The telecommunications industry underpins global communication and powers our digital world. Cybercriminals, however, have also become increasingly sophisticated in the threats they pose against such critical infrastructure. Recent developments, like the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 7-day rule mandating that telecom providers report data breaches within seven days after initial discovery, underscore the growing urgency to fortify cybersecurity measures across this vital sector.
Research from Sysdig’s Threat Research Team revealed the telecom industry was the most heavily targeted vertical by cyberattackers in 2023, receiving a staggering 38% of all tracked attacks. This alarming trend is projected to continue rising in 2024, so why are telecoms being disproportionately targeted? Cybercriminals are exploiting the inherent complexity of telecommunication networks, and the cloud services they interconnect with, to obscure their malicious activities and bypass traditional security controls.