Cyber security threats: What to defend against and how

Which are the main cyber security threats to know about? 

What are attackers actually using to target your business? Understanding the main attack methods helps you build defenses that work against real threats, not theoretical ones. 

Malware and ransomware 

Malware—malicious software designed to damage systems or steal information—comes in many forms. Ransomware stands out as particularly devastating because it encrypts your data and demands payment for the decryption key. IBM research shows the average cost of an extortion or ransomware incident is around the $5 million mark. 

Phishing and social engineering 

These attacks target people rather than technology. Phishing uses fake messages to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information or downloading malware. Attackers have refined their approach with specialized variants: 

• Spear phishing targets specific individuals
• Whaling goes after executives
• Smishing uses text messages
• Vishing operates through voice calls  

Criminals often exploit current events or crises to make their messages seem legitimate. And then there’s the AI factor: as tools become more sophisticated, attackers can convincingly impersonate someone’s voice or even likeness. 

Insider threats 

Your biggest security risk might already be inside your organization. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency defines an insider threat as "the potential for an insider to use their authorized access to harm an organization.” 

These threats split into two categories: unintentional mistakes and deliberate sabotage. While external attacks grab headlines, insider breaches can be just as costly—averaging $4.99 million per incident. 

Supply-chain and third-party risks 

Attackers know your suppliers might have weaker security than you do. Third-party risks emerge when vendors introduce vulnerabilities into your systems. The numbers tell the story: in 2025, IBM reported that vendor and supply-chain compromise was the 2nd most common attack vector, and a supply-chain compromise took the longest to resolve at 267 days on average. 

Emerging threats 

New technologies create new vulnerabilities. The Internet of Things connects billions of devices worldwide and each one is a potential entry point for attackers. Cloud misconfiguration has become equally dangerous. Gartner research shows misconfiguration causes 80% of data breaches, with projections that 99% of cloud security failures through 2025 will result from human error. 

These mistakes often happen because teams don't fully understand their cloud environments or miss critical steps during setup. 

How does ISO 27001 address these cyber security threats? 

ISO 27001 provides a systematic approach to managing information security risks, but most organizations misunderstand what this actually means for threat management. Rather than being just another compliance checkbox, this standard creates a complete system for protecting your critical information assets. 

What ISO 27001 brings to threat management 

ISO 27001 stands as the globally recognized standard for information security management systems, with over 70,000 certified organizations across 150 countries. This framework helps businesses become "risk-aware" and proactively spot security weaknesses. The standard integrates people, policies, and technology into a unified approach. 

The core value of ISO 27001 lies in preserving information confidentiality, integrity, and availability through structured risk management. This becomes particularly valuable when dealing with cyber threats that evolve faster than traditional security review cycles can address. 

Risk assessment drives threat identification and response 

ISO 27001's risk assessment process forms the foundation of effective threat management. Clause 6.1.2 requires you to establish consistent criteria for evaluating security risks. This creates a systematic approach that includes: 

• Asset identification leads to understanding what attackers might target  
• Threat analysis reveals how those attacks might happen
• Vulnerability assessment shows where your defenses have gaps
• Impact evaluation determines which risks need immediate attention 

Once you complete the assessment, ISO 27001 offers four treatment options: modify the risk through controls, share it via insurance or outsourcing, avoid it entirely, or retain it with clear justification. This systematic approach helps you focus resources on the threats that matter most to your business. 

Threat intelligence as an early warning system 

The 2022 revision of ISO 27001’s Annex A introduced Control 5.7: Threat Intelligence, reflecting how organizations need to stay ahead of evolving threats. This control requires collecting, analyzing, and acting on threat intelligence. 

The standard recognizes three levels of threat intelligence: 

• Strategic intelligence provides high-level information about changing threat landscapes
• Tactical intelligence details attack methodologies and tools  
• Operational intelligence includes specific attack information and technical indicators 

This intelligence directly influences your risk assessments, supply-chain security checks, and vulnerability management priorities. Instead of making security decisions based on theoretical models, you can respond to actual attack patterns targeting organizations like yours. 

How can you protect yourself from cyber security threats? 

You need a systematic approach. The right strategies help you manage information security risks while building defenses that actually work. 

Build an ISMS with ISO 27001's Plan-Do-Check-Act approach 

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on ISO 27001 gives you a proven framework for protecting critical information assets. The Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle creates continuous improvement that keeps pace with evolving threats: 

• Plan: Set objectives, assess risks, create policies and procedures
• Do: Implement controls and security measures
• Check: Monitor effectiveness through metrics and audits
• Act: Improve based on what you learn 

This approach ensures your security measures adapt as threats change. ISO 27001 certification also shows stakeholders you take information security seriously. 

Conduct risk assessments that identify what matters most 

ISO 27001 requires a consistent methodology that produces reliable, comparable results. Your process should include: 

1. Identifying valuable information assets
2. Recognizing threats to those assets
3. Assessing exploitable vulnerabilities
4. Evaluating likelihood and potential impact 

Once risks are clear, you have four treatment options: modify them through controls, share them via insurance or outsourcing, avoid them entirely, or accept them with proper justification. 

Implement ISO 27001 Annex A controls where they fit your risks 

ISO 27001:2022 provides 93 security controls across four categories: Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological. These controls address various threats through: 

• Access management following least privilege principles
• Cryptography for sensitive data protection
• Security monitoring and incident response
• Business continuity planning 

Not every control applies to every organization. Base your implementation on risk assessment results and document your choices in your Statement of Applicability. 

