The digital age has given rise to a plethora of new possibilities for data storage and sharing. Businesses of all sizes and from all industries are enjoying a larger amount of capabilities than ever before. That said, these new opportunities and advantages do not come without a cost.
Security is more important than ever in a professional environment. Everything from customers’ payment information to highly-sensitive company data must be protected to avoid serious liability.
Business intelligence specialists are now teaming up with security professionals to provide the solutions organizations need to keep data safe. From secure encrypted online setups to video monitoring systems, there are many options available thanks to the combined efforts of business and security experts.
Preparing for New Threats in a Commercial Environment
Businesses are relying more and more on digital means for data input, storage, and transfers. This type of methodology means that electronic data thieves have much more to gain. As expected, cyber-attacks are on the rise. McKinsey notes how the threat of cyber-attacks is increasing, and these attacks may have potentially devastating results.
Businesses are prime targets for cyber criminals. While individuals may use less security than large scale organizations, these organizations are targeted because the payoff is bigger. A cybercriminal who successfully infiltrates a business may have access to dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of pieces of information they can use to steal from others.
Is This Increase Expected to Stop?
As frustrating as cyber-attacks can be to deal with, it is unlikely that they will become less of a threat any time soon. While attacks of this type can be guarded against, cybercriminals will always have more to gain as a result of the digital age. If anything, cyber threats are expected to increase in the future. According to Newsweek, the US was hit by 77,000 cyber-attacks in 2015 alone. This constituted a 10% increase from the year before. And with 2016 being remembered for things like the Yahoo breach or the massive east-coast DDoS attack, cyberattacks show no signs of slowing down.
How Collective Efforts Are Resulting in Solutions
Both the business intelligence and security industries have a vested interest in taking a serious approach to deal with cyber threats. For businesses, guarding against this type of threat is a great way to prevent the devastating amount of liability that can come with a data breach. For security agencies, assessing digital threats helps them expand their services and handle more modern concerns.
A number of solutions have been proposed and tested. From video monitoring systems to keep track of activity in a facility to security software designed to protect systems from hackers, there are many options out there for protecting against cyber threats. However, the solutions aren’t just developed sporadically – instead, business intelligence plays a large role in identifying vulnerable areas and assessing threats.
How Data Collections Impacts Cyber Security
Businesses collect more online data than ever before, and this means they can get more information from analyzing said data. While having more data on hand may seem like a risk, it can actually prove to be beneficial. Data collection today is more intensive and holistic than that of recent years. And this information can identify key factors that impact an organization’s defense (or lack thereof) against cyber threats. These can include:
▪ Areas where valuable data is kept
▪ History of security breaches (both successful and unsuccessful attempts)
▪ Steps taken to reduce the chance of cyber threats
These are just a few of the examples of data categories businesses can analyze to create security strategies. By working with experts in the security field and basing their efforts off proper analysis, business intelligence specialists can create solutions to protect their company’s data.
Keeping Ahead of the Threat
While some people may worry that planning out solutions to deal with cyber threats will only cause attackers to become craftier, using business intelligence has its advantages. The more management knows about their own organization (including its vulnerable areas), the more they can plan ways to defend themselves from cyberattacks. Staying one step ahead of the threat is important for dealing with it, and many organizations are taking this approach.
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