There are few areas of our lives untouched by technology. It’s made life more convenient and impacted everything from how we produce goods to the quality of medical care we receive and how we entertain ourselves. And as more industries undergo digital transformation, the impact of technology will only increase.
As beneficial as technology is, the security of our personal and business data is at risk daily. Cybersecurity operates in a strange dichotomy, where maleficent and rogue players use technology to attack systems while another advanced technology is at work to protect data and deploy cybersecurity across entire organizations.
Here’s a look at the role technology plays in cybersecurity, both good and bad.
How Evolving Technology Impacts Attacks and Threats
Because digital technology is constantly evolving, it’s very easy for “gaps” to form in organizational and digital infrastructure that allows unauthorized access. And because the velocity of advancement is so high, training, internal protocols, and upgrades to infrastructure and software often lag.
Technology is introducing threats in the following areas:
- Corporate Security – Hackers may access corporate records and data using scams and other ploys. They tend to look for areas where corporate security measures or protocols haven’t been changed or updated to reflect an upgrade or the addition of a new system or module.
- Phishing – One of the oldest attack platforms is still around today. Phishing uses emails that resemble the company format or people within the organization to gain access through an employee’s response, such as opening a malicious file.
- Password Protocols – One of the most common ways to gain access is through weak or old passwords. Even the most advanced technology is vulnerable if password strength and rules for the frequency of changing passwords are ineffective.
- Cloud-Based Data – Because of the lower cost and point of entry, many companies have moved their data entirely to the cloud. However, security requirements governing cloud-based platforms differ from those for in-house IT infrastructure; companies must ensure training and proper data exchange measures.
Technology to Enhance Cybersecurity
Just as technology has enabled some threats, it can be used to thwart those threats and develop more robust security. Policy and governance models are still in flux, but as data becomes available on how these breaches occur, standardized security policies will be developed and enhanced to take advantage of the right technology.
Technology can strengthen cybersecurity in the following areas:
- Blockchain – As the amount of data in the cloud and online reaches unbelievable volumes, blockchain has emerged as one way for companies to secure their data. Data is encrypted on a decentralized ledger where a strict validation process is required. Users need to use a combination of public and private keys to unlock and access data.
- Big Data Analytics – Advanced analytics are making companies more profitable and innovative, reducing the time to market for any new products and services. These same analytics engines can sift data and use trend analysis to determine a company’s cyber resilience, then develop improvements and new security protocols.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) – A step beyond big data analytics is AI. Using AI, systems can be trained to identify and mitigate threats. The system identifies the behavior and tendencies of the hackers and what data they go after.
Training for the Next Wave of Threats
A new generation of cybersecurity professionals is emerging as technology advances. These professionals are trained to correctly monitor networks, audit protocols and systems, develop rapid recovery plans, and gain advanced certifications on new approaches that keep them up to date on emerging technology.
The Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC) at Georgian College understand that entrepreneurs and new business leaders need resources and training to determine the security measures that fit their business. We offer training, connections, networking, and mentorship for entrepreneurship and innovation to help you navigate new technology and security threats.
Contact us today to find out how we can help.
