Road to security: key topics at the Cybersecurity Congress in Barcelona
A unique opportunity to learn about the latest trends and challenges in the world of cybersecurity.
From January 31 to February 2, the Cybersecurity Congress was held in Barcelona, an event designed to reflect on the latest developments in the sector and discuss its growing importance in today's technological and connected society.
This year's central theme, "Road to Security," highlighted the need to increase security levels in the industry to minimize hot cyber attacks.
With the participation of experts and professionals in the field, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and best practices to stay secure in an increasingly connected and technological world.
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Cybersecurity and the technological revolution
In the digital age, information and systems security are increasingly transcendent concerns. With the increasing amount of personal and business data stored and transmitted online, cyber-attacks are becoming an increasingly frequent and difficult threat to mitigate.
In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number and sophistication of cyberattacks, from known phishing and malware to ransomware and cyber espionage.
That's why the cybersecurity industry is constantly evolving and striving to develop effective solutions that protect organizations and individuals from these risks. The need to increase security levels in the industry is clear: to minimize the likelihood of cyber-attacks occurring and, if they do occur, to ensure an effective response that limits the impact and enables quick and efficient recovery.
With the increasing use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the automation of business processes, cyber security is becoming a critical requirement to ensure business continuity and protect public confidence in technology. In this sense, it is essential that companies invest in cybersecurity technologies and employee training to be prepared for potential cyberattacks.
Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress - BCC 2023
The Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, was held in conjunction with the IOT Solutions World Congress (IOTSWC), the leading international event on industrial transformation through innovative technologies.
The two events, organized by Fira de Barcelona, will take place at the same time as Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world's most important trade fair in the audiovisual field, which will occupy the entire venue.
The central theme of this year's conference, "Road to Security", highlights the need to increase security measures in the industry and minimize cyber-attacks. More than thirty companies will showcase solutions to protect against malware, secure data, improve recovery time and strengthen product confidence.
During the event, participants were challenged in the Hacking Village Space through a series of hacking competitions. With the slogan "Security is the game", the organizers challenged with tests including a Bug Bounty with a prize of more than 5,000 euros and a cyber attack to defend. An excellent action for participants to delve into the world of cybersecurity and discover new methodologies and techniques that improve today's business security.
Among the various sessions and talks that took place, Marc Rivero, Coordinator of the Master in Cybersecurity at La Salle-URL and Senior Researcher at Kaspersky, led the presentation "Never negotiate with criminals! Information about ransomware tactics used with victims in negotiations". During the talk, Marc discussed Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) operations and tactics that allow cybercriminals to negotiate with victims via chat platforms.
Ransomware attacks have increased significantly in recent years, with an estimated global cost of €11.5 billion in 2021. Furthermore, according to Kaspersky reports, the number of ransomware victims increased by 60% in the last year. This data highlights the importance of being informed and prepared to face these challenging challenges in the world of cybersecurity.
Marc Rivero is a recognized cybersecurity expert and has been working in this field for many years. His talk provided a detailed insight into how cybercriminals operate and how to protect yourself from their tactics. It will be a unique opportunity to learn first-hand from an expert in the field.
Cybersecurity trends 2023
Some of the cybersecurity trends for 2023 include:
- Increased data protection: Data privacy will be a key priority in 2023, with a focus on securing sensitive data and protecting against information theft and exposure.
- Cloud security: With the increasing adoption of the cloud, cloud security will become a key concern for enterprises. Investments are expected to be made in cloud security solutions that will enable organizations to effectively protect their cloud data.
- Internet of Things (IoT) cybersecurity: IoT device security will remain a major concern in 2023, with a focus on protecting against attacks through vulnerable IoT devices.
- Rise of cyber intelligence: Cyber intelligence will play an increasingly important role in threat detection and prevention, with a focus on automation and artificial intelligence.
- Cybersecurity at the edge: Security at the edge, or network periphery, will become a key concern in 2023, with a focus on protecting devices and sensors that are outside the core network.
These trends demonstrate the need for robust and evolving cybersecurity to stay one step ahead of cyber threats and adequately protect digital assets.
La Salle-URL participates in Rewire
From this perspective, CaixaBank, La Salle-URL and a group of universities and organizations in the European Union have initiated the REWIRE project to establish an international competency framework for future cybersecurity professionals. This project has been selected by the European Union to receive funding from the Erasmus+ program.
The objective of this study is to identify key stakeholders interested in cybersecurity from various backgrounds and perspectives, providing an interactive and publicly accessible tool to provide information and career guidance for professionals and students who are evaluating a career in this field.
By involving both private companies and universities and institutions, the program will help improve cybersecurity-related job descriptions and strengthen the curricula of educational institutions. In addition, the design of this competency framework will be of great help to both students and professionals looking to upgrade their skills, retrain or change careers.
The results of REWIRE will help define the courses of study, skills and competencies that students wishing to pursue a career in cybersecurity should have.
Employability and training on the rise
In Spain, cybersecurity training has become a valuable tool for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes. The demand for professionals in this field has increased in recent years, and is expected to continue to grow in the future.
The demand for cybersecurity talent will double the supply by 2024, reaching the figure of more than 83,000 professionals needed in the sector”
- National Cibersecurity Institute
Referencing the article published by ISC's Global Information Security Workforce Study 2021, there was a shortage of 2.72 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide last year.
Furthermore, according to Cybersecurity Ventures' Cybersecurity Jobs Report 2021, the number of cybersecurity jobs is expected to increase at a compound annual rate of 11% through 2029, an increase of 3.5 million jobs worldwide.
This data demonstrates that the cybersecurity sector offers a wealth of employment opportunities and a steady demand for skilled professionals. Therefore, it is an attractive career with a promising future for those interested in technology and digital security.
La Salle-URL's Master's Degree in Cybersecurity and Master's Degree in Cybersecurity Management opens doors to a wide variety of job opportunities in different sectors, from manufacturing to retail and consulting.
MASTERS IN CIBERSECURITY