7 Cybersecurity Trends to Know in 2024

Cybersecurity trends are constantly shifting with the rise of frontier technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud storage, and the Internet of Things (IoT). People now share more information digitally than ever—and in ways that continue to evolve. Yet, according to Statista, the global cost of cybercrime will cost companies $15.63 trillion by 2029 [1]. That makes it especially crucial for cybersecurity professionals to stay informed about the latest trends.

In this article, you'll discover seven trends in cybersecurity that will be important to the field in 2024 and the jobs you can pursue to address each issue. 

At a glance: the top three cybersecurity trends

Here's a rundown on the top three cybersecurity trends you should know in 2024:

1. Remote work: Data is more vulnerable on networks outside the office, where IT teams typically implement the latest cybersecurity protocols.

2. AI and ML: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are making threat detection more accurate and efficient – while also powering an increasing number of cybersecurity threats.

3. Cloud and IoT: As cloud computing is increasingly integrated into workstreams, new security measures will need to be implemented.

Top cybersecurity trends in 2024

Cybercrime is booming. Protect yourself – and your organization – by familiarizing yourself with these top cybersecurity trends in 2024:

1. The rise in remote work requires additional data protection.

2. AI and machine learning are creating more sophisticated attacks.

3. Attacks on the cloud, mobile, and IoT also remain high.

4. Open-source code contains potential risks.

5. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) needs innovating.

6. The growing number of DDoS will increase the demand for mitigation services.

7.  It will be important to protect trustworthy information.

Below, we'll explore each of these facets and the cybersecurity professionals managing them in detail.

1. The rise in remote work requires additional data protection.

Remote and hybrid work arrangements remain popular in the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11.1 percent of companies offer a fully remote work environment, while 27.5 percent offer a hybrid work environment [2]. 

With many employees now working from home (or another offsite location) some portion of the time, the chance of a data breach increases. Cybersecurity professionals must work to ensure that their company’s data stays safe by using additional measures, like VPNs and anti-virus software. In these roles, it's imperative you stay informed about unique and emerging threats, including phishing attempts and ransomware.  

Jobs to consider exploring if you’re interested in this trend: 

• Network administrator 

• System administrator

• Information security analyst 

• Security architect

2. AI and machine learning are creating more sophisticated attacks.

Novel and evolving technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning also come with emerging threats. Threat actors can now use these advancements to develop and implement sophisticated attacks much faster. For example, as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hypothesized, threat actors could use ChatGPT to synthesize a company’s marketing materials and generate more believable phishing emails in the company’s voice [3]. 

Experts say this problem is only just beginning. According to Security magazine, more than 1.76 billion phishing emails circulated in 2023, an increase of 51 percent compared to the year before [4]. Harvard Business Review contends that AI makes these cybersecurity attacks more sophisticated and difficult to spot while making it 95 percent less expensive for those carrying them out [5]. 

Companies will need security professionals who understand AI, its abilities, and its inherent risks. A few of the jobs you might consider if you’re to explore if you’re interested in this trend: 

• Incident responder

• Security engineer

• Cybersecurity manager

Learn more: 10 Cybersecurity Jobs: Entry-Level and Beyond

What is the number one cybersecurity threat today? 

Thomson Reuters points to phishing and social engineering attacks in a business setting as the number one cybersecurity attack in 2024 [6]. The use of AI allows scammers to create more believable phishing emails that entice employees and others to release sensitive data.

3. Attacks on the cloud, mobile, and IoT also remain high.

Technology has become an integral part of people’s lives. By 2025, Hacker News estimates the demand for smart devices will reach 1.8 billion products [7]. However, that industry growth also leaves people more vulnerable than ever before. 

As people become more reliant on mobile apps, the cloud, and “smart” homes and vehicles, the number of opportunities for threat actors to hack their privacy will grow. Attacks on these three components' vulnerabilities—the cloud, apps, and the Internet of Things (IoT)—remain high, as does knowing how to combat such attacks.  

A few jobs to explore relevant to this trend include: 

• Security systems administrator 

• Security engineer

• Security architect

4. Open-source code contains potential risks.

Open-source application libraries offer codebases that are free to use and modify without formal permission – and developers heavily rely on them. Experts estimate that 70 to 90 percent of software solutions use open-source application libraries [8]. 

The problem is that the majority of open-source software contains real security risks. In a 2023 report, Synopsis found that 87 percent of the 1,702 codebases it scanned had security risks [9]. Teams will need experts who can review and test open-source code to identify gaps and patch them. 

Jobs to explore if you’re interested in this trend: 

• Penetration tester

• IT auditor 

5. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) needs innovation.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an added layer of security that helps protect online accounts. Although you can split MFA between SMS (text prompts and phone calls) and apps, more companies rely on SMS because it’s easier for them to develop and implement. 

It’s also far more vulnerable. Threat actors have grown savvier about working with SMS-based authentications because texts aren’t encrypted and remain exposed to Signaling System 7 (SS7) attacks. MFA apps tend to be more secure, meaning companies relying on SMS to authenticate their users will likely have to pivot to MFA apps in the future. 

Jobs to explore if you’re interested in this trend: 

• Security systems administrator

• Security engineer

6. The growing number of DDoS will increase demand for mitigation services.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks overwhelm a server’s traffic, often slowing down or completely disrupting users’ experience. Between March 2022 and March 2023, DDoS attacks grew by 109 percent [10]. That increase has led to a greater need to combat DDoS with more sophisticated—and lasting—solutions. In turn, DDoS migration services will likely grow in response. Companies will also need knowledgeable cybersecurity professionals who can identify and implement the best mitigation service providers for their needs. 

Jobs to explore if you’re interested in this trend: 

• Incident responder

• IT auditor 

• Security engineer

• Cybersecurity manager

7. It will be important to protect trustworthy information.

Cybersecurity initiatives help build and maintain user trust in data security. Any breach of that trust can have serious consequences. 

Yet, the World Economic Forum reports that trust will shift with the rise in AI [11]. As it becomes more challenging to determine if a human or an algorithm wrote something, users will seek trustworthy information sources. That means cybersecurity professionals may pivot from focusing extensively on data privacy to ensuring and protecting legitimate information.   

Jobs to explore if you’re interested in this trend: 

• Cryptography engineer

• Cybersecurity consultant 

Learn more about how to get started in a career in cybersecurity.

Working in cybersecurity 

Keeping data safe and secure can be a rewarding career path with high salaries, high demand, and high growth potential. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that cybersecurity roles will grow by 33 percent in the next decade—much higher than the average [12].

Thanks to its ongoing evolution, cybersecurity can also be a particularly interesting field. As the nature of cybercrime changes, so do the responses, making cybersecurity an exciting subject to learn. Fifty-six percent of cybersecurity specialists have a bachelor's degree in a related field [13]. The key cybersecurity skills to learn include operating systems, scripting, intrusion detection, incident response, and more.

Learn more: Cybersecurity Degrees and Alternatives

Build top cybersecurity skills on Coursera

Learn more about cybersecurity and build job critical skills with the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera. You’ll learn about the foundations of cybersecurity, including how to identify common risks and work with Python, Linux, and SQL. The program takes six months to complete if you can dedicate seven hours a week, and you get to work at your own pace.