In the rapidly changing digital landscape, IT leaders must understand how to protect businesses from cybersecurity threats and enable growth. Technology offers many far-reaching benefits that can help business leaders achieve peace of mind, but inadequate technology use can impact growth opportunities and disrupt security.
By addressing compliance requirements, closing security gaps, and leveraging AI tools, IT leaders can meet both old and new challenges and adapt smoothly to the rapidly changing technology landscape.
Solutions Architect at Espria.
The cybersecurity cycle
The cyber threat ecosystem is as dynamic as it is dangerous, and cybercriminals are constantly developing new ways to circumvent security measures. Industry experts advise businesses to have proven backups and not to pay the ransom if they fall victim to an attack. However, many organizations pay the ransom and trust that the costs will be covered by insurance.
While cyber insurance isn’t solely responsible for the rise in ransomware attacks, it has contributed to the persistence of the problem rather than its demise. If IT leaders took more effective preventative measures, the problem could be avoided altogether; understanding these threats is essential to formulating a robust cyber defense strategy.
Often referred to as the weakest link in security, the most prominent cyber risks come from employees. According to a recent report from Mimecast, 74% of breaches are caused by human error, with email remaining the top attack vector. Online collaboration tools like Google and OneDrive can also be potential stepping stones for malicious organizations.
These gaps still need to be addressed, which is why it is crucial to not only regularly update and monitor security protocols, but also to identify at-risk individuals and provide them with better training to improve their security awareness. For companies looking to create a cyber-resilient environment, a well-educated workforce can make all the difference.
Companies also need to implement automated security measures to detect and block suspicious activity. This will prove essential when sharing sensitive documents. A risk management process such as this can enable organizations to identify, protect and resist cyberattacks.
Compliance and security are two sides of the same coin
Many companies are quick to ignore the importance of compliance, wrongly assuming that this will lead to a reduced focus on security. However, compliance and security go hand in hand. While some breaches are malicious, most are unintentional and occur when employees fail to adhere to established company policies and procedures.
The most obvious consequences of non-compliance are financial penalties and the inability to act, but other, more far-reaching consequences can affect various other aspects of the business. A cybersecurity breach can permanently damage your company’s reputation, leading to a lack of trust with customers – has their personal data been compromised and should they withdraw their trust?
Businesses need to look beyond a myopic focus on traditional cybersecurity threats and consider anticipating and then recovering from a cyberattack. Adopting a compliance framework can help achieve this, including having an Incident Response Plan (IRP).
By ensuring the right framework is in place, organizations can implement procedures for employees to follow. This will reduce the likelihood of a breach and protect your data, reputation and finances.
However, implementing these protections requires more than just a “fit and forget” approach, as cybersecurity threats are by nature constantly evolving. Navigating attacks requires constant vigilance; by mandating regular assessments and vulnerability testing, companies can identify and address areas of weakness and continually update their security framework as they improve their security posture.
Ensuring AI aligns with strategy and objectives
Another fundamental issue for businesses in 2024 is ensuring that AI adoption is aligned with their overall strategy and goals. Not all AI will be tailored specifically to every business’s requirements, so it’s essential to choose a solution that’s built to enhance existing business operations, otherwise IT leaders risk creating even more confusion in an increasingly complicated ecosystem.
AI and other buzzwords can sometimes just be buzzwords. That’s why it can be vital to take a step back to assess your business needs and security requirements when choosing the optimal solution. The focus should be on something other than whether the solution is the latest technology on the market or whether it is AI-enabled, but on the solution that best meets your specific business needs.
There are two ways we can approach AI. The first is to use the technology to make informed decisions. By analyzing large data sets and finding patterns, AI can help improve business operations and make predictions based on that data. Secondly, AI can be used to automate everyday tasks, including security, and reduce cognitive overload. In this way, companies can significantly reduce human error, improve accuracy, and increase overall efficiency.
Without the right AI solution, IT leaders risk creating more friction and blocking workflows. That’s why the solution they choose must integrate with workflows and streamline existing processes. When AI tools are used correctly, businesses can do more with less, and employees can spend less energy to reap greater rewards.
As data becomes more important and valuable to the business, it is vital to control how that data is processed and secured to ensure long-term prosperity. A fragmented business ecosystem can cause problems, but by addressing compliance and security issues early, employees are provided with an innovative and security-friendly environment to work in.
With the added benefit of a solution-focused AI tool, businesses can improve productivity, efficiency and potential cost savings.
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