Digital transformation has now changed how business is carried out. More number of companies are adopting advanced technologies such as Cloud, IoT, Big Data, Data Analytics, Machine Learning. Businesses today are looking towards Cloud environments for securing their business-critical data. These advanced technologies have forced businesses to ponder over their existing business model again. The businesses also need to devise new ways in which data could be utilized to the fullest for propelling their overall growth.
Digital transformation does bring in a lot of value-added benefits. Still, on the other hand, it also has some challenges that businesses need to consider seriously. The top-most challenge remains the dynamic nature of security needs that are backed by the digital presence of any growing business. An online survey stated that nearly 85% of information security officials perceive security issues related to digital transformation to cause a significant amount of effect on their companies.
So, in the following article, I shall be discussing what role does digital transformation play in altering the security needs of a business.
Here are some changes that the businesses need to be extremely cautious about-
1. Expanded Attack Base
More the number of applications, data, and processes migrating to the digital platform, more is the chance for the hackers and other cybercriminals to attack the user data. The entry-points have significantly increased, making it quite difficult for the security team in the business organizations to determine these vulnerabilities and maintain an adequately documented record of these identified & upcoming threats.
The hackers can also laterally penetrate through the network of a company once they have gained access to a system. This proves that the internal network becomes the weakest point, through which vulnerabilities and threats can enter the digital space of the businesses. The situation gets more challenges when there are isolated security products, results in reduced visibility inside the network.
2. High Damage Potential
Today, the potential for damage caused by a data breach or any sort of data hacking is much higher than before. Data is now being seen as the new oil in most businesses and this is the reason why it is becoming the most crucial asset. The number of devices getting connected to the Internet has also grown quite significantly, which has resulted in more transmission of data. The increased number of devices has also resulted in creating more opportunities for hackers to encash on this and steal away crucial information.
In the past, some devices and technologies have been a part of these cyber activities. Any event where the cyber attacker alters these activities could have denting damage on the business operations. Henceforth, more the business organization relies on digital technologies; more is the intensity of the damage that could take.
3. Uncontained Business Networks
Over the past few years, several businesses managed to contain their networks. They even hosted their IT-related hardware on-site. Even today, the large businesses handling extensive sensitive data, still perform this. However, the companies should look to use some kind of digital applications for hosting their servers on the cloud. This indicates that networks of a business are not contained and still manage to have accessibility to the public Internet networks.
4. Timely Changes
The advancement of digital capabilities, along with other enhancements in technology, has enhanced the speed at which developers are creating and updating software. Today, technology has grown at a rapid pace and is also delivering benefits at the same time. This has led to containing key security processes. With this increased changing speed, it has allowed the security-related vulnerabilities to penetrate quite easily. Even cyber criminals have devised specific methods, thereby forcing the security domain experts to continually evolve and come up with newer techniques for providing protection.
5. Enhancement of Sophisticated Attacks
Today, hackers are getting more sophisticated, along with their hacking techniques. Cybercriminals have started deploying advanced technologies on similar lines to the cybersecurity domain experts. One such type of attack caused due to advanced technologies like AI is known as a polymorphic attack. Such attacks can be morphed for avoiding detection using traditional methods.
Conclusion
It is inevitable and clear that digital transformation has evolved the business operations. One of the critical areas where it has significantly contributed is cybersecurity, as today there are more instances of potential cyber threats taking place. Also, there has been a considerable enhancement in cyberattacks as they now tend to have become more complex. For businesses leveraging digital transformation, protection against such kind of threats needs the deployment of a proactive and constant integrated and automated methodology towards cybersecurity. Further, businesses also need to alter and modify their strategies as the risks are continually rising.
