As the session continued, Amber asked about the motivation of cyberattacks, to which Alexis talked about state-sponsored attacks, which may be more politically motivated, and those driven by organized crime, which are more financially motivated. “However, there is no way for us to predict which is the biggest threat. This is why it is always important that we as individuals and as organizations take the necessary precautions to help minimize exposure to these cyber threats.”
Amber asked about cyberspace becoming “militarized.” Panelists Eliot Behar and Sean Earhard believed it had already begun. Alexis said many countries already have units specializing in defensive and offensive measures in cyberspace – including Canada’s Department of National Defense’s announcement in May to “strengthen” its cyberwarfare arsenal.
When asked about new and upcoming threats, I spoke of the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) revolution, where all our devices are talking to each other. I cited stats that suggest there are 8.5 billion IoT devices today, including machine-to-machine (M2M) connections, but that number is expected to balloon to 50 billion devices by 2020.
While more entry points can translate to increased vulnerability, I suggested during the panel that IoT might actually (or ironically), bolster security, if we can make devices serve as authenticators. For instance, instead of a smartwatch or connected car as an added threat, what if a second or third device was required for authentication, perhaps to enter a business?
