In this blog, Rob Batters outlines his key technology predictions for 2023 and explains why automation, cloud migration, cybersecurity and optimising data will be on the corporate agenda in the year ahead.
Technology trends in 2023: the only constant is change
As we look towards 2023 and what trends we might see on the horizon from a technology perspective, we can certainly expect considerable change. Without a doubt, 2022 has been a year of significant challenges, but technology has continued to evolve, shaped by the last few years, as we have emerged from the pandemic into a different working world.
Cybersecurity: there will be no let up from cyber attacks
However, one aspect that has unfortunately remained constant is that cybersecurity threats continued to rise in 2022. And if there is one predictable constant in cybersecurity, it’s the omnipresence of ransomware. As Mandiant put it best, “There’s no end in sight for ransomware.” But we shouldn’t expect ransomware to continue as we know it today. Mandiant predicts threat actors will develop new ways to gain a profit from ransomware, starting with a shift to globalised attacks.
The common thread around these cyber attacks is cybercriminals finding a way to manipulate corporate data, and where this problem is concerned, there is no sign of relief as 2023 unfolds. Likewise, the tsunami of phishing attacks that threaten account compromise data breaches and malware infections remains a critical threat to neutralise in 2023. The shift to remote or mobile working over the last few years has intensified phishing threat levels. In fact, according to our partner, Egress Software, one in every 3,722 emails in the UK is a phishing attempt. This is becoming an increasingly severe problem as phishing emails become more sophisticated, making it easier for criminals to access your personal and/or financial data.
If 10 million phishing emails are sent with a 1% return rate this represents large scale profile for cyber criminals. Share on XPhishing emails continue to damage businesses
This means there is a need for cyber security to be ingrained in general business practice as a discipline and not just a matter of awareness. Employees need to be educated about what to do if they spot a phishing email and why it’s essential to report any suspicious emails immediately. Spreading awareness of scammers’ latest tactics makes preventing future phishing attempts easier. Today, countering sophisticated cyber attacks requires planning and costs organisations considerable stress and money. For example, if 10 million phishing emails are sent with a 1% return rate, this results in large-scale profit and/or damage, and phishing presents an easy, low-cost entry attack for cybercriminals.
Human Activated Risk reduction through technology helps, but as mentioned above, this should be tackled through continuous education programmes. This should include basic good practices around the use of social media and a clear separation between personal and business use. This education should also include how employees take care of personal credentials.
Automation, digitisation and cloud migration
Other technology projects that will continue to feature in 2023 include the need to automate previously manual processes and as organisations digitise their workflows, so we’ll see ongoing migration to the cloud. We predicted growth in automation and the move to the cloud last year, but with the increasing reliance on a cloud-first deployment policy, there is now a strong requirement to contain Opex costs through smart monitoring, and regular re-assessment is also key. This is where cloud-aware smart monitoring tools and industry-standard automation applications such as Ansible, Jenkins, will become increasingly important in the year ahead.
Data is the new gold
Data is the new gold, and the ever-increasing drive for new ways to profit from data inevitably means that new versions of popular database management software, such as SQL Server 2022, are launching at an increasing rate. It is important for companies to stay up to date for business and competitive advantage and not to fall behind for fear of becoming unsupported. Therefore, organisations should make sure that they seek out trusted third parties, like Northdoor, to help them with database, cloud migration and consolidation services.
Connection and collaboration will be key
There is now an expectation that everyone can work from home. That means not only increased risk from BYOD but less face-to-face time, even down to the loss of water cooler chats, which means it’s less likely that co-workers share their experiences and collaborate, so finding ways to effectively share knowledge is going to be important in the year ahead.
An uncertain economic outlook
The latest economic growth forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicts negative growth in the UK in 2023 and a deeper decline than previously anticipated. The figures were revealed as part of chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement in November. And while one could be forgiven for thinking the landscape is somewhat gloomy, technology advances whether we like it or not. Even though the economic outlook is uncertain, organisations will need to remain current with technology; otherwise, they risk falling behind their competitors. Some industries cannot afford to look to extended investment periods, whereas others have little option.
Likewise, compliance and regulations continue to evolve at pace and in particular, there are a series of significant changes in the ISO27001:2022 update. Although there are fewer controls overall, there are a series of new additions, including contemporary matters such as data masking, data leakage prevention, configuration management, supply chain management and cloud services security, so it is worth checking these out and ensuring that your business is up to date.
The bottom line is that enterprises that deliver digital innovation will emerge as the leaders in their market sectors. Data and analytics will be key to driving decisions and profits. Overall, the companies that acquire the right data sets and apply the right analytics to derive key insights will achieve good business outcomes in 2023 and beyond.
If you are interested in learning more about these technology trends and how they could impact your business in 2023, contact Northdoor to discuss your specific needs and concerns.