Blog
Innovation and security
The cost for organizations looking to innovate has lowered as technology has evolved. Physically and digitally, the security space has had to embrace startup thinking to remain relevant. Innovation is utilized on a global playing field as the US and China battle for post-Covid domination. Innovation in security is even more relevant because of the pandemic. With criminals of all stripes still in play, new and innovative ways to protect ourselves is important. Below we will cover trends in security, many relevant for businesses and countries to implement.
Security as part of digital transformation
Digital transformation has been accelerated because of Covid-19. The pandemic has shown that organizations without a strong digital footprint will find it harder to survive. Adding a security layer makes the transformation more complicated, with the need of a strong cyber policy. Hackers seek to exploit any opening.
Those working from home add vulnerability to the system using unsecure devices. Security is the pillar on which organizations can innovate. This article states “this perception of inherent cyber security risk in transformation seems to have created a correlation between the number of cyber security events a company has faced and its progress in digital transformation. Businesses that have suffered a cyber-attack in the past 12 months are half as likely to be implementing transformation strategies as those that have avoided security incidents (22 percent vs. 42 percent).”
Experimentation with IT
The IT department is the heartbeat of any organization, with a big stake in the cyber security strategy for protection.IT and cybersecurity are different, however: “IT (information technology) security refers to protecting data and information systems from unauthorized access. It involves implementing processes that prevent the misuse, modification, or theft of sensitive company information. On the other hand, cybersecurity covers the protection of data on the internet- particularly from hackers and other cybercriminals.”
IT must be given freedom to experiment and ensure the organization is as secure as possible. As this article states “One of the most important ways is to treat new IT initiatives as guarded, scientific experiments” The article further adds that “if one of our experiments has or creates a vulnerability, our existing processes should find the vulnerability,” says Niel Nickolaisen, senior vice president and CIO. “But if not, the vulnerability does not put the rest of our world at risk.”
AI is the future
Artificial intelligence (AI) may be surrounded by hype, but the long-term impact of this technology will change every aspect of humanity. AI benefits by automating many tasks and effectively reviewing data. Many companies realize AI will be transformative and are looking to integrate this tech into workflow (sometimes at the expense of manpower). AI will innovate security, but the stakes are higher when personal safety is concerned.
The future of artificial intelligence, the next major security threat, or even wars, will come down to competing algorithms. AI innovation in the security space will determine the victor. China strives to gain advantage over the US, but smaller countries such as Israel can punch above their weight. The next war will be drones, missiles, special forces, and AI, working together with less space for human error. However, these algorithms may be too effective. This report on the future of AI and security states “AI is so potentially powerful that America should engage in a kind of AI diplomacy to prevent dangerous misunderstandings. One of the report’s 25 recommendations is that the US establish AI-specific communication procedures with China and Russia to allow human-to-human dialog to defuse any accidental escalation caused by algorithms.”
All aspects of business and society are impacted by technology, including security. Innovation and security are tools companies and entrepreneurs utilize for protection. As the pandemic continues, we will see further innovation as challenges rise.