Rush to Digital Transformation Leaving Organizations More Vulnerable

Digital transformation was one of those buzzterms I heard both at RSA and during my post-conference conversations. There’s a lot of exciting changes happening on the digital front—AI and ML taking on bigger roles in organizations, 5G on the near horizon, whatever the next innovation in IoT might be.

We know all this technology and connectivity is a security nightmare, but there are still some who are convinced that the digital transformation is also a transformative experience for cybersecurity.

“This new hyperconnected digital era will create an impression of stability, security and reliability,” said Steve Durbin, managing director of the Information Security Forum (ISF). “However, it will prove to be an illusion that is shattered by new vulnerabilities, relentless attacks and disruptive cyberthreats.”

Last week, ISF released its “Threat Horizon 2021” report, and in bold letters, the report immediately announced, “The digital illusion shatters.” The three main takeaways of the report illuminate that premise:

It all sounded ominous, so I decided to ask Durbin for some insights on how the digital transformation appears to be shaping up to be a cybersecurity nightmare. After all, most of us see these advanced technologies as a good thing. However, Durbin said all of these digital additions also provide more opportunities for cybercriminals. Threats will become more tailored, specific and potentially damaging.

But digital transformation will have a positive impact on security, too. Durbin predicted an increase in nation-state attacks that will force a more collaborative approach to threat intelligence and threat response between public and private sector. “In addition, the advent of AI and machine learning and the very real ways that such systems can create a more challenging environment for attackers of all descriptions may allow security professionals to re-address the balance in favor of the defender,” he said.

One of the threats that jumped out at me was listed under that third theme: Rushed digital transformations destroy trust.