BLUF - Bottom Line Up Front
BLUF - Bottom Line Up FrontOrganizations should focus on regular updates and monitoring to avoid vulnerabilities exploited by attacks like ransomware. A broad view of digital vulnerabilities is vital, especially during technological shifts. Continuous employee training on evolving cyber threats is necessary. Up-to-date technology solutions, like AI and blockchain, enhance defense capabilities. Adapting to changing cybersecurity involves ongoing evaluation of security strategies, staying current with threats, and adjusting defenses, fostering adaptability within practices for better protection of digital assets.
Written for ignyteplatform.com by June Rachel
The future is already here. Is it everything we expected? That depends on who you ask, but the challenge of ‘Adapt to a Changing Cybersecurity’ has certainly persisted, much like the scenarios envisioned in many science fiction stories.
As we move further into the digital era, the stakes in cybersecurity only get higher and higher. So, what are some of the main things organizations should consider in building a solid cybersecurity strategy? Here are a few tips below.
Regular Surveillance and Updates
This should be the bare minimum in cybersecurity policies, but how inadequate and antiquated systems can be in many organizations is incredible. There are often understandable reasons for this, such as highly specialized software that’s difficult or expensive to upgrade. But attackers will target these vulnerabilities, making regular surveillance and upgrades even more important.
For example, ransomware lost headline attention after the mid-2010s, only to return with a vengeance in 2021 when an attack managed to shut down the US Colonial Pipeline. Now considered a national security threat, ransomware has consistently extorted companies for years, often through a single compromised device on a network. Federal advice is to apply patches (updates) as regularly as possible and utilize antivirus software.
A Broad Perspective on Vulnerabilities
There are few industries where a digital transition isn’t either in progress or inevitable. Even the most stubbornly manual sectors are taking advantage of modern information systems for communications, transactions, and design efficiency. But every moving part that goes digital — however minimal — is also a potential point of failure in an enlarged ‘attack surface’ of connected technologies.
Unlike manual security systems, attacks that can break those potential weak points are highly scalable, so every aspect of the transition needs to include cybersecurity. For example, the healthcare system has seen spikes in attacks in recent years due to its widespread use of outdated software, even as it adopts newer technologies such as blockchain medical records.
Further Training
The cybersecurity landscape is in constant flux. What is relatively secure today could turn out to be critically vulnerable tomorrow. In order to keep up, companies will need to hire people with training in defensive cybersecurity. Defensive cybersecurity is all about staying on top of current threats and implementing strategies and techniques to minimize them.
As digital security becomes more complex, it’s vital that organizations not only hire dedicated resources but also regularly put their other employees through cybersecurity and data security training to keep up with changes in the industry.
Implement Up-to-Date Technology Solutions
Cybercriminals are utilizing any and all technology available that can enable them to compromise data. Companies and other organizations should do likewise to defend themselves. AI is already being used to identify threats, including malware and more sophisticated phishing. Blockchain has already been mentioned as a way for users to leverage encryption to gain granular control over who has access to what information and the applications of decentralized systems like this go beyond medical records. The key here is to review and select appropriate solutions as time goes on carefully.
Adapt to a Changing Cybersecurity
In the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, organizations must embrace the imperative to ‘Adapt to a Changing Cybersecurity.’ This entails a proactive approach to staying ahead of emerging threats and vulnerabilities. To effectively navigate this dynamic environment, organizations need to continuously evaluate their security strategies, keep abreast of the latest cybersecurity developments, and be prepared to adjust their defenses swiftly. By fostering a culture of adaptability and innovation within their cybersecurity practices, organizations can better safeguard their digital assets and stay resilient in the face of evolving challenges.
There may be no such thing as perfect security, but we can do plenty of things to strengthen systems against threats. Most of all, staying on top of these systems’ technical and human aspects is important, as both are potential entry points for attacks.