Exploring Cybersecurity's Holistic Paradigm

In today's rapidly changing digital landscape, businesses face constant challenges from cyberthreats so it is imperative for them to embrace a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. This approach should extend beyond technology and encompass various elements such as people, skills, processes and governance. Nevertheless, experts concur that prioritizing a strategy that addresses risks originating from within the infrastructure of the platforms can greatly help organizations stay ahead of the highly-evolving cyberthreats.

The ability to identify trends through data collection is crucial when creating a proactive strategy against cyberattacks, says Alejandro Martínez, Sales Engineer Senior, Akamai. By leveraging this valuable data, organizations can anticipate the direction that cyberattacks may take. Akamai, which can measure about 40% of internet traffic, plays a significant role in providing insights into potential cyberattacks and shedding light on emerging trends. “Akamai aims to offer an integral solution, simple and comprehensive,” says Martínez.

During the past few years, companies have seen an evident increase in the number of cyberattacks and their sophistication. This problem will only worsen. "The following years will witness a significant rise in the number of attacks targeting web applications and APIs, and these attacks will also become more complex," says Martínez. Artificial intelligence is also contributing to the emergence of intricate problems that require complex solutions, while also posing an additional challenge in accurately differentiating legitimate data from potential cyberthreats, he adds.

DDoS attacks are also expected to increase in number. Moreover, the targets of these attacks are expected to shift from the US to the EU, Asia and Latin America. Ransomware attacks also surged significantly throughout 2022, and this upward trend is expected to continue.

Traditionally, cybersecurity was relegated to IT departments but the new reality demands active involvement from all levels of an organization. C-level management must embed cybersecurity into the company's culture, recognizing that every employee has a role in the security chain. This cultural shift fosters awareness and expertise throughout the organization, aligning security objectives with business goals.

Akamai's efforts in cybersecurity are driven by a commitment to stay ahead of the potential next evolution of cyberattacks, says Martínez. The company prioritizes keeping up with the latest trends in cybersecurity to ensure proactive measures are in place to anticipate and mitigate emerging threats. 

Akamai embraces the Zero Trust approach, aiming to establish a delicate equilibrium between a trust-based ecosystem and mitigating risks posed by human misuse of platforms. By adopting this approach, Akamai recognizes that trust is the ultimate goal of implementing cybersecurity strategies, and strives to create a secure environment that minimizes vulnerabilities and maximizes trustworthiness. "The Zero Trust methodology seeks to reduce operational vulnerability by implementing more rigorous security filters," Martínez explained.

Segmentation plays an important role in Akamai’s strategy. The company found that by using this approach it decreased the number of possible routes of attack by 98.93%."Unrestricted access has been catastrophic for businesses, with ransomware attacks costing an average of US$435 million worldwide in 2022," says Martínez. The main sectors prone to cyberattacks are commerce, high technology and financial services. 

Implementing behavioral changes in cybersecurity practices can be challenging, given humans' tendency to prioritize short-term gains. To overcome this hurdle, a holistic approach is essential. Holistic cyber resilience entails increasing the scope to identify risks — ensuring that cybersecurity is not an isolated function but an integral part of the organization's overall operations. "Understanding how internet traffic behaves enables the provision of relevant data regarding potential cyberthreats," says Martínez.

As cyberthreats become increasingly diverse and sophisticated, embracing a holistic paradigm is the most effective way to safeguard organizational assets and ensure business continuity. Businesses must recognize the importance of long-term security benefits, commit to behavioral changes and prioritize the holistic approach to achieve cyber resilience. By doing so, organizations can protect their digital assets and thrive in an evolving threat landscape.