Earlier this month, we took a broad look at the Top Conversations in Tech in May 2024, where we analyze hot and declining trends to help technology marketers maximize their relevance. Join us now for a deep dive on Cybersecurity, a topic that has been gaining traction over the past few years.
Cybersecurity has experienced a steady rise in conversation volume over the years, increasing from 81,000 average monthly media citations in 2019 to 177,000 citations on average in 2024. Notably, the Cybersecurity conversation trajectory mimicked the “cyber attack” dialogue, showcasing how much the industry conversation is influenced by specific attacks that happen on the regular – fueling Cybersecurity market demand.
Cybersecurity news in May was fueled by cyber attacks like the Ascension health systems incident, which resulted in health portal outages and questions from the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. The questions from Congress unearthed alleged vulnerabilities within the organization’s systems, including an absence of multi-factor authentication. The attack and resulting investigation also led the U.S. government, via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to invest $50 million in cybersecurity to help hospitals defend themselves against these threats.
Our Take: The nature of cyber attacks has become multilayered, with more frequent governmental interventions for high-profile industries. Staying in touch with how the government responds to attacks can help companies anticipate future regulations, prepare for compliance needs, and prioritize emerging threats.
Vulnerabilities in critical U.S. infrastructure, like water utility systems, also gained attention in May 2024. Water systems were cited for lacking the necessary protection against cyber criminals, often noting the complex nature of their systems as well as resource limitations in mitigating threats. Organizational leaders pointed to systemic issues including software breakdowns and insufficient risk assessments.
Our Take: Given the expanding nature of cyber attacks, organizations need to focus on a mix of people, process and technology issues – both to minimize threats and to enable quick recovery when incidents happen.
Cybersecurity coverage is quick and broad in the aftermath of a cyber attack or data breach. In May, national and local news outlets described how different high-profile systems were victimized, often tying the coverage to broader narratives about cyber terrorism, international politics and government regulation. Fewer outlets focused on what can be done to protect organizations against attacks.
What else stood out? Several outlets in May highlighted how consumers continue to voice privacy concerns in the digital age, while educating consumers on how to strengthen their own data security. Other cyber incidents received attention like the Contra Costa Transit Authority and the alleged hack of Ticketmaster. Finally, several outlets highlighted the intersection between cybersecurity and data analytics, exposing a need for stronger security controls within data analytics platforms.
Want to stay up to date on the Top Conversations in Tech? Stay tuned for our monthly big-picture and deep-dive analyses, available via Big Valley’s LinkedIn channel and website.
