Trends in Information Technology are continuously changing and, as a result, organizations are having to adapt to those changes. Let's look at the most prominent IT trends that are showing up today.
Nobody needs to be reminded about detrimental ransomware attacks - there have been enough for people to remember exactly where and when they occurred. Companies who are compromised by ransomware attacks learn lessons the hard way, whether it's not keeping up with IT security best practices, or keeping software and hardware up to date. For those two reasons alone, let's take a look at several ways to protect your organization from these potentially devastating setbacks.
First and foremost, are your desktops patched on a regular basis? If not, companies should be making this a priority. Patching includes monthly updates for critical security vulnerabilities to ensure your organization complies with its regulations and industry best practices - as such, it seems like a "no brainer" since you don’t have to think about IT once it’s installed.
Without patching, cybercriminals can get to your end-users who can be the best, or worst, line of defense for your company, depending on whether or not they’ve had end-user, or Security Awareness Training. End-user training is being aggressively paired with desktop patching as a 1-2 punch on vulnerabilities that are entering your network through your endpoints and end-users.
With data now migrating to several different locations in the cloud and on-premises, increased device mobility, and continued threats to organizations, how can companies keep their devices and network secure? The answer is Cloud Security which provides real-time, policy-driven action, enabling staff to be productive and secure on their device of choice.
Another security trend is that regulators are not making it easier for organizations. Regulators are requiring compliance-based organizations to levy additional investments in IT governance to ensure that cyber threats are cared for and mitigated. Balancing regulatory requirements with IT is a must. In this case, it's best that policies are created to outline how a company protects itself and its Information Technology resources from attack. Ensuring that an Information Security Policy, Technology Acceptable Use Agreement, and Organization Continuity Plan are thoroughly written, communicated, and followed is yet another layer of security.
Recovering from a data breach can impact an organization’s reputation, operations, and finances. Knowing the cost of downtime due to damaged or lost data will help determine proper planning and file backup needs. Most small businesses that suffer a breach will ultimately be shutdown. It is critical to protect data to prevent organizations from having to close its doors.
Another trend we're witnessing is that companies are implementing solid data backup both on-premises and in the cloud. Much of the interest in good data backup is being driven by ransomware attacks. If your business is breached, a quick and easy way to return your organization to pre-attack timeframes is through a well-structured backup and recovery plan. In addition to comprehensive ransomware protection, cloud-based data backup solutions automate the process and eliminate the cumbersome requirements of tape-based solutions.
The loss of critical data can happen due to simple human error, a system failure, or malware/ransomware attack. It’s important to obtain bulletproof data protection that is also cost effective and technically effective. With automated offsite cloud storage of your organization’s most important data, data recovery needs can be met with little to no organizational interruption.
Last but not least, many organizations are moving most of their software, infrastructure, and data to the cloud allowing employees to work with varying devices from remote locations outside of the office. Although cloud migration may seem daunting, the trend we're seeing is that a high level of cloud strategy, migration, and planning requires beginning with awareness of what the cloud migration roadmap is. Oftentimes, organizations must migrate in pieces, taking one core application to the cloud at a time. It's important to know what's possible, where the risk is, and what the financial implications are. Cloud migration requires tremendous due diligence, planning, and budgeting.
In conclusion, these trends outline the need for organizations to secure appropriate layers of security, backup, and remote access. To learn more about protecting your organization through a Modern Defense in Depth Approach, download this white paper and take the appropriate steps.
For questions, email info@systemsengineering.com, or call 888.624.6737 to speak to a Systems Engineering representative.