The constant evolution of malware means businesses of all sizes must be vigilant about their cybersecurity strategies. This article by Noah Nadeau, Chief Technology Officer at Y Soft looks at specific technologies that provide an easy backdoor to hackers and guides how CISOs can ensure corporate data remains secure.
The past year has brought the term “digital transformationOpens a new window †to the fore. Organizations all over the globe are taking a hard look at what digital transformation means, employing new smart tools and workflow solutions for seamless information sharing, and automating tedious tasks. But this term also encompasses technology like cybersecurityOpens a new window .
2019 was another year of high-profile hacking and cybersecurity Opens a new window attacks that occurred across a broad swath of organizations. One example was the exposure of 3.1 million Toyota customers’ sensitive data in a well-publicized breach. The list of the 2019 corporate hacks is a who’s who of the world’s biggest and healthiest enterprises. And the fact that they are vulnerable means a new level of introspection has businesses looking at their security stance, with many now searching for solutions to improve their systems. These enterprises are now asking the same question – how do we better secure corporate data?
Although cyberattacks Opens a new window happen every day, there are still those companies that believe it won’t happen to them. And when it does, it’s too late for them to respond. Client and customer data safety should be at the center of every business transaction.
Enabling best practices in security with state-of-the-art solutions might not stop criminal attempts to hack into a printer or cloud platform, but it will reduce their chances of success. Failure to improve and strengthen security systems can leave valuable information exposed, impacting customers, clients, and the reputation of the company.
In this article, we look at the breadth of tech stack, from printer to cloud and AI applications that are soft targets for hackers.
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Print IT Security
Businesses continue to adopt integrated workflow solutions, and the smarter they are, the greater the priority in securing them. Print IT security has historically been overlooked or otherwise viewed as low risk. However, the PewDiePie campaign (“Your printer is exposed to the internet. Please fix thatâ€) was a seminal moment highlighting that print IT security’s time had come. Increased communications between all involved players is critical. The enterprise solution provider, the multi-function display service provider, and an organization’s IT department must all be on the same security page. Organizations that seek out reputable identity management software will simplify the complexity of managing multiple sets of credentials as well as improve overall security. Unique key and pin codes can be utilized when printing out a document to identify a specific user, assuring that important documents are no longer getting into the wrong hands. Additionally, and especially as more workers telecommute, these types of keys and pins allow more people to print files outside of their office building, chiefly at home.
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Cloud Computing at the Edge
Even though cloud adoption is on a rapid, upward trajectory, there are still many businesses that are reluctant to move completely into the cloud. It could be because of leftover legacy technology and hardware, or security concerns. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated teleworking; cloud adoptionOpens a new window is the clear path to improving productivity, as it can also help improve costs and mitigate risk.
We are seeing it right now; organizations require a cloud approach in their business strategy to align with the WFH strategyOpens a new window . Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-ServiceOpens a new window prioritization mean that companies can utilize applications without building the solutions themselves. Edge computing can enable enterprises in their print setup to solve issues like latency and bandwidth costs that impact productivity and efficiency. Unlike the cloud, edge computingOpens a new window brings tasks closer to the data source by utilizing a local server or device. Additional security measures help assure customers that their data is more secure and less likely to be stolen, improving the relationship and trust between a business and its clients and customers.
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Artificial Intelligence
Predictions called out artificial intelligenceOpens a new window and robotics as a job killer, but there is now a growing consensus that the increased efficiencies delivered through AI is a job creator, especially pertaining to data security. Every day, more companies are experimenting with AI and robotics to run hardware and software security and quality assurance tests. This experimentation is helping detect cyberattacksOpens a new window , viruses, mistakes in programming, and clearing the way to providing more focused services and higher quality products.
Cyberattacks Opens a new window are always present constantly evolving threats. Bad actors use AI in cyberattacks, exploiting its ability to machine learn, adapt, and react, making it the perfect way to perform widespread criminal cyber-activity. Organizations can also use AI to detect and contain cyber threats before they become a problem.
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Sustainability
Sustainability is obviously an important issue, and organizations are racing to find ways to do business better. The Green movement is holding organizations more accountable than ever before, not only for their consumption but to enlighten them on how they can positively contribute to the environment. Print IT will play a significant role by allowing organizations to report on the decline of their paper consumption, touching on elements such as trees felling as well as water and energy consumption. The paperless trend will support more companies in their efforts to adopt automated scan workflows, that transform paper-based work processes into digital workflows, helping companies to keep track of their productivity, their resource consumption and while focusing on the job at hand.
We see more innovation in the print technologies sector. 2020 is the year security needs, in light of increased cyberattacks, and businesses increasingly adopting green strategies to combat climate change. Companies that keep up with the technology landscape and take a comprehensive stance on their IT infrastructure will ensure eco-friendly, efficient, and secure processes.
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Change on the Horizon
Although cyberattacks Opens a new window happen every day, there are still those companies that believe it won’t happen to them. And when it does, it’s too late for them to respond. Client and customer data safety should be at the center of every business transaction.
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