Examining the Top Cybersecurity Trends of 2023

In the always-evolving landscape of cyber security, each and every year presents a new set of challenges. Security teams must continually work to stay up-to-date about new threat actors, trending vulnerabilities, and rising technologies that threaten to disrupt the status quo. The top cybersecurity trends of 2023 encompass more than that, however. It was a transformative year in many aspects and demanded agility and flexibility from those working to secure perimeters, networks and endpoints. 

So what drove the conversation around cybersecurity in 2023? Let’s take a look at the five topics that demanded the most attention for IT leaders and the organizations they work with. 

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The 5 Biggest Cybersecurity Trends of 2023

Generative AI 

There’s no doubt that 2023 will be remembered as the year AI (artificial intelligence) hit the mainstream. So much has been said on this topic, it’s hard to capture what a profound impact this innovation had on cybersecurity and the public consciousness. AI and ML (machine learning) have been a core component of technology platforms for years, helping humans make sense of big volumes of data.  

But the launch of ChatGPT and the subsequent explosion of generative AI tools changed the game. Barely a year into what is sure to be a long journey, Gen AI has affected everything from the CI/CD pipeline to the C-Suite as companies look to capitalize on capabilities while simultaneously managing risk. You can expect this trend to accelerate further in 2024 as new platforms rise and organizations continue to seek out the right tools from among the many now on the market. 

Government Activism and the Rise of Regulation 

2023 saw the U.S. government flex its muscle across a variety of topics from AI to OT, urging and cajoling and sometimes coercing private industry to up its cybersecurity game. CISA led the way with new programs and tools to give a hand up with the goal of helping the nation be safer. 

For those involved directly with the government as a supplier, suggestions were replaced with requirements, demanding a considerably stronger posture than companies previously opted to implement on their own. Regulations like CMMC spawned significant activity in shoring up defenses; that activity is likely to double or triple in 2024. 

Everything-as-a-Service 

As cybersecurity requirements rose, complexity grew, and the pace of threats quickened, companies desperately looked for answers that didn’t involve hiring squads of experts to improve their security posture. The answer they found was security services — any service, every service. MDR became XDR. Vulnerability management evolved to remediation as a service. In 2023, companies got fractional cyber expertise from platform administration to board-level guidance. Given the economics of building and maintaining a cybersecurity team, this trend will continue in 2024. 

Third Party Risk (3PR) 

The recognition that inherited risk was as big, if not bigger, than internal risk gained acceptance in ’23. Companies took to heart the lessons of SolarWinds and Log4J to uncover and understand the skeletons in their own closets. But while 3PR felt good while asking questions, companies also felt the sting of answering lengthy vendor risk assessments. The 3PR space will continue to be a burden for organizations until some trust systems are established to disrupt the GRC industry. 

Zero Trust (ZT) 

The biggest hype cycle entrant of ’22 emerged from the trough of disillusionment in 2023, leading to more rational and productive discussions. Many companies shifted from trying to buy ZT to embracing the ideas of ZT and beginning implementations. ZT Network Access emerged as a first step in the long and valuable journey of ZT. While it will take time for organizations to see the benefit of ZT in the form of risk reduction, expect mature organizations to take steps 2 and 3 in 2024. 

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Stay on Top of Cybersecurity Trends with Inversion6 

Inverion6 gives you the expertise needed to maintain a proactive defensive posture, despite the multitude of changes sweeping through the security space.  Our experts keep abreast of the latest developments, trends, and breakthroughs so your organization is never out of the loop.  

We partner with your organization to provide proactive security solutions from every angle: 

• Obtain extensive monitoring through our Secure Operations Center 
• Tap into strategy and expertise with our experienced fractional CISOs 
• Extend your responsiveness with XDR services 
• ID your vulnerabilities with proven autonomous penetration testing 

From the cybersecurity trends of 2023 to the soon-to-come changes in 2024, Inversion6 ensures you are prepared to face it all with the tools and guidance to improve your resiliency. Connect with our team today to learn how we can help.