The big picture – how lockdown has affected cyber security and some predictions for the future

Digital transformation was already happening before lockdown. It was just a more gradual process as businesses moved systems and data online, embracing the cloud and even opening their minds to the option of remote working. 

But as this slow evolution occurred, the cyber threats facing those businesses changed. Systems were being transformed one by one as new processes and technology were being introduced, opening up a whole host of vulnerabilities. 

Despite this, there was still a huge amount of complacency when it came to cyber security. Businesses who had never been hit before didn’t believe they ever would be. Some thought everything was the responsibility of third party software providers or their IT company. Others assumed their insurance would cover the financial impact of an incident. 

Whatever the reasoning, the inertia was surprising considering the level of risk. 

Then lockdown hit

And a worldwide digital transformation took place in a matter of weeks. Businesses moved online and team members worked from home to allow business to continue. New technology was introduced so staff could carry on performing their duties, and accessing the software, information and resources they required to do their jobs. 

And businesses suddenly became aware of how vulnerable they were to cyber attack. They had no visibility of their staff; existing processes that were never designed for a remote-working environment became outdated and irrelevant, and the control of technology grew to be far more complex, introducing new vulnerabilities and room for user error. 

We were delighted to see many businesses responding to this increased cyber risk and protecting themselves from potential attack, by introducing measures like enhanced user access controls to accelerate best practice, with the likes of multi-factor authentication using one-time passcodes.

This was a really positive step, because even if these businesses do return to an office-based environment again (and many may not), these new ways of connecting to and accessing business resources exist and work well until normal returns. And those who have adopted these resilient solutions will always have them to use as a continuity solution.

Beyond Covid

I think as we emerge from Covid, businesses will continue adopting a more flexible working attitude and will be fully embracing the available technology to take advantage of seamless office and home working opportunities. I expect we will be in a well-established hybrid situation, where we’ll be encouraged and supported to work from home as well as enjoying face to face team meetings in shared office spaces.

And cyber security will play a big part in enabling this hybrid situation and cloud-based workspace, with seamless integration to our common work tools, and even taking advantage of 5G technology – the ultimate mobile data revolution – as it comes on stream. 

As this happens, it’ll be important for business leaders to prioritise how staff securely access the resources required to maintain the business functions, as well as prioritising the mental health and well-being of the challenge of remote working.

Ensuring they have full visibility of their environments will also be paramount – I think that by this time next year, the majority of mid-level businesses will have, or will be actively looking at, a threat detection and response system in place to help them protect their business and data. 

There is no doubt that the availability and technology advances over the last decade have benefited businesses throughout lockdown, and will continue to facilitate new ways of working as we progress out of this Covid era. I can’t imagine what lockdown would have looked like with dial up connections, no mobile phone network to speak off, and a lack of the streaming services that we all take for granted now. 

It’s been a rough ride, but there are better times on the horizon.