Cyber crime moves with the times and techology
The internet is a constantly evolving system, which results in ever-changing user behaviour and technologies. While users delight in this evolution, it does present new opportunities for cyber criminals who pan through the internet’s shadows and mirrors.
The advent and increasing business and consumer adoption of cloud computing and virtualisation has marked a significant shift in online information storage and security. Cloud computing offers significant benefits, including decreased capital expenditure and increased computing capabilities. However, these benefits come at a security cost as servers are outside the traditional scope of internet security, which puts them under threat.
Cloud adoption expected to grow
A 2009 Trend Micro cloud computing survey showed that while businesses were interested in cloud computing, 61 percent of respondents had not taken up cloud computing solutions as they were uncertain of the security risks to their network. In spite of these concerns, cloud adoption is expected to grow dramatically as businesses yield to competitive pressures.
With the economy still licking its wounds, cloud computing provides tempting savings for businesses trying to boost profitability. Many businesses are already enlisting cloud computing and reaping the productivity and profit margin benefits, placing pressure on others to move with their industry to stay competitive. The more investment and information that goes into the cloud, the more opportunities there are for predatory cyber criminals to attack.
The current flaws in cloud security have not yet been fully realised and it is a security vulnerability that is likely to attract attention in 2010. Trend Micro predicts cyber criminals will prey predominantly on either the connection to the cloud or the data centre and cloud itself.