2019 Cyber Security Trends (Part 2)
As security experts, we are often asked what we expect the year ahead to hold, in terms of IT trends and subsequently our advice. Part two of our two-part blog series on our expectations for 2019 is as follows:
5/ Human error will continue to be a weak link when it comes to IT security
While technology moves on and machines become more intelligent, human error will continue to be a weak link in organisations when it comes to IT security. The Government Cyber Security Breaches survey 2018 found that 75% of breaches in the UK were caused by users interacting with phishing emails.
Our advice: Ask your IT partner to review the security measures you have in place – both to limit the chances of you receiving phishing emails and to protect your account credentials if somebody in your organisation falls victim. If you haven’t implemented multi-factor authentication or conditional access, don’t delay any longer.
6/ The internet of things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing at a rapid rate. More and more products are using technology to make them ‘smart’ which is set to grow in scope during 2019. As the use and popularity of an array of smart devices grows, it is questionable as to whether the security of these devices is adequate, leaving an easy route in for cyber criminals.
Our advice: Be cautious when utilising smart devices for both company purposes and at home. For business use, best practice would be to purchase enterprise goods. Be sure to understand how the device is collecting your data, privacy settings are often hidden deep within the device configuration. In addition, it is important to ensure that the device is operating with the latest firmware.
7/ Flexible and remote working is becoming a norm
The latest figures from the ONS (2018), revealed a steady increase in the number of people who work from home on a regular basis. This is likely to continue to rise in 2019. With that in mind, it is important that organisations have adequate policies in place to protect their data.
Our advice: Ensure your organisation reviews and regularly shares your organisations IT policy covering BYOD, device management and remote working. Make sure your employees have the resources and systems in place to work outside the office effectively.
Part one of the blog series can be found here.
Contact us for: Cloud Services, IT Security, Infrastructure Consultancy, IT Management & Support
For more of our industry news and updates, follow us on: LinkedIn and Twitter