How are you celebrating Computer Security Day on 30th November?

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How are you celebrating Computer Security Day on 30th November?

Reading time:  2 Minutes

We look at how cybersecurity has evolved since the first ever Computer Security Day – and what it means for Risk Directors

 

It seems strange that Computer Security Day, which falls on 30th November this year, dates all the way back to 1988 – at a time when most people didn’t have a home computer and Wi-Fi was a distant dream. Back then, computers were considered specialised pieces of equipment used by government agencies and certain businesses – static stores of information accessible for the few, not the many.

Fast forward 30 years, and Computer Security Day seems much more of an occasion. Our smartphones, laptops and tablets are basically extensions of ourselves. They are our portals to our digital worlds – where we share our memories, make most of our payments and carry out our job roles. And, if these portals are not secure, we are more at risk than we’ve ever been of our personal or business data being hacked.

As the risk of cyber-hacking has increased exponentially over the decades, so has the role of the Risk Director and risk management process. Ensuring cybersecurity processes are in place and identifying network security threats now most likely fall under the remit of risk professionals – they’ve effectively become the guardians of company data. No mean feat, given the ever-growing quantity of it.

And for some, flexible working initially seems to add another layer of risk – with more employees than ever accessing central systems via remote servers, which are seen as more susceptible to hackers. In fact, according to Australian cloud data security company Rackspace, letting staff and third parties access data remotely is considered the greatest threat to cybersecurity by executives.

The global flexible working revolution is here to stay, and our businesses’ IT security systems need to move with the times. If high-quality data protection software is in place, there needs be no reason why remote working poses any more of a threat to company data than working from a PC in a business’s headquarters.

When it comes to something as complex, specialised and rapidly evolving as cybersecurity, outsourcing to IT and data security experts is a must. In addition, cybersecurity risks need to be fully explored and understood, so that solutions, insurance and Disaster Recovery Plans can be prepared, should the worst happen. Our suggestion for celebrating Computer Security Day? Take some time to assess the strength of your company’s cybersecurity, and make sure digital risks to your business are being given as much priority as other scenarios. Why not put your Workplace Recovery Solution to the test, and see if there are any opportunities to fortify the digital forcefield around your company’s online assets?

 

For testable workplace recovery solutions, go to Regus workplace recovery