Top Five Cybersecurity Pain Points of 2023 – Internet Trends Analysis

According to an analysis realized on millions of comments and posts from technical communities and forums on the internet, these are currently the biggest cybersecurity needs or pain points that are lacking solutions or improvement across organizations:

1. Advanced persistent threats (APTs) and targeted attacks: Many users express concern about the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks and the difficulty of detecting and defending against them.
2. Lack of visibility and control over network devices: Many users express frustration with the lack of visibility and control they have over the various devices connected to their networks, such as IoT devices.
3. Limited budget and resources: Many users express concern about the high costs of cybersecurity solutions and the limited budget and resources available to implement them.
4. Cybersecurity skills gap: Many users express concern about the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals and the difficulties of recruiting and retaining them.
5. Managing Remote workforce: With a significant shift to remote working caused by the pandemic, many users express concern about the security of remote employees’ home networks and devices, and the difficulties of managing and securing them.
6. Cloud security: Many users express concern about the security of data and applications stored in the cloud and the difficulties of managing and securing them.

It’s worth noting that the above-mentioned concerns can vary by organization size, industry, and specific use case, but they are the common pain points that are frequently mentioned in the online communities and forums.

Advanced persistent threats (APTs)

The number one concern, Advanced persistent threats (APTs), are a type of cyber attack where an attacker establishes a long-term presence on a target’s network in order to steal sensitive information or disrupt operations. These types of attacks are often highly targeted, and the attackers may spend months or even years gathering information and infiltrating the network before they launch an attack.

APTs are considered to be a significant concern because they are often difficult to detect and defend against. Traditional security measures such as firewalls and antivirus software may not be effective against APTs, as the attackers may use sophisticated techniques to evade detection. Additionally, once an APT is in place, it may be able to move laterally through the network, compromising multiple systems and exfiltrating large amounts of data.

To mitigate APT, organizations need to adopt a multi-layered approach that includes network segmentation, endpoint security, intrusion detection and prevention, and incident response. Additionally, organizations need to have a clear visibility of all the assets and vulnerabilities in their network, and be able to detect anomalies that might indicate an APT. This is usually done by implementing security information and event management (SIEM) systems. They also need to have a well-defined incident response plan that can quickly detect, contain, and eradicate the APT.