Hackers turning up heat with advanced online security breaches

Companies are apparently justified for feeling nervous regarding the increased scope of online security attacks. According to an announcement by the Information Security Forum, hackers are evolving and using more complex methods to breach companies' networks.

"Cybercriminals - hacker groups, criminal organizations and hacktivists - worldwide are better organized and more professional in their approach," the independent security organization stated. "They innovate just as business does and their financial rewards increase as business use of cyberspace grows."

According to the Information Security Forum, many businesses are adopting a variety of cloud computing applications and systems that, although beneficial to their IT infrastructure, have unleashed a number of security concerns in the process.

The organization's CEO Michael de Crespigny concluded the importance of cyber defenses should include all aspects of businesses. This includes customer engagement and their supply chains.

The proliferation of cyberattacks is expected to fuel global spending for security solutions. According to research firm Gartner, companies worldwide spent more than $35 billion for these systems in 2011 and, by 2015, security services investments are projected to exceed $49 billion.