Digital transformation and data security are currently hot topics in the IT sphere and have been for some time. However, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for digital transformation in more ways than one. We saw a new reliance across the board on virtual working technologies, and the healthcare industry found new ways to use technology to return COVID-19 test results quickly. This sudden growth of digital transformation can be seen when reviewing the trend for the search term on Google over the past ten years (see below).
Digital transformation looks different for everyone – some businesses see digital transformation as adopting cloud computing (such as Office 365), and others see it as adopting more complex technologies such as artificial intelligence (such as Amazon Alexa). The scope for digital transformation is vast, and as a result, the reliance and demand for data security services is too. People and businesses want to know that the increasing amount of data that they share is safe and protected from malicious entities.
How does digital transformation impact cyber security?
Data security is a crucial part of digital transformation because the increasing use of technology raises more issues regarding privacy and online safety. In short, as the use of technology grows, so does the threat of cyber security issues occurring.
Digital transformation, information security and cyber security in business are all closely interlinked, and digital transformation impacting cyber security could lead to affected businesses facing large costs and damaged technological infrastructure if malicious entities gained access to private internal files and/or systems.
The Advantages of Digital Transformation.
Digital transformation has various pros and cons, and they can change depending on who you speak to. For example, an IT administrator is likely to have very different pros and cons to those of a software developer. There is no one-size-fits-all policy regarding digital transformation pros and cons because every business is so different.
Although technology is always changing and digital transformation is never a complete task and there is always something new to learn, there are plenty of positive aspects of digital transformation.
Digital transformation can:
- Improve business image
When implemented well, digital transformation can lead to business image being improved. Using new technologies can improve productivity and make your company appear as digital leaders creating a positive view of your business.
- Help you be where the customers are (online)
Statistics of digital transformation show that the UK has a digital population of around 67 million people. This means that getting on board with digital transformation can give you more business security because the likelihood is that your customers are also digitally transforming.
- Increase flexibility for companies and employees
No longer do employees have to live within commuting distance of the office, or even in the same country! Digital transformation has meant that companies can find talent across the globe to work with them, and employees enjoy the benefits of flexible working.
Why is data security important in digital transformation?
We’re sure you have heard about previous cases of data breaches or other cybersecurity-related issues. The likelihood is that these cases have been worse case scenarios or they have involved high-profile companies if you’ve read about them on the news. Some noteworthy issues include the Yahoo and Adobe data breaches in 2013, the Portsmouth University ransomware attack in 2021 which led to the closure of an entire campus, and finally the Facebook data breach in 2019 which made headlines around the world.
Regardless of the scale of cyber security issues or who they have involved, any kind of breach should be treated as a serious incident because smaller issues can soon become big issues if not dealt with.
Data security should be a key focus for businesses during the process of digital transformation because it lowers the risk of data breaches and increases the likelihood of compliance with privacy regulations. This means that data privacy in a business can be strong when data security is prioritised during the process of digital transformation.
What are the risks of digital transformation? And how to avoid them.
One of the major risks of digital transformation is that having a dependency on technologies for many day-to-day tasks can create vulnerability to data loss and data privacy in business if data is not backed up and protected sufficiently. Being negatively impacted can be avoided by ensuring your contingency plan for data recovery in the case of loss or breaches. Another way you can avoid being negatively impacted is by preventing data loss and breaches in the first instance. This can be done using our advice in the next section.
Another risk of digital transformation is that, as supply chains become more reliant on technology, creating a multi-channel strategy can be a complex and disorganised task depending on what technologies are integrated into the supply chain. This can be avoided by having a set strategy plan that is detailed as much as possible before new technologies begin to be integrated so that every stage is accounted for and individuals know what to refer back to in the case of ambiguity.
Don’t worry, this is where Tribeca comes in. Our digital transformation services can support your business to securely and efficiently undergo digital transformation. Learn more about our services or get in touch with us if you have any questions.
How to combat cyber security issues in business?
Cyber security and data privacy in business can be a challenging topic to broach. Some companies remain adamant that their digital systems are the best in the business and watertight from any breaches. However, you should always prepare for “when” a breach occurs and not “if”.
- Ensure staff are trained on data privacy in your business
Human error is a major factor in data breaches, and statistics of digital transformation support this. According to a 2021 report by Verizon, 85% of data breaches had human error involved. With training, you could reduce the likelihood of a data privacy error occurring in your business.
- Secure passwords and MultiFactor Authentication
It won’t be anything new to you when we tell you that you need to keep your passwords secure and use passwords that aren’t easy for malicious entities to guess, but this is one of the easiest ways to combat cyber security issues as it makes it more difficult for the wrong people to gain access to your data. Furthermore to ensure that you keep your data more secure, use MultiFactor authentication wherever possible.
- Keep everything updated
Making sure you have the latest updates installed on everything from company phones, to computers, to software means that you’ll have the most recent security features that are on offer from your providers.
Tribeca can support your business with digital transformation and data security strategies.
Digital transformation does raise security queries but it’s not an impossible task to make it more difficult for malicious intruders to gain access to your data. By ensuring you regularly update the relevant resources, train staff and change passwords you can easily decrease the likelihood of any cyber security issues arising during your digital transformation.
Tribeca offers digital transformation services to help you implement new technologies in your business and keep up-to-date. We’d love to hear from you and help you to elevate and expand your company by using digital means.
