Recent data from the National Office for Cyber and Information Security (NÚKIB) brings a positive shift in the cybersecurity landscape of the Czech Republic, with a decrease in cyber incidents in November. This development is particularly noteworthy following three consecutive months of above-average cyber incident rates. All ten reported incidents in November were classified as less significant, marking a welcome trend in the face of persistent cybersecurity challenges.

The observed decline in cyber incidents, especially Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, is a breath of fresh air in the cybersecurity domain. DDoS attacks typically involve a massive influx of simultaneous requests from hundreds of thousands or millions of computers, overwhelming a targeted server and causing it to crash. For end-users, this results in the appearance of an unavailable website.

Despite the positive trend in the Czech Republic, global cybersecurity experts issue a warning about the evolving nature of DDoS attacks. ComSource, a cybersecurity company, highlights that these attacks are becoming more sophisticated and intense on a global scale, capable of causing more significant damage. The traditional approach of brute force and overloading entire infrastructures is gradually shifting towards more quality-focused attacks.

Jaroslav Cihelka, a cybersecurity expert and co-owner of ComSource, points out that while the overall numbers of DDoS attacks may be stagnating or decreasing, the attacks themselves are evolving. Attackers now employ multiple types of attacks simultaneously, indicating a strategic shift in their approach.

Of particular concern is the increased proportion of attacks on the application layer, a trend noted by security experts. This method allows attackers to enhance the impact of their attacks and efficiently flood service-operating servers, even with lower intensity of network traffic.

Despite these global trends, the Czech Republic experienced a favorable situation in November, with only less significant cyber incidents registered. The majority of these incidents fell under the availability category, including DDoS attacks and operational outages, highlighting the ongoing importance of vigilance and preparedness in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Article by Prague Forum