a list of prohibited or authorized networks or network addresses. Additionally, historical analysis of any browser data that comes outside the usual behavior of the user can also be examined. For example – even if a company's new developer is jabbing around the network from his work desk, on his laptop, during working hours, on-premises, his request will still be rejected as his account name and role do not resemble.
4. Third-party big data: Big data security is a united term for all measures and tools used to safeguard data and analytical processes from invasions, thefts, or other malicious activities that could be destructive or averse to them. Big data analytics also alert companies that the so-called clinics are situated in isolated office malls with low communities.
Think of all the billions of devices that are now enabled by the internet-smartphones and sensors on the Internet of Things (IoT) which are just two of the many!
Virtual Dispersive Networking (VDN)
Issue: MiM attacks are breaking down traditional encryption technologies and targeting intervening nodes.
Man-in-the-Middle attacks (MiM) are times when hackers can control, alter or inject messages into a communication medium. Data that is protected encrypted can now be cracked by resembling processing power. SSL and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can't constantly safeguard statements as they travel across intermediary paths.
So for the solution, we require Virtual Dispersive Networking (VDN) from Dispersive Technologies. VDN divides a message into multiple parts, encrypts each element individually, and sends them over servers, computers, and even mobile phones.
Next Generation Breach Detection
Issue: Hackers use "zero-day" exploits that authorize them to establish a foothold and mine data in networks and systems for months.
In the past few years, hackers have been attacking the systems. They carefully evaluate a system's defenses and then send in the Trojan Horse. Most companies are not even familiar that their systems have been breached because of the quantity, speed, and variety of big data they hold.
Next-generation breach detection systems emphasize what will happen once the criminal is inside the system instead of focusing on the first line of defense.
It takes behavioral analytics and adds more equipment to recognize the clues that a hacker leaves behind. In other words, breach detection tools pick out odd activities and changes in a vast area of data and determine that something is incorrect.
SAML & The Cloud
Issue: Cloud-based applications and BYODs are beyond the world of firewalls and traditional security measures/policies.
Security Assertion Mark-up Language (SAML) is an XML-based open-standard data format used to transmit authentication and authorization data between institutions. As this format can not protect on its own, so many companies combine it with SSO. SSO is enciphered into intrusion detection technologies to protect data stored in the Cloud.
In this way, data in the Cloud is gathered together. An alert system alerts companies about events such as failed or unwanted log-ins and skeptical activities. If any employee's device is looted, administrators can instantly eliminate all the corporate information without impacting the user's personal data.
Solution: Combine SAML with encryption and intrusion detection technologies to recover management of corporate traffic.
Issue: Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly aggressive.
Many companies sit and wait for the hacker to corrupt our data; instead, they should take proactive measures to prevent them.
Some of the Active defense measures include
Counterintelligence Gathering – This employs a cyber expert to go "underground" to investigate information about hackers and their tools and techniques.
Sinkholing is a standard DNS server that brings out non-routable addresses for all domains within the sinkhole. The major goal is to block and thwart malicious or unwanted traffic to capture and analyze it by experts.
Honeypots – A honeypot is an isolated computer, data, or network site arranged as a trap to attract hackers. Cybersecurity analysts use honeypots to research Black Hat tactics, prevent attacks, catch spammers, and so on.
Solution: To protect the data, cybersecurity experts should use techniques that can track or even attack hackers.
Smart Grid Technologies
Issue: Smart meters and field devices have left critical infrastructures unarmed to attack.
The smart grid can be interpreted as a smart electrical network that incorporates electrical networks and smart digital communication technology. A smart grid can provide electrical power from numerous and widely circulated sources, such as wind turbines, solar power systems, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The DOE is working on various tools and strategies to protect the energy sector. Some of these include:
Padlock – Developed by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Padlock is a cybersecurity gateway that establishes encrypted transmissions between central stations and field devices. It's designed to detect physical and digital tampering.
Watchdog– This is another Schweitzer creation. It's a managed switch that conducts deep packet analysis for the control system local area network (LAN). To determine a set of recognized and enabled communications, it uses a white list configuration approach.
SIEGate – SIEGate stands for Secure Information Exchange Gateway. It's an information protocol that contributes to cybersecurity protections for information transmitted over syntrophic networks on transmission systems. It's being created by Grid Protection Alliance in partnership with the University of Illinois, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PJM, AREVA, and T&D.
NetAPT– NetAPT is the University of Illinois's product. It's a software tool that allows utilities to track their control system communication directions. Vulnerability inspections and compliance audits can be completed within minutes.
Solution: The problem should be undertaken with a range of new security measures and standards.
NetAPT– NetAPT is the University of Illinois's product. It's a software tool that allows utilities to track their control system communication directions. Vulnerability inspections and compliance audits can be completed within minutes.
Solution: The problem should be undertaken with a range of new security measures and standards.
Endnote
Cybersecurity specialists deal with risks generated by the Cloud, the internet, mobile/wireless, and wearable technology. Earlier data used to be stored within systems, but now they are traveling through a variety of routers, data centers, and hosts. Computer security is evolving more important because everyone is highly interconnected, with networks carrying out major crucial transactions. The latest technologies, the new cyber tools, and threats that are rising each day challenge companies to maintain their infrastructure and make them aware of the requirement of new strategies and conclusions. Many countries and governments have established very rigid laws on cyber securities to prevent the failure of some important information.
SHARE
Advanced PGP in Cybersecurity and SecOps
Become an industry-ready StackRoute Certified Cybersecurity Analyst. This program transforms learners with no Information Technology background into cybersecurity specialists. This is a Job-Assured Program with a minimum CTC of ₹ 5LPA*
Job Assurance*
Flexible Payment Option
