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Although the top IT security priorities of IT leaders have remained consistent over the past 15 years, the types of threats organizations are protecting against has shifted significantly, according to a Barracuda Networks survey of more than 1,500 IT leaders and security professionals in North America, EMEA, and APAC. Looking ahead, respondents believe that the cloud will be a higher priority 15 years in the future and that AI will be both a threat and an important tool. Let’s take a closer look.
Consistent focus on e-mail and network security
The IT professionals surveyed identified email and networks as their top two priorities in both 2003 and 2018. A full 25% of respondents said email was their top security priority in 2003, and 23% said the same about their current priorities. Network security came in a close second for both 2003 and 2018 priorities, with 24% and 22% respectively.
Evolution of e-mail borne threats
Although what organizations care most about protecting has stayed consistent over the past 15 years, the threat landscape has changed dramatically. Respondents identified viruses (26%) and spam and worms (18%) as the top two threats they were concerned about in 2003. When asked about current concerns, ransomware (24%) and phishing/spear phishing (21%) topped the list.
This shift fits with how Barracuda’s approach to email security has developed over the years. Growing from the spam filter the company was founded on, Barracuda added critical capabilities to better fight much more targeted threats, such as spear phishing, phishing, zero-day malware, as well as secure data, and help with regulatory compliance. To keep up with changing threats and protect against phishing, spear phishing and other threats like account takeover and business email compromise, Barracuda was the first company to pioneer the use of artificial intelligence to stop spear phishing and detect account takeover, and the first company to add simulation and training to our email security portfolio.
Cloud security is a top priority for the future
While email and network security are currently a higher priority than cloud security for most of the IT professionals surveyed, that order shifts when they look to the future. A full 25% said the cloud would be their most important security priority 15 years from now, outranking email, network, and data security, which were each selected by 14% of respondents.
This change has been gradual. Only 3% of respondents said cloud security was a top priority for them in 2003. That number was up to 14% when they were asked to rank their current security priorities. This shift not necessarily means email protection will be less important to organizations in the future, simply that questions about how to secure the cloud loom large as IT professionals try to predict the way their responsibilities will evolve over the next decade and a half.
AI: High hopes and big worries
Artificial intelligence is another technology that is top of mind for many of the IT professionals—both as an opportunity to improve security and as a theat. It’s an interesting contrast.
A full 31% of respondents chose AI as the new technology that they will rely on to help improve security, and 43% identified the increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning as the development that will have the biggest impact on cyber security in the next 15 years. On the other hand, 41% believe the weaponization of AI will be the most prevalent attack tactic in the next 15 years.
Barracuda Networks has made significant investments in solutions powered by AI, such as Barracuda Sentinel, which provides AI-based protection from spear phishing, account takeover, and business email compromise. With strong investment in AI and a robust big data infrastructure across different products, Barracuda Networks plan to stay several steps ahead in the upcoming cybersecurity AI arms race.
BJ Jenkins, Barracuda’s CEO said: “At Barracuda, we feel it’s important to see where customers’ concerns and priorities are moving and getting there ahead of the need, so we can provide the solutions they’ll be looking for as threats get more sophisticated. We’ve come a long way over the past 15 years, and we’re looking forward to finding new ways to protect businesses. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with our customers and channel partners, as well as introducing a refresh brand identity that reflects the way the company has evolved.”
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