digital transformation

Digital transformation has become a new normal due to the COVID-19 crisis in the 21st century. As far as the concept of digital transformation is concerned, it is the process by which organizations or companies can change their current business processes as per the changing business requirements.

Furthermore, it allows organizations to develop new business processes and cultures that help them cater to their customers’ needs appropriately. 

That said, the digital transformation process is taking place at a breakneck pace. Therefore, companies or businesses are changing their cybersecurity priorities to meet the criteria of digital transformation in the right direction. 

Continue reading this post to know rapid digital transformation is changing companies’ cybersecurity priorities in 2021. 

How is rapid digital transformation shifting cybersecurity priorities in 2021?

There is no denying that digital transformation is a blessing in disguise for companies who have transformed themselves digitally to improve their business processes and culture as well. 

Apart from this, organizations or companies are changing their cybersecurity priorities as it will allow them to prosper during this age of digitalization with the right approach. These cybersecurity priorities are:

Application of basic IT hygiene practices

This is another area where companies have started focusing in recent years. When we talk about the importance of basic IT hygiene practices, it is all about securing your privacy from various notorious elements like hackers, scammers, identity thieves, etc.

Besides, the use or implementation of various cybersecurity tools within the workplaces to enhance the overall cybersecurity of companies to the next level. 

For instance, employees have started using a VPN that ensures cybersecurity when they perform different official tasks on their work devices. By doing so, they can safeguard their own privacy and at the same time they can protect sensitive official data such as business communication, customers’ information, etc. without any hassle.    

Online security of remote employees is a top most priority

Luckily, organizations or companies have realized the importance of protecting their remote employees’ privacy. As a result, they have started providing basic cybersecurity training to them including updating their official devices, awareness regarding cyberstalking and other cyber threats, installation of antivirus and antimalware software on their work devices, etc. 

Unfortunately, remote workers will remain an easy target for hackers and other cyber goons in 2021 and beyond. In this situation, this kind of cybersecurity training will definitely improve their online privacy to a certain degree.

Significance of cybersecurity culture

Creating a cybersecurity culture in every organization company either working locally or globally has become the need of the hour. That said, it is a long term process that cannot be completed in a day or two. 

Moreover, a cybersecurity culture will be developed in a company when all the stakeholders such as directors, CTOs, CEOs, and employees do not assume cybersecurity a one-time activity.

Likewise, they are motivated enough to abide by certain cybersecurity do’s and don’ts that should be completely aligned with the digital transformation process. 

For example, they must use different online protection tools like firewalls, email encryption software, password managers like LastPass, Dashlane, etc. 

In addition, they must refrain themselves from clicking any unknown attachment or link provided in emails sent by suspicious people online. Similarly, they must be smart enough to follow different cybersecurity practices proactively like use of complex passwords, uninstallation of unused apps from the official systems, etc. 

Cybersecurity do’s aside, employees and other stakeholders should also be aware of cybersecurity don’ts such as do not perceive cybersecurity as someone else’s problem. 

Likewise, they should not think cybersecurity a myth at all as cybersecurity threats have become one of the most dangerous realities in 2021.  

Cybersecurity has become a boardroom agenda

Due to the adaptation to digital transformation, companies or businesses have included cybersecurity in their boardroom agenda meetings. As a result, the role of CISOs (Chief Information Security Officer) has also changed because they have to keep on eye on technological and business risks both. 

They have to collaborate with the directors of other departments to discuss the importance of effective cybersecurity training programs. In short, they have started playing their crucial role to improve the cybersecurity of their organizations considerably.    

Wrapping Things Up

Digital transformation is a key to survival and success for different organizations and companies in this COVID-19 era. Without digital transformation, organizations or businesses working in various sectors like health, supply chain, fintech, and others cannot improve their productivity as per their preferences. 

That said, cybersecurity is one of the major concerns that can influence the pace of digital transformation of any organization or company to a great extent. 

Therefore, companies when changing themselves according to the requirements of digital transformation must secure their online presence in the best possible manner. 

Otherwise, the process of digital transformation will harm their performance and growth rather than improving their productivity in the first place over a period of time. 

It means cybersecurity needs to be beefed up if organizations or businesses need to reap the rewards of digital transformation in the coming years.     

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay