Where did the last 12 months go? It’s fair to say that 2021 has been a bit of a whirlwind year that has brought plenty of ups, downs and challenges. It’s this time of year where we can sit back and reflect, as well as look ahead to what the new year will bring. With that in mind, here is what we believe should be prioritised in 2022 when it comes to IT security.
What should be the top priority for IT security in 2022?
The focus for IT security in 2022 should be all round cyber hygiene. Cyber hygiene is the steps and practices that every organisation should take to ensure that overall digital health is of a high standard to protect against security threats. Put simply, it is the actions that we take on a daily basis such as how we use and store passwords, processes to protect against phishing and ransomware attacks. It is the digital equivalent to brushing your teeth and regularly washing your hands.
What makes this priority so important?
The way we work has changed rapidly over the past 2 years. When the Coronavirus pandemic first hit, organisations had to quickly find ways to operate remotely without any hinderance to productivity and performance, and in many cases with hamstrung budgets due to the economic impact. To add to this, the velocity and magnitude of security threats has continued to rise, adding to what was and is a significant challenge for IT teams. Now that were getting towards some form of ‘normality’ and better understand how to support remote working, keeping on top of cyber hygiene will be of paramount importance in the immediate future.
What’s the best way to get started with this priority?
The best place to start is by performing an overall security audit of your current infrastructure and processes. By establishing a baseline, you can identify any issues that need addressing, setting out a roadmap of top priorities. This can be done through penetration testing, vulnerability scanning or a consultation meeting.
What is a task that can be put off until later in the year?
This will always depend on the size and industry of the organisation in question. For smaller organisations, solutions such as Privileged Access Management (PAM) tools may be less of a priority over email security. On the flipside, for larger organisations who deal with more sensitive data such as legal firms, PAM should take more of a priority to stop people accessing certain information who shouldn’t.
If you need any help setting out your IT Roadmap for the New Year, we can arrange a free, no-obligation call with our expert team of consultants.
