As many as 34% of consumers in the United States suffered a breach in their personal information in 2018. To put it in perspective, that’s 2,216 data breaches in that year alone. The embedding of technology in organizations as a way of increasing efficiency and reducing errors has led to an exponential increase in data generation. As these firms churn more data, they need to tackle security and privacy matters flawlessly.

As a result, these firms often develop in-house cyber security teams while also working with companies offering cyber security consulting services. To stay ahead of the curve, teams tasked with cyber security not only dissect past incidents but also focus on future trends to pre-empt any future threats. Read on to uncover cyber security predictions you need to keep your eye on.

1. Technology Will Take Center Stage in Security

Traditionally, the role of protecting data has been up to cyber security consulting services, in-house cyber security teams, and external regulation. These teams have in the past focused on preventing malicious actors from breaching the system and protecting sensitive data. But that approach works only if your data operates on a siloed model. 

Today’s organization needs to use data company-wide to help teams cooperate and deliver new areas of value. As a result, any cyber security solutions a company now deploys has to focus on developing ways to have technology itself enforce this security. Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data are two essential technological innovations that will help drive this trend. Through these two innovations, firms can leverage the very technology that informs their privacy efforts to also police IT security solutions.

2. The Rise of Malicious Chatbots

AI-driven chatbots are experiencing a surge in popularity as many firms develop beneficial use cases for them. While these chatbots help drive efficiency, they are also a potential source of vulnerability when taken over by malicious actors.

Whether you have an in-house cyber team or deploy managed it security services providers, you will want them to keep an eye on emerging rogue chatbots. These bots are created by malicious actors whose aim is to get people to download files, share private data, or click on links that misdirect them. While the bad actors begin by focusing on text-based bots, it is only a matter of time before they move to human speech bots as well.

3. IT Disaster Recovery Service and the Cloud

When disaster strikes one of the critical business continuity efforts to reduce downtime center around IT disaster recovery services. In legacy firms, recover efforts focus on replacing servers, data centers, and other physical IT infrastructure. However, as the cloud revolutionizes the IT Disaster Recovery Service industry firms are finding it increasingly essential to consider virtualizing their recovery strategy.

With the cloud, it is much easier and cost-efficient to move data from one virtual environment to another in the wake of an adverse event. Although virtual disaster recovery still has low uptake, companies are increasing their interest. The associated flexible contracts that companies can secure due to virtualization can enable them to release resources for better utilization elsewhere.

Moving forward, teams tasked with cloud disaster recovery services will need the skills necessary to scale and automate disaster recovery if the organization is to keep up.

4. More Automation 

The proliferation of data has led to an uptick in interest surrounding Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR), leading to automation becoming more popular. Consequently, vendors of cyber security consulting services, along with in-house teams, need to grow their skills in using automated solutions.

For firms offering cyber security consulting services, a heavy focus on automation will help them reduce labor costs so that they can pass on that efficiency to their customers.

Protect Your Data

You know how important data is? Almost three-quarters (72%) of business owners say they could continue business operations if they retained their data, even if they lost all other assets.

Technology delivers many benefits to organizations, thus easing their operations. However, the downside of using technology in your business is that you will generate a lot of data, and you need to develop proactive measures to protect it. Collaborate with vendors of cyber security consulting services, to assess future threats and how to neutralize them.