## Overlooked Cybersecurity Risks Companies Need to Address Now
Cybersecurity threats are growing more complex-and often, harder to detect. As companies expand their tech stacks and accelerate digital operations, they may be ignoring hidden risks rooted in shadow systems, human behavior and outdated assumptions.
Below, industry experts from Forbes Technology Council share overlooked or unspoken issues that are quietly increasing cybersecurity risk in organizations across industries. Their insights on factors ranging from vulnerable no-code tools to compliance theater to digital clutter can definately help companies spot critical gaps in their cybersecurity strategies.
### 1. Embed Guardrails Into no-Code App Progress
no-code and citizen developer platforms introduce thousands of unmanaged apps into organizations, frequently enough without security controls or governance. These shadow applications expand the attack surface, increase data leakage risk and complicate visibility. Embedding security guardrails post-dev is key to enforcing policies and reducing exposure. – Yair Finzi, Nokod Security
### 2. Watch For Shadow IT And AI Agents
The convergence of shadow IT and the increasing use of robotic process automation, bots, non-human identities and AI agents create meaningful cybersecurity vulnerabilities across industries. Shadow IT conceals these tools from IT and InfoSec oversight, making them invisible to security monitoring tools. Attackers can exploit these to move laterally within networks, escalating minor breaches into major incidents. – Pulak De,## 6 Cybersecurity Predictions For 2024, According To The Forbes Technology Council
As we move into 2024, the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace.Here are six predictions from the Forbes Technology Council on what security professionals should be preparing for in the coming year:
### 1. The Rise Of AI-Powered Attacks
AI is a double-edged sword. While it offers powerful new security tools, it also empowers attackers. Expect to see a surge in AI-driven phishing campaigns, malware development, and automated vulnerability exploitation. Security teams need to leverage AI for defense, but also understand how it can be used against them. – Igor Volovich, Eviden
### 2. Increased Focus On Supply Chain Security
Attacks targeting the software supply chain will become more frequent and complex. Organizations need to rigorously assess the security practices of their vendors and implement robust controls to prevent compromised components from entering their systems. Zero-trust principles are crucial in this context. – Daniel Tkac, Cyral
### 3. The Growing Threat Of Deepfakes
Deepfakes are becoming increasingly realistic and accessible, posing a significant threat to brand reputation, financial stability, and even national security.Organizations need to invest in technologies to detect and mitigate deepfake attacks, and educate employees about the risks. – Saryu Nayyar, Gurucul
10. Prioritize Secure coding Practices Over Reactive Fixes
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We spend too much time trying to detect potential security vulnerabilities.It’s time to start secure software engineering by writing code that is hardened and less susceptible to intrusion in the first place. The unexpected benefit will be better code, as a large number of bugs exploited by security attacks are actually quality issues. – Arthur Hicken, Parasoft
11. Replace ‘Compliance Theater’ With Real Security Hygiene
The most overlooked risk is “compliance theater.” Companies spend millions checking SOC 2 and ISO boxes while missing basic security hygiene. I’ve seen perfectly compliant organizations get breached because they optimized for audits, not actual protection. Compliance is a snapshot, but threats evolve daily. – Anna Turos, Lighthouse HQ
12. treat AI Agents As Insider Threats
AI agents now act like employees-logging in, making decisions and accessing critical systems-but most security teams still treat them like background software. This blind spot is quietly growing, creating unchecked pathways that could become one of the biggest insider threats facing enterprises today. – aru
16. Teach Employees To Think Like Hackers
Many companies focus on training people on what not to do but forget to teach how hackers actually break in. Sometimes, offence is the best defense-understanding the attacker’s mindset is key to stronger cybersecurity. – Uttam Kumar, American Eagle Outfitters
17. Clarify Security Ownership
One overlooked issue is unclear ownership. I’ve seen teams assume security is someone else’s job, especially in fast-growing companies. but when no one owns it end-to-end, gaps form quickly.defining roles and making security a shared responsibility is what truly helps reduce risk.- Nidhi Jain, CloudEagle.ai