IT security has been - and should be - the central focus for corporate decision-makers in virtually every segment of the private and public sectors today, as the rate of these events and the size of subsequent damages have both skyrocketed. Several studies have indicated that boardroom leaders are indeed becoming a bit more serious when it comes to security, which is the first step in the right direction, but the tide must continue to move along this path for a while to make any difference at all.
One such report found that companies are reaching a greater level of maturity within their decision-making processes related to information governance and security.
"Increasing awareness of the impact of digital business risks, coupled with high levels of publicity regarding cybersecurity incidents, are making IT risk a board-level issue," Gartner Fellow and Vice President Tom Scholtz explained. "Seventy-one percent of respondents indicated that IT risk management data influences decisions at a board level. This also reflects an increasing focus on dealing with IT risk as a part of corporate governance."
Other studies have shown that companies are putting their money where their mouths are, planning on putting a bit more budget into fortifications moving forward than in the past. For example, International Data Corporation released a forecast toward the end of 2014 that predicted larger enterprises will spend more on security intelligence to ensure that their decision-making in these areas is on point.
In addition to the rising rate of cybercrime, other trends are forcing organizations to get their houses in order with respect to security and governance.
Here are four trends that are really testing the average company's security prowess, all of which are becoming requirements of doing business in the modern era:
1. Enterprise mobility
Smartphones, tablets and applications have been some of the more common focuses of security professionals for years now, and the trend of BYOD and general mobility reached a plateau of adoption more recently. Companies that do not have mobility strategies in place will be likely to struggle to keep pace with competition and client demands, while employees increasingly demand the ability to handle their responsibilities through these devices.
Rogue IT, lost or stolen devices containing sensitive information and malware are just a few of the more challenging security threats involved in mobility, all of which must be faced head-on and in stride to avoid a major breach.
2. The Internet of Things
A slightly younger but just as pervasive trend in corporate computing, the Internet of Things is making its way into several sectors, including health care and financial services, with increasing speed. In this particular movement, organizations that do not have a strong handle on their internal data management procedures, network controls and user authentication will almost certainly struggle to keep information and systems safe.
Put simply, the IoT is similar to enterprise mobility, but comes with a dramatically higher volume of endpoints, operating systems, apps and management demands.
3. Cloud computing
Cloud services can indeed be used to improve security performances in many situations, but this does not mean that the technology is free from its own advanced protection requirements. More information, including payment and patient data, is hosted in the cloud today than ever before, and reports indicate this trend will continue for years to come, meaning firms must be focused on secure migrations and management over time.
Working with a secure cloud service provider can help to improve protection against breach without straining IT departments, budget and other resources inside the organization.
4. Big data
Analytics technology is also being used to better inform security decision-making, but the privacy protection concerns attached to big data have been significant, to say the least. If organizations use these tools but do not follow the best practices of information governance and data security, they will be putting a much higher volume and greater diversity of files at risk of breach and exposure.
Especially in more sensitive industries such as health care, big data strategies must be accompanied by a strong line of security and privacy fortifications to avoid data loss, fines due to noncompliance and other costly issues.
The brass tacks
Put simply, the cybercrime arena has become far more complex and dangerous of late, and organizations that do not face each new trend with at least some foothold in privacy and security practices will be more likely to experience the massive damages that accompany breach. With the right solutions provider, especially one that can offer email encryption, secure cloud and generally robust product offerings, these trends can be more advantageous than risky, helping to give firms a competitive advantage.
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