Set up threat intelligence to stay ahead of attackers 

Control 5.7 in ISO 27001:2022 enables proactive security through threat intelligence gathering and analysis. This requires you to: 

1. Define clear objectives for intelligence collection
2. Identify and validate internal and external sources
3. Collect and analyze relevant threat information
4. Share findings with stakeholders in accessible formats 

Threat intelligence works at three levels: strategic information about threat landscapes, tactical details on attack methods and tools, and operational data including technical indicators. Use this intelligence to inform risk assessments, control decisions, and incident response plans. 

Train employees to recognize and respond to threats 

According to IBM, more than one-fourth of 2025 breaches were caused by human error. This means employee training is essential. ISO 27001 emphasizes ensuring staff understand your information security policy, their security responsibilities, and the consequences of security failures. 

Deploy technical controls that prevent common attacks 

Technical controls provide practical system protection. Essential measures include: 

• Patch management: Regular system updates to address vulnerabilities
• Multi-factor authentication: Strong access controls for critical systems
• Monitoring and logging: Activity tracking to detect unusual behavior
• Network security: Firewalls and filtering to create security boundaries
• Malware protection: Tools to prevent malicious software execution 

Monitor, review, and improve continuously 

ISO 27001 emphasizes continual improvement through regular internal audits, management reviews, performance metrics, and learning from incidents and near-misses. 

Organizations using Continuous Threat Exposure Management are three times less likely to experience a breach than those using outdated approaches. This process helps you adapt to evolving threats while maximizing your security investment value.

Where do companies go wrong with threat management? 

Advanced security tools don't guarantee protection. Many organizations invest heavily in technology while making fundamental errors that undermine their entire security posture. 

Tools without process equals security gaps 

Security technology alone won't protect you. A survey of Chief Information Security Officers found that 70% believe their existing tools can't effectively detect security breaches. This creates dangerous blind spots that attackers exploit. 

Automated systems work fast but miss context. Human expertise remains essential for interpreting the nuances that tools can't understand. Security practitioners must provide the judgment and experience that AI-powered solutions simply cannot replicate. 

Poor ISMS scope undermines everything 

Scoping errors rank among the most common ISO 27001 implementation failures. Organizations either scope too narrowly—leaving critical systems unprotected—or too broadly, creating unmanageable projects. Both approaches sabotage certification efforts and create security vulnerabilities. 

Another frequent mistake treats the ISMS as a one-time project instead of an ongoing management system. This creates "compliance theater" where security looks impressive on paper but fails to protect the organization when attacks hit. 

Proper scoping requires considering all relevant characteristics: processes, technology, departments, physical locations, people, services, and third parties. Any exclusions need clear justification so stakeholders (especially external auditors) understand your reasoning.

Third-party risks get overlooked 

Assuming your partners maintain the same cyber security standards is dangerous and attackers know this weakness. ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.19 directly addresses this challenge by requiring organizations to manage the information security risks connected with suppliers’ products or services. 

Effective supplier management means identifying which supplier types affect information security, understanding how to vet them properly, and monitoring their compliance based on risk levels. 

Controls go stale without monitoring 

Security controls fail in multiple ways, often without warning signs. For example, outdated software critical vulnerabilities, with patching delays strongly linked to cyber incidents. 

Control failures occur when cyber security measures are flawed—either not working properly or missing coverage areas. Security teams often assume controls "just work," but gaps give attackers easy paths forward. 

ISO 27001 requires continual improvement through regular internal audits, management reviews, performance metrics, and incident learning. 

How should you measure your threat readiness and prove compliance? 

Security without measurement is just hope. You need clear metrics to understand your cyber security posture, spot weaknesses, and show stakeholders you're managing threats effectively. 

Track the metrics that matter: incidents, response times, training, risk coverage 

Your security program needs measurable outcomes. These core metrics tell the real story:

Incident tracking reveals how well your defenses work. Count high-severity cyber incidents by type—malware, data breaches, system compromises—and origin—internal mistakes, third-party failures, external attacks. This data shows where you're most vulnerable. 

Response speed matters as much as prevention. Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) shows how long threats go unnoticed. Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) measures how quickly you act once you spot a problem. Mean Time to Contain (MTTC) tracks how fast you stop incidents from spreading. Shorter times mean stronger defenses. 

Employee readiness determines your human firewall strength. Track training completion rates and phishing simulation results.

ISO 27001 certification creates audit-ready evidence 

ISO 27001 certification gives you independent proof that your security management follows international best practices. The certification process creates documentation that auditors and regulators accept as credible evidence. 

Essential documentation includes: 

• ISMS scope defining what your security management covers
• Statement of Applicability linking your risk assessment to chosen controls
• Information security policy outlining your approach
• Risk assessment documentation showing how you identify and evaluate threats
• Risk treatment plans detailing how you address each risk 

Certification audits verify this evidence through qualified external auditors. Modern compliance platforms can automate much of this documentation, turning static paperwork into dynamic proof of ongoing security management. 

Use metrics to build stakeholder confidence 

Security metrics translate technical risks into business language that executives understand. This bridge helps security teams communicate effectively with leadership and demonstrates the value of security investments. 

Regular reporting builds trust with customers, partners, and regulators. Metrics prove your security investments work, which is crucial as boards focus more on cyber risk management. 

Security leaders who present clear, actionable metrics help executives make better governance decisions. They help you prove your ability to protect revenue, reputation, and customer data.