Bilal Baig, Regional Director, Technical, MMEA at Trend Micro, says companies should have a robust incident response plan in place
How is the threat landscape evolving? Are there any emerging threats we should be particularly concerned about?
The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and there are two key aspects to consider. Firstly, traditional cybersecurity threats, such as ransomware and phishing, remain a significant concern. While established security measures are in place to combat these well-known threats, they continue to evolve and adapt, posing an ongoing challenge.
Secondly, the introduction of advanced technologies, like Artificial Intelligence (AI), has led threat actors to leverage these capabilities to enhance their attack tactics, making them more sophisticated. As attacks become more complex, defenders are also employing AI-based defence mechanisms to counteract these advanced threats. This creates a continuous cycle of escalation, where both attackers and defenders leverage new technologies to outpace each other. Hence, the biggest current threat, both regionally and globally, is the extensive use of AI by cybercriminals.
This trend is not limited to phishing but extends across all types of cyber threats, making them more evasive and difficult to detect. From our side, Trend Micro is actively integrating advanced technologies, including AI, to ensure that these sophisticated attacks can be effectively thwarted.
What does “cybersecurity resilience” mean to you?
For us, the key to cybersecurity resilience is to stay one step ahead by conducting predictive analysis of potential security threats and attacks. This involves assessing the risk factors across various environments, whether it’s your mobile device, laptop, servers, or any system using AI. By analysing the risk matrix, we can forecast the likelihood of attacks and take proactive countermeasures. This anticipatory approach embodies cyber resilience, ensuring we can effectively respond to emerging attack surfaces as they arise.
How can organisations balance the need for security with operational efficiency?
A different approach is certainly required. The main global trend we observe, including in the UAE, is consolidation. The market is experiencing numerous mergers and acquisitions, leading to the consolidation of security tools. This means integrating security measures across endpoints, mobile devices, clouds, and other areas.
Previously, each of these security aspects operated in silos, but the focus has now shifted to breaking down these silos and consolidating security tools. This consolidation allows for a more comprehensive and unified view of security, enabling the creation of a real attack matrix and making it easier to identify threats, much like finding a needle in a haystack. This integrated approach is undoubtedly the way forward for organizations seeking to balance security and operational efficiency.
What are some best practices for incident response planning and recovery?
Most organizations focus on proactive measures to address potential threats. When we step in, we emphasize the importance of having a comprehensive incident response plan. This is crucial because a well-planned approach is far more effective than a reactive one where everyone is scrambling in different directions.
Our goal is to ensure clients have a robust incident response plan in place. If a breach occurs, this plan provides a clear, step-by-step process to follow. This includes isolating affected machines, responding to the threat, and containing the situation. This approach not only addresses the technical aspects but also helps manage the organization’s reputation. Therefore, we are committed to supporting our clients in both preventing breaches and effectively managing them if they do occur.
What role do emerging technologies like AI and machine learning play in both cyber threats and defences?
With the advent of emerging technologies like AI, phishing emails have become remarkably sophisticated. The grammar is perfect, and the links are well-defined, making these emails appear completely legitimate. Attackers can even translate these emails into multiple languages, such as Arabic or French, making them more convincing and far-reaching. From the attacker’s perspective, AI provides powerful tools to craft these deceptive messages.
They can use social media data and advanced AI to tailor phishing attempts precisely, increasing their chances of success. On the defender’s side, advanced AI modules are also being deployed. Just like a fingerprint, everyone has a unique writing style, which includes sentence structure, tone, and emotion. AI helps analyze these elements to identify potential threats.
For instance, AI can detect if an email was generated by another AI tool by examining writing style DNA and other nuanced features. Thus, while attackers are leveraging AI to enhance their tactics, defenders are equally using AI to bolster their defences. It’s a continuous battle where both sides are utilizing advanced tools.
What are some of the biggest challenges organizations face when implementing cybersecurity resilience strategies?
The biggest challenge within organizations is the existence of multiple silos. Application teams, cloud teams, network teams, and endpoint teams all operate independently, each focusing only on their specific areas. This lack of integration and visibility can hinder effective decision-making and security management.
Consolidation and breaking down these silos are crucial. Companies are now looking to merge their strategies to ensure comprehensive visibility across all teams. This holistic approach allows for better decision-making not just in cybersecurity but also in related areas such as legal, finance, and procurement.
When procuring a cybersecurity solution, it’s essential to consider how it will support all these departments. For instance, a robust cybersecurity solution should aid the legal team in compliance, assist the finance team in budgeting and cost management, and help the procurement team in selecting the best tools and services. This integrated strategy ensures that all parts of the organization are aligned and can respond effectively to security threats.
