Surveys show that 88% of large enterprises have experienced a cyberattack. However, these aren't the only targets of modern cybercrime. 48% of global small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) have had a cyber security incident in the last year. It's clear that developing robust protection against cyberattacks can no longer be considered a luxury.
The nature of these attacks is also changing. Many now easily circumvent traditional software security measures. So how have we gotten to this point, and what does it mean for the future of cyber security?
The evolution of cybersecurity never stops because attackers are always looking for new ways to breach companies. They're financially motivated, earning significant sums for the private data they obtain — either by selling it to others or using it themselves.
As the economy continues digitizing, security breaches like these cost companies more and more. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach eclipsed $4.45 million. This means businesses are also more motivated than ever to prevent cybercrime.
The result is a never-ending game of cat and mouse. As companies harden themselves against one vulnerability, attackers hunt for new opportunities elsewhere in their networks and supply chains. Security professionals must keep up with the latest cybersecurity trends to avoid falling behind.
Hackers now target different layers of the computing stack to circumvent the most common protections companies implement. Their techniques often blend in with valid system processes, making them difficult to catch.
That's why 71% of all attacks today feature no malware. Although you can still fall victim to a ransomware or social engineering attack, more proactive security measures are needed to protect against all potential vulnerabilities.
Compounding this, IBM's research suggests that 90% of successful attacks originate from endpoint devices. These have become vulnerabilities as the hybrid work environment expands.
Corporate devices are now routinely exposed to external SaaS apps and networks outside of the traditional security perimeter. That led to 44% of organizations experiencing at least one hardware-level or BIOS attack during the pandemic.
Evolutions in how we work have increased the size of the average company's threat surface. This has accelerated the adoption of detect and response software and hardware-assisted security. Combining the two security solutions may be the most effective way to protect your business against the ever-evolving threat landscape.
Redundancy has become a foundational element of modern cybersecurity strategy. It's why many companies now favor zero-trust security models. Put simply, it's no longer sufficient to deploy a single layer of security. You need backups in place to stop attacks from penetrating your critical infrastructure.
Combatting modern cybercriminals' advanced tactics requires a tight coupling of hardware and software protections. This creates in-depth defense, so you get more than one chance to stop sophisticated attacks.
Modern enterprise-grade hardware is often designed with this in mind. Choosing the right blend of hardware and software protections can reduce your threat surface massively.
For example, Dell commercial PCs with 13th Gen Intel Core processors on the Intel vPro platform reduce companies' attack surfaces by 70% over previous generations. This simplifies the work of cyber security professionals, giving them more time to focus their efforts where they can have the greatest impact.
Given the evolving security landscape, choosing the right combination of hardware and software protections has never been more critical. Here's a closer look at how three of these technologies layer on top of each other to deliver more robust cyber security protections.
The Intel vPro platform is a business computing foundation that combines hardware and software for improved security protection. It's one of the most widely used platforms worldwide, deployed on over 300 million endpoints.
Intel vPro establishes secure foundations at every layer of the modern computing stack, including:
The platform includes other helpful features, such as safe remote access, boot redirection, power controls, and seamless firmware updates. These features help IT professionals manage and fix systems in remote and hybrid work environments more effectively to keep up with the evolving cyber threat landscape.
It's also necessary to choose endpoint devices that prioritize security on a foundational level. Dell's Trusted Workspace fits that bill in several capacities.
First, Dell Technologies’ "built-with" supply chain security establishes a trustable PC foundation. Next, Dell commercial PCs offer unique built-in hardware and firmware protections like SafeBIOS and SafeID. These deliver enhanced protections and capabilities like Dell-only off-host firmware verification.
Your Dell Technologies PCs will also include “built-in” solutions. These include proprietary hardware and firmware protections, which offer foundational security across every layer of compute. Think of them like integrated components that can prevent and detect attacks wherever they strike.
When you buy Dell Technologies commercial PCs, you get "built-on" software security. This is delivered through a robust ecosystem of security services from industry-leading partners like CrowdStrike. Dell also offers its own Dell Managed Detection and Response solution, which provides 24x7 support and services to help enhance your digital security.
If you want an extra layer of security, consider adding mobile broadband to your Dell Connected PCs. It will give your users a secure, encrypted way to access the internet wherever their work takes them.
Finally, Falcon Insight XDR/EDR delivers complete endpoint visibility across your organization. It minimizes the time you spend investigating alerts and responding to attacks. The tool does so with in-depth analysis that automatically detects suspicious activity and stops stealthy attacks.
Indicators of Attack (IOAs) power the Falcon platform. These focus on detecting an attacker's intent — not just the exploit method. As a result, you get a better idea of the specific actions you must take to stop a pending attack, even if the threat actors have tried to disguise their true intentions. Traditional security models do not typically offer this kind of protection.
Falcon Insight XDR also leverages AI to create more effective IOAs over time as threats evolve. Each IOA is generated from sophisticated machine learning models trained on enormous amounts of data.
The most effective protection against modern attacks' persistent threats comes from an integrated approach that protects against cyber threat evolution. When hardware and software work in concert, the threat surface decreases, and the risk of devastating cyberattacks declines.
The next step is deciding which form of integrated hardware-software protection is the right fit for your organization. You can get that information and learn more about cybersecurity technology trends by watching our recent webinar.