The last 12 months have been a turbulent time for businesses across the world, especially when it came to their data protection and cybersecurity. In May 2018 countries in the EU had to adjust to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and organisations across the world reported large-scale cyber attacks.
For the first article of 2019, we wanted to explore some of the cybersecurity trends that businesses are going to have to embrace if they want to protect their data, and their reputations.
Ransomware will fade away, but will still cause damage
In an article released by Kaspersky Lab, the total number of users who encountered ransomware fell by almost 30%, from 2,851,026 by the end of 2017 to 1,811,937 by the end of 2018.
This may be because cybercriminals are looking to the new crypto-currencies for an easier way to make money. Known in the industry as “cryptojacking”, thieves and hacking groups are turning to this sector based on the ready-made cryptomining tools.
One of the easiest ways to protect data in your organisation is to utilise a reputable security suite, including anti-malware software and a software firewall.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
With more and more organisations offering remote working and flexible-hours, BYOD is fast becoming one of the most popular trends within the industry. Not only does it help to reduce corporation costs, but it has also been shown to increase productivity when deployed properly.
However, the devices that employees bring with them may not have the same stringent security measures already set in place by their employer. To help protect important data and still offer flexible working, organisations could introduce a suite of machines, already set to their own security levels.
These suites can be sourced through a technology reseller, or by taking out a lease with the manufacturer. The added benefit of a reseller is that they have access to rates that may not be available to normal consumers.
The authentication revolution
For years businesses and individual technology users have stored their information online, which are usually protected behind passwords. However, these are notoriously poor ways of protecting data and guaranteeing data security.
We all know that biometric verification (think of your thumbprint on your smart phone) is becoming commonplace, but by the end of 2019 this is set to develop even further.
Two examples would be Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) and Fast Identity Online (FIDO). These two biometric or vocal recognition solutions are becoming more widely accepted, since they make it harder and harder for thieves to attack digital data.
Self-evaluating applications will continue to evolve
Whilst they will still help protect businesses from external threats, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning will continue to play a role in helping organisations protect their data.
For human employees, it may be hard to detect a small vulnerability in a huge network or digital infrastructure, but by combining automation and AI, companies can defend themselves against cyber attacks.
One of the biggest new movements over 2019 will be the rise in runtime application self-protection (RASP), which will be able to detect a problem or a fault in the system, without the need for human intervention.
Further reading
- New technologies and trends coming in 2019
- How to reduce the cost of updating your company systems
- How a technology reseller could benefit your business
In summary, protecting your personal data and the information stored on your customers should be the highest priority. Breaches and cyber theft can lead to large fines and a damaged reputation, but if you have measures in place from the outset, the risk is minimised.
Remember, if you would like to introduce any of the software we’ve mentioned in this article, then we are here to help. Our team of experienced resellers have access to manufacturers across the country. Speak to them today and take the first step in protecting your data.
