Understanding Data Security 2022 | Data breaches are setting new records, as the technology used by hackers and other cyber criminals continues to grow more advanced and threatening. In a 2021 report, corporate email represents perhaps the weakest link for phishing scams, particularly as remote employment and unsecured networks grew by leaps and bounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the business world moves into 2022, new threats are expected, and new security measures are needed. Here’s what you need to be paying attention to in the area of data security over the next year.
Changes in Data Protection Policies
The increase in remote work over the last few years has been a concern, as many employees are now far removed from the safety of a corporate network. In addition to connectivity using a residential-based Internet connection, connecting via mobile devices has created another threat. It is much harder for a company to police which apps or emails are being opened on a mobile device, creating security threats that are hard to control or even know about. Corporate IT security teams typically have policies and procedures for company-owned devices, but these are a lot harder to implement with private property.
New policies and procedures can help protect remote connections but only when employees comply with the changes. In addition to company changes, data security will need to be thought of according to the apps or other threats coming from mobile devices. Increased security measures can come from PSD2 SCA or hosting information through secured cloud networks. Malware-infected software installed on personal computers or devices can create direct access to sensitive company data and information, making all downloads or installations an important consideration when reviewing protection policies.
Increased Reliance on Encryption
Encryption has been playing a significant role in the daily protection of personal information and the critical infrastructure of the nation for years. It is through encryption that cybercriminals are blocked from accessing valuable and sensitive information, but as technology continues to develop, criminal enterprises are gaining new insight and ability when breaking through many encryption services and devices. It isn’t just business transactions susceptible to criminal activity or data threats. Medical devices, transportation, financial information and more rely on digital connectivity, leaving users susceptible to cyberthreats.
Encryption technology will continue to develop in the coming year, but there will also be an increased call for inclusion in industries and sectors that have been somewhat resistant to its use. Hackers need data that is both accessible and usable to be successful in their attacks, and encrypted data, though it may be accessible, can’t be easily used. With millions of bits of information being stored in a cloud-based system and a data wrangler making sense of the information, the options for theft are limitless for the cybercriminal. Encryption blocks access to this information.
In the year 2022, data encryption will be more accessible to any size organization. Next-generation technologies are providing encryption-as-as-service, which will allow organizations to completely manage their data. There is no need to share the encryption keys or the content of the data, as the company is able to manage it all in-house. This strengthens the security profile of the company, especially when the data is moved to the cloud. Cloud service providers typically require the decryption keys for private encryption services, but EaaS removes that requirement.
Push Toward Zero Trust
Businesses around the world are turning toward a zero-trust cybersecurity strategy. The constant evolution of cyber threats and attacks requires a vigilant approach to network security. This means companies are no longer assuming that certain elements on their network are safe and trustworthy. By default, under a zero-trust approach, there is no internal or external user or interface that is reliable and free from threat. Zero trust technologies will continue to grow in popularity during 2022 as more platforms and services are being hosted off-site from a company’s secure network.
The complex nature of cybersecurity means everyone must remain vigilant and prepared in 2022. These are just a few of the things to expect as you attempt to enforce data security over the next year.
