According to Forrester’s recent report on cybersecurity predictions for 2023, there will be an increased focus on proactive and predictive security measures. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will play a crucial role in detecting and preventing cyberattacks, and organizations will increasingly invest in security automation tools. The report also predicts that ransomware attacks will continue to rise and become more sophisticated, targeting critical infrastructure and cloud-based environments. Additionally, there will be a greater need for collaboration between security teams and the board to establish a more robust security posture

It’s time to start thinking about “cyber-physical systems.” What are they? In simple terms, cyber-physical systems are hardware and software networks used in everyday life and industrial manufacturing. Some examples include smart appliances, connected cars, drones, and smart buildings (like those we’re building at Deloitte today). Cybersecurity experts predict that by 2023 the number of devices connected to the internet will double from about 25 billion today to 50 billion devices worldwide. That means there will be more opportunities for hackers to target these systems for malicious purposes such as stealing personal data or disrupting operations—and even causing physical damage through cyberattacks on infrastructure like power grids or transportation networks like trains or planes.  

Cybersecurity predictions 

It’s important to note that these predictions are based on the current state of cybersecurity, as well as trends in cybersecurity, the growth of the cyber economy, and the growing importance of developing strong cyber capabilities. 

• By 2023, most organizations will have built a formal risk management process for cybersecurity that incorporates traditional and emerging threats into their threat assessments. 
• By the end of 2022, over 10 billion connected devices will be on our planet—roughly 12 per human being on earth! When you consider how many of these things are used by businesses (think: industrial control systems), it becomes clear why organizations must invest in building effective cyber defenses against attacks against any device they use or control—and fast! 

Economy and infrastructure 

• Critical infrastructure. Cyberattacks on a nation’s critical infrastructure will become more frequent, sophisticated, and potentially devastating. This can affect everything from power grids to water supply systems and transportation networks. 
• Economy and financial system. Attacks on the economy will continue as cybercriminals look for ways to extract value from data they can use for fraudulent transactions or other illicit activities such as influence operations. These attacks may come in the form of spear phishing campaigns aimed at specific individuals or companies with data valuable enough for the attacker to risk detection and launch an attack instead of finding another way into their computer networks (such as through an exploit kit). Attacks could also target specific industries such as health care providers or defense contractors whose customers would pay high ransoms if they could access stolen information without having any direct channels open with those entities themselves. 

Cyber-physical assets in the future 

The next decade will see a boom in the number of cyber-physical systems embedded within everyday objects and connected to the internet. These systems are expected to account for almost 50% of all devices by 2023. 

This has led to concerns about security and privacy, with many people wondering how these technologies will impact individuals and businesses. However, these concerns have not stopped companies from developing new products that take advantage of this technology: one example is a refrigerator that can tell if you’re out of milk or eggs; another is a car that can adjust its speed based on traffic conditions ahead. 

Cyber-physical assets and the workforce 

The workforce is a vital part of the cyber-physical security ecosystem. It will become even more so as the workforce becomes more mobile, distributed across borders. The workforce must be trained and educated to be able to respond appropriately to cyber-physical security threats. This training needs to go beyond technical skills or understanding of technology. Itrequires an understanding of how risk affects different business processes and a broad range of stakeholders such as owners, regulators, insurers, and third parties working with different industries (e.g., financial services). 

Cyber-physical assets, cyber defense, and resilience 

• Cyber-physical systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks. 
• Cyber-physical systems need to be resilient to cyberattacks. 
• Cyber-physical systems need to be able to defend against cyberattacks. 
• Cyber-physical systems need to be able to recover from cyberattacks. 

Ecosystems and ecosystems of cyber-physical systems 

The cyber-physical systems (CPS) landscape is a complex ecosystem. It’s composed of multiple ecosystems that interact with each other in a multitude of ways. As the number and type of devices connected to the internet have increased, so has the potential for disruption. Today, CPSs are used everywhere: at homes, businesses, and industrial facilities; in cars and aircraft; on farms and across the public infrastructure. 

Problems within one ecosystem could easily spread through others via physical connectivity or data sharing—or even because they’re popular targets for hackers who want to cause havoc by disrupting transportation networks or hobbling water supply systems. 

Five predictions for 2023 for cybersecurity defenses for cyber-physical systems 

• Cybersecurity defenses for cyber-physical systems will be a top priority for the government and industry. 

• Cybersecurity defenses for cyber-physical systems will be an area of focus for the military. 
• Cybersecurity defenses for cyber-physical systems will be a top concern for businesses