5 Need-to-Know Cybersecurity Trends That Will Impact Your Offensive Security Strategy for 2024 

A 2023 year in review  

Having a comprehensive cybersecurity – and offensive security –  plan for your organization is vital to your success. But with the constant influx of new threats, the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging cybersecurity regulations, it can be challenging to create a fool-proof plan. 

To help you start off 2024 on secure ground, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 most noteworthy cybersecurity trends, programs, and policies from the past 12 months. 

1. 63% of hackers found new, never-before-seen vulnerabilities 

What does this mean for you? 

With the increase in vulnerabilities, especially new vulnerabilities, it’s time to rethink your vulnerability management program. If you’re using automated scanning tools but not pentesting, you’re risking a breach. 

As Veracode uncovered in its recent State of Software Security Report, “62% of CWEs commonly found during a pentest cannot be found using automation.” 

2. The average cost of data breach in the United States increased to $9.48 million

What does this mean for you? 

Data breaches are so costly that a single breach could force an organization to shut its doors for good. And if an organization does survive the financial hit, it could result in the loss of its reputation. Although it’s impossible to be fully covered from a breach, having a strong cybersecurity plan in place can add a much needed layer of protection.

3. Ransomware attacks hit a record high 

What does this mean for you?

As stated in Deloitte’s Threat Report, these ransomware attacks represent an “urgent need for offensive security practices,” especially with the rise of AI. The report details the need for penetration testing, attack surface management, security training, incident response readiness via red teaming or tabletop simulations, and the adoption of continuous assessment and validation practices. 

4. The White House revealed a new plan for addressing cybersecurity 

Earlier this year, the White House released a new plan to ensure security in digital ecosystems and  “reimagine cyberspace as a tool to achieve our goals.” The plan is to shift the responsibility of security onto organizations, and less on small businesses, to help risk for all now and into the future. The core pillars of the plan include defending critical infrastructure, disrupting and dismantling threat actors, shaping market forces to drive security and resilience, investing in a resilient future and forging international partnerships

What does this mean for you? 

Stricter cybersecurity standards for organizations means that it’s time to ensure you have a comprehensive plan in place. To operate with the federal government, you need to show proof of adherence to regulations – and this will likely trickle down to other sectors.

5. NIST released a draft detailing strategies for incorporating software supply chain security measures into CI/CD pipelines

In September, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) officially released a draft with context into the strategies needed to incorporate software supply chain security measures into CI/CD pipelines. The document essentially outlines the need for DevSecOp.

What does this mean for you? 

If you haven’t jumped on the DevSecOps bandwagon yet, it’s time to do so. When development and operations teams work together to ensure an application’s security, it drastically reduces the chances of an unwanted incident. It also helps you find flaws faster in the software development lifecycle, saving time and money. (And for internal security teams, aligning pentesters with the DevSecOps team can ensure an added layer of visibility and security.) 

Jump Start the New Year With PlexTrac 

As you work on your offensive security plan, make sure you’re also considering your team’s productivity. Automating pentest reporting with PlexTrac empowers teams to be more efficient and effective in their workflows, giving them more time to focus on hacking. You will benefit from a 50% time savings in report creation, real-time collaboration across teams or with stakeholders, and faster time to remediation.  

Request a demo or take a self-guided tour of the platform, today.