At the A10 London Roadshow there was a lot to take in with talks on AI, machine learning, DDoS, blockchain, the cybersecurity landscape, IoT and 5G – to name just a few.
AI and machine learning are hugely beneficial to enterprises, but it needs to be more adaptive. Companies are stuck in a loop when it comes to cryptocurrency, putting themselves at risk by using it but relying on it to remain prepared for attacks. Thanks to the increased commercialisation of cyber attacks we are seeing even the inexperienced getting a foot into the world of DDoS. Finally, IoT and 5G may be convenient but with that ease of access comes a greater risk of exploitation and cyber-assault.
Each of these points were a huge focus of A10 Networks, a US-based cyber security company with years of successful experience fighting DDoS attacks, and I expect they will certainly remain major issues in the future, so it is important that those with a connection to the IT world learn about them, and how they impact on their business, now.
An insightful event and place to capture what’s trending, here are my key takeaways…
Teaching the Machines
With a rise in the complexity of enterprise working environments, it is easy to miss some data or even some malicious traffic entering your database. The solution to this is to train up someone that won’t miss any of this data and will always catch the bad traffic. A machine.
It is unreasonable to request, that enterprise IT professionals monitor every tiny piece of traffic and memorise every function of the complex data infrastructure of a business. Therefore, AI is so useful and utilised by many industries already. However, the AI always needs teaching because hackers are learning as well. This is very difficult for organisations with large infrastructures as there is so much ground to cover it can be overwhelming.
The solution? Cloud scaling. Having software in the cloud to capture incoming data can then pass this to the AI where it learns through experience. Be smarter about what you teach.
Cryptocurrencies are here to stay
Cryptocurrencies like BitCoin are here to stay but due to their nature, they can’t be regulated like fiat currencies. This mean tracing cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly harder, making it more appealing for criminals. This leads to enterprises being forced to rely on cryptocurrency to pay ransomware or have some in reserve just in case. So, the cryptocurrency business keeps on booming.
Relying on cryptocurrency opens up enterprises to attack and manipulation. Transactions are so instant that it can be easy for companies to lose track of what has come in and what has come out. As well, everything is digital, so it is even easier for hackers to cause billions in damage. Cryptocurrencies will always be a risk but as long as enterprises continue to invest in them the more they will stick around.
Cybercrime – anyone can do it
At the conference, A10 Networks shared a thought-provoking case study about a young boy really into competitive video games. He kept losing and so after a while, he turned to the dark web to find a way he could cheat in the game to win. In this situation, he used DDoS malware and it proved to be extremely helpful. In fact, it was so helpful that the boy used it to administer ransomware to his local government office.
What stands out most to me in this story is that the boy had no prior coding knowledge. Everything was ready for him to buy online and after his success, others started paying him to attack targets. Suddenly, the boy had started a rather illegal, but profitable, business operation. The takeaway here is that cybercrime is being very commercialised and accessible globally, therefore anyone can join in and take advantage.
IoT and 5G are the problems of the future
IoT devices are everywhere and many of these devices utilise 4G technologies, soon to become the highly anticipated 5G. With this, any of our devices can acquire vast amounts of data which is appealing but it also opens more opportunities for malicious bodies to take control through malware and hacking. Many IoT developers lack either the knowledge or funding to make these devices safe. Security is also forgone in order to make a product cheaper and consumers will buy it regardless showing that affordability is prioritised over quality.
What we need now for IoT devices is assistance from a higher power. Security needs to be enforced in these devices by law in order to ensure they are safe for consumers. The problem is that if consumers keep buying and consenting to the practices of the vendors then nothing will change.
There was a lot more at the A10 roadshow to dissect and discuss but these were the four key takeaways the IT industry should pay attention to according to A10 Networks, a leader in cybersecurity. It would do enterprises good to follow A10 Networks advice and get prepared for any attacks that may come, wherever, whoever and whatever they may come from.