Cybersecurity with Digital Transformation goes beyond the introduction of technology and digitization of processes to facilitate the day-to-day of a company.
It is a way of thinking aligned with the technological changes we are experiencing that meets the demands of the new reality of an increasingly digital world.
The benefits of a business model that accompanies Digital Transformation are so many that its inclusion is almost mandatory. For this reason, companies are increasingly accelerating the digital journey’s pace, reflecting a break with traditional models and a boost in their growth.
However, this journey to the new is also full of challenges, which include processes, business strategies, organizational culture, and, above all, a strengthening of cybersecurity, without which it is impossible to keep up with the digital rhythm and can still cause severe damage and invalidate all the effort implemented for the changes to the new reality.
So diving into Digital Transformation without a sound cybersecurity strategy is like building sandcastles.
In this article, understand the precautions necessary for cybersecurity during digital transformation and how to align these two agents to follow the same pace.
Challenges Of Digital Transformation
Every change implies challenges. Therefore, going through the digital transformation without paying attention to the challenges can jeopardize the entire business and its evolution planning. Consequently, it is necessary to observe the scene as a whole, paying attention to the following aspects:
- Business strategy.
- Organizational culture.
- Openness to change.
- Good technologies.
- Internal training.
- Information Security and Cybersecurity.
Despite the importance of all these aspects working together in digital transformation, cybersecurity is the factor that integrates, makes possible, and maintains the existence of all the others through actions and techniques aimed at protecting systems, programs, networks, and equipment against cyber attacks.
This is the main challenge within information security faced by companies today. Information security and cybersecurity must be integrated into all company areas, not just all technology.
This implies seeing security as something that is also part of the business, as it directly collaborates with its expansion and increases credibility on the part of customers and suppliers. Thus, cybersecurity in digital transformation must encompass the triad: people, processes, and technology.
Current Risks Involving Cybersecurity
With the remote work model, more people are connected, which increases data production and, consequently, vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks. Right now, the risks are even more significant and include:
- Migrating to the cloud.
- Implementing new technologies.
- Storing and streaming data.
- Organizing an IT security team.
In addition, a type of attack that has become increasingly common and a target of concern for companies, experts, and governments is ransomware attacks, a variety of malware that blocks access to data by encryption and demands a value ransom from companies to return the key.
Another malware attack that has been on the rise is spyware, spy software that monitors and transfers personal data from equipment.
Phishing attacks have also become popular during the pandemic, spreading fraudulent news masquerading officials about the coronavirus to steal passwords and personal information. Another more complex form of attack is DDoS, which increases traffic and makes access to a server unavailable.
Some Practices To Align Cybersecurity In Your Digital Transformation Journey
Another worrying reality is the lack of concern and investment in cybersecurity. Only 42% of professionals believe that organizations have an adequate investment in cybersecurity, and 58% of these companies do not prepare their employees to deal with these issues.
It is possible to treat some intercurrences of this nature by adopting some of the following practices.
BYOD Policy
BYOD ( Bring Your Device) is a practice that is becoming increasingly popular in the context of remote work. However, to fully enjoy these benefits, use full disk encryption on personal devices, strengthen passwords, define the devices that can be used, check for device updates, and invest in phishing and malware security practices.
Keeping Up With Trends And New Vulnerabilities
With the rapid increase in technology, new tools and ways of using information are constantly emerging. Consequently, new vulnerabilities are emerging, requiring constant monitoring to predict and control them.
Team And Partner Training
There needs to be proper training, so every team is engaged with the new digital skills and security needs that this demands. The Information Security team needs to be able to handle cybersecurity demands and keep up with changes securely.
DevSecOps
DevSecOps practices bring more efficiency, agility, and security, as they allow the demands of Digital Transformation to be met quickly and securely through automation in threat prevention. Cybersecurity solutions can respond automatically even at the development stage, even before an application goes into production.
Security By Design
It is a practice that works powerfully in preventing, controlling, and eliminating damages from the moment of conception of a project, service, or activity, foreseeing all the risks that may involve an application. This allows you to address issues in advance and lessen the process flow’s impact.
Also Read: Information Security Risks And Threats