As advancements in technology continue to reshape the business landscape, organisations are increasingly faced with the necessity of upgrading their information technology (IT) infrastructure. However, this essential process carries inherent risks, particularly concerning cybersecurity. The Brilliance Security Magazine highlights a series of guidelines aimed at helping organisations mitigate potential threats while transitioning to modern systems.
The first critical step involves conducting a comprehensive security audit. This assessment provides insights into an organisation’s current cybersecurity posture, enabling IT professionals to identify vulnerabilities before any upgrades take place. An inventory of all assets—including hardware, software, and data—must be established to ensure that teams address all visible issues. By using the results from the audit to assess risks, organisations can better allocate resources to strengthen their defences where they are most needed.
Making the transition seamless for end users is another crucial consideration. While staggered implementations of new technologies may simplify technical management, they can create significant security gaps when legacy systems do not align with newer solutions. Decision-makers must focus on practical functionality over merely exciting features to prevent unsuccessful rollouts, which could ultimately lead to reverting to outdated systems amidst heightened vulnerabilities.
Additionally, revisiting and updating existing security policies and procedures is essential. As new technologies are adopted, they can drastically alter security postures. Therefore, decision-makers are encouraged to make minimal but impactful updates to ensure policies remain relevant and effective.
In many instances, organisations rely on third-party vendors for various IT operations, such as network monitoring and cloud storage. As highlighted by the publication, nearly 50% of companies experienced breaches due to vendor-related security risks in 2022. Therefore, a thorough cybersecurity evaluation of current and prospective vendors is advisable, particularly during transitional periods, to safeguard against potential insider threats and data breaches.
Organisations are also encouraged to create backups for critical systems and data. Backups serve as a vital safety net in the event of cyberattacks, such as ransomware incidents. Given the considerable storage space required for comprehensive backups, organisations may consider focusing on partial backups of only the most crucial assets to streamline management while protecting essential information.
During these transition phases, elevating awareness among employees about potential security risks is paramount. Assuming a heightened threat environment will encourage vigilance among staff, enabling them to be more alert to unusual activities, such as unsolicited emails. This perspective becomes significant, especially considering that human error has been a leading cause of security incidents in recent years.
In light of the increasing complexity of IT infrastructures, automation tools are recommended as a means to alleviate the burden on IT teams. Technologies including artificial intelligence and robotic process automation can handle repetitive tasks, allowing human resources to focus on more valuable responsibilities. Moreover, the implementation of automation may lead to a measurable return on investment, highlighting its potential financial benefits beyond simply enhancing security.
Lastly, thorough testing of the upgraded IT infrastructure in a controlled environment is essential before full deployment. This testing phase allows for the identification and rectification of potential security vulnerabilities prior to going live. Misconfigurations have been noted as responsible for a significant percentage of data breaches, underscoring the importance of meticulous configuration during upgrades.
Though achieving 100% security assurance remains unattainable, following these guidelines can significantly enhance an organisation’s ability to fend off cyberthreats during IT infrastructure upgrades. As noted by Zac Amos, Features Editor at ReHack, these approaches are crucial for the preservation of both physical and digital assets in an increasingly complex technological landscape.
Businesses looking to navigate this intricate terrain of AI automation and cybersecurity find themselves at a crossroads of opportunity and risk, underscoring the ongoing evolution of industry practices in the face of emerging technologies.
Source: Noah Wire Services