Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- A World Economic Forum report highlights the challenges facing the global cybersecurity landscape in 2024.
- The report identifies widening cyber inequity and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, as key rising risks.
- There is an increasing divide between cyber-resilient organizations and those that are struggling, with small and medium-sized companies showing significant decline in cyber resilience.
- There is also a growing cyber skills and talent shortage, with only 15% of organizations optimistic about improvement in the next two years.
- External partners are both the greatest asset and the biggest hindrance to cybersecurity, with 41% of organizations reporting material incidents caused by third parties.
A new report from the World Economic Forum and Accenture has identified widening cyber inequity and emerging technologies as key rising risks for the global cybersecurity landscape in 2024. The report, based on surveys carried out between June and November 2023, highlights the growing divide between cyber-resilient organizations and those that are struggling. It reveals that the number of organizations with minimum viable cyber resilience has decreased by 30% compared to last year, with small and medium-sized companies showing significant decline. This inequity is fueled by macroeconomic trends, industry regulation, and early adoption of paradigm-shifting technology by some organizations. The report also highlights a growing cyber skills and talent shortage, with only 15% of organizations optimistic about improvement in the next two years. Additionally, external partners are both the greatest asset and the biggest hindrance to cybersecurity, with 41% of organizations reporting material incidents caused by third parties. The report calls for collaboration across borders and industries to counter these interrelated threats and build a more resilient environment.
