5 Technological Advancements That Are Boosting Cybersecurity
It's no exaggeration to say that the world is in the midst of a cybersecurity arms race. With threats from hackers and online fraudsters presenting a bigger danger to business, society, and safety than ever before in history, how we utilize emerging technologies to bolster online security in the coming years will be critical.
The threat from cybercriminals is becoming increasingly sophisticated, so security needs to be able to adapt in order to keep up. Fortunately, there have been a number of recent technological developments that have helped improve the arsenal at our disposal to ensure we win the fight against cyber attackers. Here are the five key technological advancements that are currently doing the most to boost cybersecurity efforts.
Blockchain
Blockchain is so much more than just a buzzword and its importance stretches far beyond the value of bitcoin. At its heart, blockchain is a security apparatus. The digital ledger allows for the secure sharing of information and identity authentication, without the typical risks of exposing data to outsiders. This is why health services such as the NHS in the UK are experimenting with blockchain as a means of protecting patient data and sharing it between facilities.
Cloud Technology
The cloud is convenient but has also been proven to be problematic. The diverse array of data that can be stored on a single cloud account is staggering but this also exposes users to obvious security flaws. Fortunately, cloud security has made leaps and bounds in recent years, with developers ensuring that all data is much better protected against hacks than before. Cloud storage is used by a hugely diverse array of businesses for handling customer data, from e-commerce sites like Shopify to online gaming platforms like Lottoland. Security is vital to these companies as a way to protect financial data that customers use to pay for services, say for betting on lottery jackpots online for instance. Companies like those mentioned above also use cloud services to store personal data on their customers, so they naturally place the protection of that data as a high priority.
IoT Security
One of the major flaws with early-release Internet of Things technology is that it connected multiple devices without a common security apparatus. This led to concerns that home assistant devices like Amazon’s Alexa were providing a gateway for hackers to get into people’s phones and laptops. Luckily, the big companies have taken notice. Nowadays it is common for IoT software to have a cybersecurity infrastructure that can be shared with all devices within a household.
AI and Machine Learning
Possibly the most significant development that has allowed us to stay one step ahead of hackers is the advancement of AI and machine learning technology. This technology is able to collect data from the global information network and use it to adapt to any new types of threat. As such, hardware and software is becoming more intelligent without human input and is becoming increasingly adept at pre-empting security threats and adapting as needed.
Application Security 
Just a few short years ago, applications on a device were only as secure as the device they were hosted on. Hackers quickly took notice and smartphone applications became a highly-targeted weak spot. This has changed a lot in recent years, with security software now being an essential part of the app-building process. As such, many apps are now even more secure than the devices they are installed on.
While our knowledge of cybersecurity threats is improving, there is still a long way to go. We may be improving our capabilities with the aid of new technology, but so are the hackers.
