The Evolving Landscape of Cybercrime: The Impact of the Data Economy and State-Sponsored Threats

This thesis explores the evolving landscape of cybercrime, examining how the rise of the data economy, coupled with state-sponsored cyber operations has influenced threat trends. It explores into the broader cyber threat landscape and how incident response strategies implemented by the public sector, private sector, and regulatory bodies have adapted over time. By analyzing historical data of cyber incidents, regulatory changes, and technological advancements; this research aims to identify patterns in cybercrime escalation and assess how varying responses affect the resiliency of critical infrastructure. Utilizing a mixed-method approach consisting of a literature review and data-driven cyber threat intelligence, this research seeks to contribute a comprehensive insight on future risks and regulatory challenges that are associated with cybercrime in an increasingly interconnected world. Key questions include: how has the reliance on data influenced the sophistication and frequency of cybercrime? What role do state-sponsored actors play in shaping incident response? And what indicators can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of existing cyber mitigation strategies and prediction of future cybercrime trends?