Digital transformation is reinventing the way that businesses are run. Due to technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, the cloud, mobile computing, and big data analytics, there is an increased dependency on the digital connections that not only enable business agility, but also promote Cybersecurity risks.
Business executives have an indomitable approach of using digital technology to improve employee performance and business revenue. To businesses, digital transformation is not a target but a never-ending process. However, in their rush to achieve digital transformation, data assets and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) have been left unsecured and vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The annual cost of these cyber attacks on an average is U.S. $11.7 million, 23% more than the previous year. However, financial loss is not the only concern of companies. Reputational damage, customer and employee PII leak, and data losses also pose a huge threat to a business’s growth.
BT’s new global research reveals the importance of digital transformation in multinational organizations with nearly 40% of CEOs raking digital transformation as the priority of their boardroom agenda to improve customer service and make operational efficiency. They emphasize on better integration, security, reliability, and cost effectiveness as a part of their digital transformation strategy. However, inflexible technology, lack of technology skills, and security concerns are the main obstacles in creating a better digital infrastructure.
The only logical direction hence, that any organization can travel to achieve digital transformation while maintaining a safe cyberspace is by: Bridging together digital transformation with Cybersecurity. Much like any other skill, Cybersecurity defense skills are also learnt. With a skill like Cybersecurity however, it becomes important to continue to upgrade one’s knowledge and skills. Thankfully, there are numerous organizations across the globe that offer short term Cybersecurity certifications and Intensive Cybersecurity degrees covering the subject in depth. Such courses are available in multiple formats, just like EC-Council’s iLearn (Online self-paced), iWeek (Online instructor led) and Instructor led classroom sessions as well. To tackle this imminent threat that is Cybersecurity attacks, the whole organization must work as one and having worked with the Pentagon, FBI and their likes EC-Council certifications are an incredible value addition for anyone in an organization, ranging from entry level Cybersecurity professionals to Executive level professionals at a company with their large gamut of globally recognized courses like CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), LPT (Master) (Licensed Penetration Tester), CCISO (Certified Chief Information Security Officer) etc. Much of these are globally licensed trademarks of EC-Council, a reflection of the firm ground that EC-Council holds in the Cybersecurity domain.
Much like how digital transformation requires a breakdown to rebuild an upgraded version of an organization, executives must also breakdown current cybersecurity strategies and produce an improved cybersecurity strategy.
Cybersecurity must be a part of the company’s digital transformation strategy right from the very beginning. As a matter of fact, it ought to be a major part of the plan if businesses wish to ensure that they remain out of the headlines for the wrong reasons.
For digital transformation and cybersecurity plans to meet, it is important that businesses to recognize the importance of aligning business needs and cybersecurity strategies. It is extremely important for board members and executives to understand the risks involved with the lack of a cybersecurity strategy that bands with digital business growth. In fact, understanding what cybersecurity entails and how to maintain a safe and controlled cyberspace ought to be the role of every employee in a company, regardless of whether they are at a C-Suite Level or entry-level. Cybersecurity training for a professional should be provided, independent of the position one holds. There are globally recognized courses that even provide an orientation to how a cyber secure user should behave like to play their part in upholding their organization’s cyber shield.
EC-Council, the world’s largest cybersecurity certification body has trained and certified more than 200,000 information security professionals globally that have influenced the cybersecurity mindset of countless organizations worldwide. Certification programs like the Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO) focuses on technical knowledge and the application of information security management principles from an executive management point of view, to ensure that business development and cybersecurity strategies align.
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