SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Malware sophistication is increasing as adversaries begin to weaponize cloud services and evade detection through encryption, used as a tool to conceal command-and-control activity. To reduce adversaries’ time to operate, security professionals said they will increasingly leverage and spend more on tools that use AI and machine learning, reported in the 11th Cisco® 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report (ACR).
While encryption is meant to enhance security, the expanded volume of encrypted web traffic (50 percent as of October 2017) — both legitimate and malicious — has created more challenges for defenders trying to identify and monitor potential threats. Cisco threat researchers observed more than a threefold increase in encrypted network communication used by inspected malware samples over a 12-month period.
Applying machine learning can help enhance network security defenses and, over time, “learn” how to automatically detect unusual patterns in encrypted web traffic, cloud, and IoT environments. Some of the 3,600 chief information security officers (CISOs) interviewed for the Cisco 2018 Security Capabilities Benchmark Study report, stated they were reliant and eager to add tools like machine learning and AI, but were frustrated by the number of false positives such systems generate. While still in its infancy, machine learning and AI technologies over time will mature and learn what is “normal” activity in the network environments they are monitoring.
“Last year’s evolution of malware demonstrates that our adversaries continue to learn,” said John N. Stewart, Senior Vice President and Chief Security and Trust Officer, Cisco. “We have to raise the bar now – top down leadership, business led, technology investments, and practice effective security – there is too much risk, and it is up to us to reduce it.”
Cisco 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report Additional Highlights
Additional Recommendations for Defenders:
About the Report:
The Cisco 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report, now in its 11th year, highlights findings and insights derived from threat intelligence and cybersecurity trends observed over the past 12-18 months from threat researches and six technology partners: Anomali, Lumeta, Qualys, Radware, SAINT, and TrapX. Also, included in the report are results of the annual Security Capabilities Benchmark Study (SCBS), which this year surveyed 3,600 chief security officers (CSOs) and security operations (SecOps) managers from 26 countries about the state of cybersecurity in their organizations.
Supporting Resources
Cisco 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report
Cisco Blog: Setting the Cybersecurity Bar Higher – Announcing the Cisco 2018 Annual Cybersecurity
Cisco 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report Graphics
In-Security video
Follow Cisco Security on Twitter @CiscoSecurity
Follow Cisco Security on LinkedIn
Follow Cisco Security on Instagram
Like Cisco Security on Facebook
RSS Feed for Cisco: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/rss.html
About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow's digital opportunity today. Discover more at newsroom.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.
Press Relations
Raquel Prieto
408-527-3754
raqpriet@cisco.com
Analyst Relations
Jenna Duston
408-424-7210
jeabeyta@cisco.com
Investor Relations
Marty Palka
408-526-6635
mpalka@cisco.com