Intelligent CIO North America Issue 17 | Page 73

INTELLIGENCE AND CYBERSECURITY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UK AND US REAFFIRMED A JOINT COMMITMENT TO DISRUPT AND DETER NEW AND EMERGING CYBERTHREATS .
INDUSTRY WATCH

INTELLIGENCE AND CYBERSECURITY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UK AND US REAFFIRMED A JOINT COMMITMENT TO DISRUPT AND DETER NEW AND EMERGING CYBERTHREATS .

Meeting at the recent Cyber Management Review in Maryland , intelligence and cybersecurity representatives from the UK and US reaffirmed a joint commitment to disrupt and deter new and emerging cyberthreats .

Equally concerning is the development of polymorphic malware that continually changes its features to evade detection . There is a very real risk that in the near future , organizations will be faced with a situation where every piece of malware is novel or unique .
Together , both governments have a crucial role to play in the fight against global cybercrime , and in many ways , they set the tone for how organizations far and wide approach these challenges .
The announcement followed annual bi-lateral discussions between representatives from Government Communications Headquarters ( GCHQ ), the National Security Agency ( NSA ) and the US Cyber Command .
As a result , having consistent strategies across the world ’ s most powerful nations to help prevent attacks of this nature will be vital in stopping future cyber disasters . Not only does enhanced strategic engagement between the two countries provide a clear roadmap for increasing defense capabilities in cyberspace , it also acts as a deterrent to those perpetrating attacks on businesses and public sector organizations on both sides of the Atlantic .
In a joint statement , they said that strategic engagement in cyberspace is crucial to defending our way of life , by addressing these evolving threats with a full range of capabilities . To carry this out , they said they intend to continue to adapt , innovate , partner and succeed against evolving threats in cyberspace .
These kinds of high-level commitments are increasingly important . With a cyberattack occurring every 39 seconds in 2021 , the world is experiencing a diverse range of challenges , including an on-going ransomware crisis which will likely continue its upward trajectory in 2022 .
For instance , attackers are increasingly using a more personalized approach to blend into regular network traffic to look like an insider . They are also turning to more sophisticated technologies to automate their efforts and are employing Machine Learning techniques to understand what influences the behavior of their targets .
Consequently , the UK and US seem set to increase their efforts to engage with online adversaries . In doing so , their announcement makes repeated reference to ‘ imposing consequences ’ on cybercriminals and nation-state protagonists . This is a welcome restatement of the determination of both governments to proactively address a wide range of serious cybersecurity risks .
It also serves as a reminder to organizations across both public and private sectors that taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity is an essential part of a rounded and effective strategy .
A proactive strategy
In contrast , take the emphasis many organizations currently place on antivirus and sandboxing technologies in preventing cyberattackers from accessing networks and data . While these familiar solutions play a vital role in identifying and blocking a
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