Information security has been a burning issue in recent times, and its importance is often talked about in our increasingly digitized world. The rapid increase in technological advancements has made it difficult to secure organizations while also complying with the latest security protocols. The risk of emerging technologies has pushed organizations to seek out effective ways to protect their data from cyberattacks.
One of the biggest challenges facing information security professionals today is the impact of disruptive technologies. Emerging technologies can create new vulnerabilities that are exploited by attackers to hack into an organization. Organizations must stay ahead of the curve and adopt new cybersecurity technologies to detect risks and combat attacks.
Here are a few technologies that have had a disruptive impact on cybersecurity in recent years:
With the proliferation of well-engineered mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, organizations have had to adapt their information security policies to account for these new devices. For example, many organizations now allow employees to access their corporate email and other organizational information on their personal devices. While this might be convenient for employees, it also introduces new risks to the organization as these devices may not be as secure as corporate-owned ones. A malware attack on these devices can compromise crucial organizational data.
Cloud computing is another technology that has had a significant impact on cybersecurity. With cloud computing, organizations can access information and applications over the internet rather than installing them on their own servers. While this reduces costs and increases scalability for organizations, it comes with its own risks. Cloud computing may not be as secure as installing information on your in-house server that is monitored 24x7 by your organization. An attack on the data center can result in a catastrophic data breach. With cloud computing, employees access data from various parts of the world, and the lack of proper security systems could lead to leakage of sensitive information.
Social media has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent times. As indispensable as it may be, it has also had a disruptive impact on information security. Social media platforms provide an unconventional way for attackers to gain access to user data when users share personal information with their friends and followers. Employees accessing social media sites from their work computers might also create a doorway for malware attacks. Companies using social media to promote their business and to connect with their customers can also be exposed to data theft attacks. Some common ways social media attacks have been carried out in recent times are fake or compromised profiles, malicious links, and social engineering.
Big data is another technology that has had a major impact on information security. With big data, organizations can store and analyze large amounts of data in order to gain insights into customer behavior, market trends, and other information. This allows organizations to make better decisions about their business operations. However, big data also poses risks such as loss of data, unauthorized access, data tampering, and malware attacks. Attackers can use big data to gain a better understanding of how an organization's systems work, and then launch attacks that take advantage of these vulnerabilities.
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to play a huge role in information security. AI can be used for a variety of tasks, such as identifying malicious traffic, detecting intrusions, and preventing data breaches. However, as AI continues to evolve, it may also pose a threat to information security. For example, hackers could use AI to launch cyberattacks that are difficult to detect or defend against. And as a result, it is important for organizations to be aware of the potential risks posed by AI and take steps to mitigate those risks.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices that are connected to the internet. These devices can include anything from smart thermostats to security cameras or even cars. IoT has the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work, but it also poses a risk to information security. For example, many IoT devices are not well-secured, and they can be easily attacked by hackers. An attack on an IoT device can result in a cascading breach in the network unless each device in the IoT network is monitored continuously.
5G is the next generation of wireless technology. It is fast with high capacity and low latency, making it well-suited for applications such as autonomous vehicles, advanced health care, and smart cities. 5G also has the capacity to connect a million devices per square kilometer without any reduction in bandwidth. Although this might be an advantage, it also poses the threat of a wider attack surface. Attackers might also leverage the speed and low latency of 5G to carry out attacks like a distributed denial-of-service attack.
Here's how you can combat these risks and ensure information security.
Information security is crucial for businesses to thrive. The advent of new technologies and their disruptive impact on information security have made it all the more challenging for organizations to secure their environment. However, with the right security measures in place, businesses can rest assured that their information is safe and sound. Employing a UEBA-based Zero Trust solution might be just what your organization needs to ensure it has a strong security posture.
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