Keywords: technology, internet-drive society, automation, big data, Internet of Things (IoT), cybercrime, data manipulation, identity theft, cyberwarfare, botnets, autonomous cars, ransomware, essential infrastructure, governance, digital trails, technology talent, data sovereignty, cybercrime

Technology evolves, bringing opportunities and challenges. We are at a crossroads, moving from an internet-driven society to an era of automation, big data, and Internet of Things (IoT). Society depends on technology, but it also exposes us to cybercrime and attacks. Safeguarding it is crucial. Some upcoming concerns include:

• Attack vectors (botnets, autonomous cars, ransomware)
• Threats (data manipulation, identity theft, cyberwarfare)
• Related issues (data sovereignty, digital trails, technology talent)

What is cybersecurity?

As with any technological advance throughout history, whenever new opportunities are created, there will always be some actors exploiting them for their own good. 

Despite the threat of viruses and malware almost since the dawn of computing, awareness of the security and sanctity of data with computer systems didn’t gain traction until the explosive growth of the internet, whereby the exposure of so many machines on the web provided a veritable playground for hackers to test their skills – bringing down websites, stealing data, or committing fraud. We call it cybercrime.

Since then, and with internet penetration globally at an estimated 3.4 billion users (approximately 46% of the world’s population), the opportunities for cybercrime have risen exponentially. 

Combating this is a multi-disciplinary affair that spans hardware and software through to policy and people – all of it aimed at both preventing cybercrime occurring in the first place, or minimizing its impact when it does. This is called cybersecurity.

While there is no silver bullet, cybersecurity is a constantly active process just like the threats it aims to prevent. 

What happens when security fails and there are no robust security programs in place?

While what frequently makes the news are breaches of users accounts and the publication of names and passwords – the type that Ashley Madison hack publicly exemplified – its often-financial gain, or the theft of critical or government intelligence, that dries the cyber underworld. 

What remains clear: it’s only going to increase. As we integrate technology further into our lives, the opportunities for abuse grow. So too, then, must the defences we employ to stop them through the education and practice of cybersecurity.

‘The increasing prevalence and severity of malicious cyber-enabled activities …constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States. I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with this threat.’ Barack Obama, President of the United States.

Dr Pete Mhlanga

MD, MCTG Consulting

PhD Law,

Harvard Professional & Executive Development

Program in Artificial Intelligence

LLM (Public International Law)

LLB (Company Law, Tax Law and Employment Law)