Uncover the top cybersecurity trends that every business should follow to stay from cyber threats
Digital transformation is on the rise. Every day a thousand more companies decide to innovate their business system with digital solutions that allow for cost savings, automation in business processes, and faster operation. The massive transition to technology lets enterprises of any size remain competitive in the market. At the same time, the heavy reliance on enterprise software makes companies dependent on access to web sources as well as more vulnerable to malware, cyber-attacks, and hacking.
If you own an online business or are thinking to design custom software to improve your business performance, it is vital to explore the risks and implications that also come with the advantages you receive.
Let’s look at the top cybersecurity trends that are likely to shape the IT market in 2021.
1. Cloud threats
Cloud computing is among the most widely-used services across the globe. Cloud integration is an essential part of every project development that is implemented through outsourcing or by a distributed team.
As much as cloud back-up and recovery is an effective method to safeguard your project from data loss, you can be still powerless when it comes to attacks on your cloud service provider. Should it fall victim to cybercriminals, data leakage will cost you a reputation and partners that count on your ability to protect confidential data in collaboration. This is why the trend for secure cloud services will be even in more demand than before. When migrating your data to the cloud, you should make sure the protocols lying at the core of your cloud provider’s processes are properly followed and implemented so that the risk of cyber-attack is close to zero.
2. AI integration
The use of AI is observed across all industries. Be it healthcare or banking, AI tools can considerably accelerate the operational processes and automate the workflow. Its application in the area of data security is also observed in organizations that need to collect and analyze high data volumes, thus undergoing the risk of catching malware online. AI creates a shield against ransomware attacks and reports critical issues to the security team before your business system is destroyed with a cyber-attack. The latest data say that AI’s share in the cybersecurity market is expected to reach 38.2 billion by 2026. This trend will most likely become critical for large-sized enterprises and corporations that need to ensure the highest level of data security in their IT infrastructure.
3. Data privacy
The issue of data privacy has been on the agenda since the appearance of social networks. But if social media owners and admins are responsible for keeping their user data confidential, business owners should think of protecting their business information themselves. For this reason, the technology that helps to control data access like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) or Zero-Trust Network Access will be extensively used among businesses. Their purpose is to ensure that the data remain isolated from unauthorized users and cannot be exposed to cyber-attack even if remote workers employ different devices to manage business processes and develop projects in teamwork.
4. Data analytics
We know that the value of data analytics above all lies in effective data management methods. However, one can also leverage it to strengthen its data security. In this case, data analytics software is designed to analyze the system’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities that can be a gateway for hackers. Data-driven cybersecurity solutions can help companies understand better how they interact with outer online systems and servers and thus take the right measures that will reinforce their safety online. Thus, data analytics can be a smart way to provide the company with good knowledge and insights into its security system.
5. Data breaches
Data breach is the most common type of cyber-attack that happens on a daily basis. Despite its low cost, it results in huge financial losses that small and large enterprises have to bear because of their negligence and weak protection methods.
One in three data breaches usually takes place as a result of phishing, most commonly in the form of disguised emails, SMS, and calls. Statistics show that there was a total of 540 reported data breaches in the first half of 2020. This number, however, may indicate that millions of sensitive files were stolen by hackers. On average, 158 accounts get hacked every second. This trend is alarming and indicative that all businesses should be vigilant about their activity on the web.
6. Remote workforce
The outbreak of Coronavirus has put an end to the supremacy of offline businesses and made it clear that every company should be present online in order to remain afloat in any circumstances. The tendency to keep part of the team out of house or hire outsourced specialists to participate in your project is going to get stronger. 64% of businesses have provided comfortable conditions to continue their operation online and 27% are preparing to move online in the near future. Powered by tracking and project management systems, remote workforce has proved to be as effective as real-life labor. The only implication is that more users being active on the web will lead to even higher data volumes and as a result more security concerns.
7. Skills shortage
The last trend that is prevalent in the IT market these days and will still remain in the next few years is skills shortage. Sadly, the growth of online businesses and E-commerce is not followed by an increase in the number of specialists that can serve enterprises and take care of their data security. The cybersecurity sector is among the few demonstrating a 0% unemployment rate and requiring more experts and professionals than what are currently educated at higher institutions. The spread of malware, viruses, and cybercriminal activity are all contributing factors to low-security levels among enterprises, especially small-sized companies and startups. Here, the best solution for every business is either hiring an outside specialist to check on their system regularly or nurturing an in-house expert in their team.
