OPERATIONS
Watch your wallet in the metaverse This year is set to be essential for the metaverse , with Meta , Microsoft , Virbela and others counting on virtual worlds going mainstream . However , activity in the metaverse can raise questions around identity ; how do you know that the person you think you are talking to is who they say they are ? Digital certificates , perhaps built on the blockchain , could help . These certificates could also be used to secure virtual transactions in the metaverse . What is clear is that as the metaverse expands , so too will the risks .
Geo-political cybersecurity attacks will increase Russia ' s attack on Ukraine has reminded us in the starkest way possible that warfare is now hybrid and the risks of geopolitically motivated cyberattacks are real . As a result , many cyber insurance policies are now being written to exclude acts of cyberwar , creating challenges for cyber risk mitigation .
With lingering geopolitical tensions , this threat is set to continue in 2023 . In fact , with more than 70 countries due to hold government elections in 2023 , it will be a challenging year for cybersecurity defences , as these are events frequently targeted by statesponsored actors . However , businesses can learn from case studies such as Ukraine ' s ' exemplary ' defence against Russian cyberattacks , say researchers .
Cybersecurity attacks will target critical infrastructure When the lights go out , or the gas is cut , most people are unlikely to think it results from an industrial cybersecurity breach . But Operational Technology ( OT ) is an
76 March 2023