2021 Will Mark by Cybersecurity Trends of Antivirus

What will be the main trends this year to protect against cyberspace threats? How to counteract the advances, evolution and 'perfection' of computer piracy?

Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important, in a world where 350,000 new variants of malware (computer viruses) appear every day. The dreaded ransomware (specialized in encrypting our confidential data), banking Trojans (used to spoof identities and seize key information in online banking) and backdoors (capable of even recording us through cameras without our noticing) are at the top of current threats. But new dangers and attack mutations emerge with astonishing speed.

What will be the main trends this year to protect against cyberspace threats? How to counteract the advances, evolution and 'perfection' of computer piracy? The report 'Cybersecurity in Spain', recently prepared by Google and The Cocktail Analysis, emphasizes these issues. Among other points, the following stands out:

1-Massive hiring of professionals: 350,000 are needed

Although the figure sounds very high, the report maintains that Europe needs at least 350,000 professionals in the sector. This scenario foresees massive hiring of experts, also in Spain. Of course, they must be perfectly qualified, with updated training that really responds to the needs of the market.

Currently, two thirds of Spanish companies lack enough employees to combat cyberspace threats.

2-SMEs, one of the main targets of attack

Becoming aware of the magnitude of cyber-attacks is a pending issue for Spanish SMEs. The 99.8% was not considered in 2019 an attractive target for hackers. Translated, almost 3 million companies in Spain are still little or not protected at all. One of the great trends that will mark 2021 will be the increase in preventive measures by this sector.

It is not a minor issue at all, in our country or in the rest of the continent: 60% of European SMEs that are victims of cyber-attacks disappear in the six months following the incident, often burdened by the average cost of the attack, which is usually around 35,000 Euros, according to the study. The SMEs and private users segment were the main targets of cyber-attacks in 2018, with a total of 102,414 incidents registered in Spain.

3- 84% of large companies will increase their budget in cybersecurity

The other side of the coin is made up of the large Spanish companies, knowing - at this stage of the game - that cybercrime is one of the greatest scourges that can undermine its operation. For this reason, 84% of Spanish companies will increase their investment in cybersecurity this year (and the following two). The average will invest a minimum floor of 10% of its IT budget for preventive actions against hacking and hacking.

One of the main lines that large-volume companies in Spain will reinforce this year will be to improve their security protocol, on specific issues. For example, only 14% update their passwords regularly, and just 21% regularly back up their files and update their device operating systems. They plan to radically modify this scenario, to avoid harsh consequences.

4-The rise of paid ANTIVIRUS could be consolidated on devices

Another worrying fact to take into account is that only 25% of Spaniards pay for an antivirus on their computer, mobile or tablet. The percentage is really very low, and it contrasts with their perception of danger: only 1 in 10 users today declare themselves completely safe when accessing the Internet. 75% consider cybersecurity as very important.

There are not a few experts in the field who consider that this could be the great year of take - off for paid antivirus: the starting point to foresee this trend precisely through understanding the importance of cybersecurity.

One of the factors that most influences this aspect is that - in the face of greater protection for large companies -, there are more and more attacks directed at citizens. Many take it for granted that paid antivirus will consolidate among themselves and reach their devices, due to a matter of imperative need.

5-The focus will be on the type of attacks: they will be more massive

As noted above, attacks on large companies (to a relative extent) have decreased to make way for more attacks on SMEs and ordinary citizens. This change in target defines the nature of today's cyber-attacks. The specialists in this field will have to adjust their actions against the cybercrimes that will monopolize the attention this year.

The average of attacks will be less targeted, not technically complex and more massive: they will be launched at will on many potential victims.

However, companies must remain vigilant. According to the National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE), in Spain in 2016 the average cost of a cyber-attack was around 75,000 Euros, which meant some 14,000 million Euros of loss for the entire business fabric of the country, from the largest companies to the smaller.

6-Specific training, increasingly necessary

2021 will also be marked by the urgent need for training according to the needs of the market. Prevention is more important than ever and it is in the hands of specialists in the sector to prevent criminal actions from sophisticated hacker networks. Attacks on devices by voice, biometric recognition to locate victims, phishing through IoT, are some of the threats that are gaining more and more prominence.