Securing Digital Transformation with Proper Designing

IT security leaders need to adapt rapidly, collaborate effectively, and recalibrate their security strategies as networks get more dynamic and complex. Cybercriminals are getting more and more adept at exploiting the latest trend or issue of high public interest to spread malware and steal personal data from unsuspecting users. The pandemic triggered tectonic shifts of workplace from physical to virtual has led to enterprises accelerating their digital transformation, thereby, adding high demand on their network capacity.

The pandemic has been a boon to cybercriminals, taking advantage of an opportunity to profit from our dependence on technology to go on an internet crime spree. Whether it is the distributed workforce or migration of data and applications to multi-cloud environments, the network is the nerve system connecting the various constituents. There is an urgent need to protect your devices against the most common types of malwares, but we also need security built into technology to prevent these sophisticated cyberattacks.

Mobile devices have become a fixture of every-day life for millions of people. Across the globe, web-enabled devices such as smartphones and tablets have evolved into essential tools for communication, information, and entertainment alike. In 2020, the number of unique mobile internet users stood at 4.28 billion, indicating that over 90% of the global internet population use a mobile device to go online. Mobile devices are now the primary access point for the internet.

This is reflected in the increased targeting of mobile devices with cyberattacks, with complaints of phishing and smishing attacks — emails or SMS text messages with malicious links. Cybercriminals utilize sophisticated techniques that exploit human psychology and behaviors to deceive users and penetrate devices. Experts warn that mobile device owners may be more vulnerable to social engineering attacks through text messages because mobile devices’ integration of email, voice, text messages and web browser functionality increases the likelihood that users will fall victim to engineered malicious activity.

There is a need for secure-by-design mobile devices that would build cyber hygiene protections into the device, removing human psychology from the security equation. Just like seat belts and air bags started as options for car buyers, they are now mandatory safety equipment in all cars.