Cybersecurity is a growing concern in today’s digital landscape. Hackers are getting smarter every day, making it vital for security professionals to be even more innovative. They need to take preventive measures before threats from cybercriminals exploit their systems and cause severe damages.
This era of digitization has seen methodologies such as DevOps become popular. DevOps helps businesses develop software faster but unfortunately, with no security guarantee. Businesses looking to adopt this methodology need to be ready to overcome any arising security challenges.
This article looks at the DevOps and cybersecurity challenges that businesses should be ready to overcome.
Read on to find out more.
1. Gaps in Technical Skills
One thing that gets worse every day in the I.T security industry is the cybersecurity talent drought. The vulnerabilities in cybersecurity are increasing exponentially, meaning competition for services is growing. Thus, there has to be an equal supply of cybersecurity professionals to bridge this gap.
But then, there are few institutions worldwide providing advanced cybersecurity training. This includes training people on Pen Testing, forensics, etc. It may take a while before we see a balance in skill demand and supply. Reports indicate that unfilled cybersecurity positions will increase to 3.5 million in 2021.
Companies have had to invest massively to bridge this gap. Most of them have resolved to train already existing staff on advanced cybersecurity. With the average cost of a data breach estimated at $3.92 million, businesses are not taking chances. Businesses should ensure their employees have the right skills to tackle any threat.
2. Increasing Cloud Risks
The use of cloud technology has skyrocketed in recent years. More companies are moving to cloud-based platforms than ever before. Outsourcing their storage needs offers cybercriminals a new and broader environment to launch an attack. Businesses need to be mindful of their security when planning to move.
There are different threats that businesses can face when using the cloud. Although cloud service providers put in different security measures, their primary focus is on securing their infrastructure. But then, every company using a cloud service is responsible for securing its infrastructure.
As a business, you can consider and implement a variety of security solutions. This includes setting up firewalls, virtual private networks, multi-factor authentication, etc. You can also use rotating residential proxies to increase the quality and efficiency of your business security.
Proxies are dependable and can help prevent businesses from different threats that come with using the cloud. They also provide a great return on investment for businesses that use them.
3. Ransomware Threats
This is one of the most prevalent cybersecurity threats businesses deal with today. Most recently, there have been high-profile ransomware attack reports in the U.S. This includes a ransomware attack on the U.S. fuel pipeline and another on the world’s largest meat-packing company, also based in the U.S.
Cybercriminals use ransomware to block access to a company’s network. They then demand money from the company before they can let its owners access the network. The amount demanded depends on the criticality of the data or the company’s size.
Such an attack can affect a company’s productivity. It can also lead to substantial financial losses depending on the ability to pay the ransom. For businesses holding vital data, it is better to be safe than sorry. Using antivirus solutions, backing up data, patching systems, and restricting internet access are possible preventive measures.
If a ransomware attack occurs, a quick response can help mitigate the impact. Check out the affected data and infrastructure, restore the data from a backup, and report the incident to the relevant authorities.
4. Vulnerabilities in IoT Infrastructure
The internet of things (IoT) is a constantly growing field of technology. Businesses are reaping massive benefits from implementing various IoT solutions in their networks. However, the more IoT devices are used, and the more complex the IoT ecosystem is, the more vulnerable it becomes.
Cybercriminals are targeting companies that use IoT solutions in their operations. Sadly, most of these companies do not have enough security to detect, identify and respond to issues in IoT systems. This has made the threats that IoT infrastructure face more prominent than ever before.
There is a long list of security challenges that IoT faces. They include weak passwords, poor device management, inadequate skills, etc. The rush to deploy multiple IoT devices in business without proper security has played a vital role in increasing these vulnerabilities.
Businesses need to stick to the best practices of IoT to be safe. This includes having good password policies, ensuring regular security software updates, network segmentation, and regular employee training on IoT systems.
5. Collaboration Challenges
Collaboration is an essential aspect of business today. Different teams collaborate to develop products for businesses, and sometimes, they do not work from a central location. A company’s collaboration landscape determines how productive it becomes in the end.
The main challenge that affects collaboration is poor communication. Dependency in legacy messaging tools can affect a business’s ability to ensure good DevOps teamwork. Efficiency and speed in messaging, conference calls, and file sharing are critical for businesses to maintain good product quality.
For businesses to avoid this challenge, they need to adopt modern messaging platforms. An ideal platform needs to have a good interface, security compliance, and a range of customization, and integration options.
As a business owner, the collaboration solution you adopt needs to make your DevOps teamwork smarter together. In the end, you ensure people are connected and, at the same time, reduce security vulnerabilities. Proxies are dependable.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is not an option but a priority for all businesses. The consequences of procrastinating cybersecurity issues can be catastrophic. Thus, every business needs to include security practices and protocols in all its strategies, especially across the DevOps pipeline.
Without good security during DevOps implementation, a business may experience constant problems. Thankfully, we have provided some security tips that can help you get started with I.T. security. Consider using them to assess your security and make your applications as secure as possible.
Info sources:
- https://cybersecurityventures.com/jobs/
- https://www.ibm.com/security/data-breach
- https://www.reuters.com/technology/colonial-pipeline-halts-all-pipeline-operations-after-cybersecurity-attack-2021-05-08/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57318965http://www.ic3.gov/