–Kevin Elias Thomas Chief Information Security Officer Ezeelogin
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of businesses and consumers around the world. More people are using the internet for work, education, entertainment, shopping, and socialising than ever before. According to Statista, there were over 5.1 billion internet users in 2021, accounting for 65.6% of the global population. Moreover, e-commerce sales reached 5.7 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021 and are expected to grow further in the coming years.
However, this global surge in online presence also poses significant challenges for IT security compliance. IT security compliance refers to the process of ensuring that IT systems and data are protected from unauthorised access, use, modification, disclosure, or destruction in accordance with the laws, regulations, standards, policies, and contracts that apply to the organisation and its activities. IT security compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic advantage for businesses that want to maintain their reputation, trust, and competitiveness in the digital economy.
Changing security landscapes and new regulations
Security threats and regulatory compliance rules evolve rapidly, requiring a quick response to new threats and changing laws. For example, cyberattacks such as ransomware, phishing, denial-of-service, and supply chain compromise have become more frequent and sophisticated in recent years, targeting various sectors and organisations of all sizes. In addition, new regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, and the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) in Singapore have introduced stricter requirements for data protection and privacy. Organisations need to constantly monitor and assess their security posture and compliance status and implement appropriate controls and measures to mitigate risks and meet obligations.
Distributed environments across many platforms
The shift to remote work and online services has increased the complexity and diversity of IT environments. Organisations need to manage multiple platforms, such as cloud, mobile, web, IoT, and edge computing, each with its own security challenges and compliance requirements. For example, cloud computing offers many benefits such as scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency but also introduces new risks such as data breaches, misconfigurations, unauthorised access, and vendor lock-in. Similarly, mobile devices enable greater mobility and productivity but also expose sensitive data to theft, loss, or compromise. Organisations need to adopt a holistic and integrated approach to secure and govern their distributed environments across many platforms.
Manual processes
Many organisations still rely on manual processes for IT security compliance management. For example, they may use spreadsheets or documents to track their compliance activities, evidence, and status. However, manual processes are prone to errors, inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and delays. They also make it difficult to maintain an accurate and up-to-date view of compliance status and performance.
Organisations need to automate and streamline their IT security compliance processes using tools and technologies such as:
- Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software: It integrates and manages the various aspects of IT security compliance, such as policies, controls, risks, audits, reports, and incidents.
- Security information and event management (SIEM) software: It collects and analyses security data from various sources, such as logs, alerts, events, and incidents, and provides real-time visibility and response to security threats.
- Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) software: It automates and coordinates the execution of security tasks and workflows, such as detection, investigation, remediation, and reporting.
- Privileged Access Management (PAM) software: Including PAM solutions is crucial in ensuring controlled access to critical systems and data, mitigating the risk of unauthorised access and potential breaches.
Digital Revolution and the Transformed Business Landscape
The proliferation of smartphones, the ubiquity of high-speed internet, and the democratisation of information have led to a global surge in online presence. As of April 2023, there were 5.18 billion internet users worldwide, which amounted to 64.6 percent of the global population. This digital revolution has facilitated seamless communication, expanded business opportunities, and transformed various sectors.
The business world has undergone a paradigm shift with the advent of e-commerce, remote work, and digital services. E-commerce sales are projected to reach $26.7 trillion by 2023, reflecting a dramatic shift in consumer behaviour towards online shopping. However, this growth has been accompanied by escalating cyber threats, emphasising the critical importance of IT security compliance.
Conclusion
The global surge in online presence has created new opportunities and challenges for IT security compliance. Organisations need to adapt to the changing security landscape and new regulations, manage their distributed environments across many platforms, and automate their manual processes. By doing so, they can enhance their IT security compliance capabilities and performance and gain a competitive edge in the digital economy.
