Top Security Trends For 2022

Are you looking to update your security strategy to meet the challenges of the modern security climate? 63% of high-growth companies plan to shift to a hybrid work model by 2025.

The security climate is changing, so what options are available to help modernize your security strategy?

Read on for a guide to the top security trends of 2022 that can help you create a futureproof security strategy that accommodates cybersecurity considerations and hybrid working. 

2022 Top Security Trends

Here are the top security trends for 2022 that you can adopt for a futureproof and strengthened security strategy.

Hybrid systems consist of private on-premise clouds and public cloud services. On-premise clouds allow a business to keep sensitive and critical data limited to in-office operations. Other less critical information is stored on public cloud services to be accessed from anywhere. 

With hybrid work models, employees will be using home networks to access company information, which cyber criminals can infiltrate more easily than protected company networks. By keeping all of the critical and sensitive information on a private on-premise cloud network, your company can keep sensitive data from being accessed on vulnerable networks. The two clouds can interact so that data can be easily transferred from one cloud to the other.

Converging Digital And Physical Security

One of the emerging security trends is merging cyber and physical security for a more future-proof approach to security. The increased adoption of the internet of things (IoT) and cloud-based security technology means that digital and physical assets are less distinct. It thus follows that housing IT security teams and physical security teams separately causes delays and interruptions in the practice of security protocols. 

Many companies are now opting for security strategies that converge digital and physical security and do not separate physical and digital security teams. Housing your IT and security teams together can grant you the following benefits:

• Improved communication.
• Faster responses to physical and digital security threats.
• The potential to reduce both teams’ workload and save unnecessary staff members.

The convergence of physical and digital security strategies is the future of security. Assets are becoming both physical and digital and thus need to be protected on both fronts to provide a cohesive and practical approach to security.

Zero-Trust Security Strategy

A zero-trust security strategy removes any implicit trust and continuously validates every stage of digital interaction. Everything inside an organization’s network was once implicitly trusted, but your company can no longer take that ethos. Employees can infiltrate and compromise sensitive data, so a zero-trust policy is necessary to ensure that all company data is protected at all times. With the increased use of hybrid work models, a zero-trust security strategy becomes increasingly essential. Employee households and workspaces like cafes can make this information more difficult to contain.

Technologies Supporting Hybrid Working Strategies

Hybrid working has become increasingly popular since the beginning of the pandemic, as it offers employees a better work-life balance and allows businesses to downsize their office spaces to make significant savings.

However, a hybrid work strategy requires the implementation of technologies that will support everyday operations and help your business seamlessly transition to hybrid working. Some of the leading technologies that support a hybrid work strategy include:

• Desk booking applications – desk booking applications provide employees with a user-friendly interface of their office floor plan to reserve desks when they plan to work in-office.

• Wellness verification – since your HR team will be less able to check in with employees and gain a proper perspective on employee satisfaction, they benefit from using wellness verification software. Wellness verification software is integrated with an access control system to provide employees with wellness surveys when they enter the office building. You can tailor the questions to meet your HR team’s needs and provide a full picture of employee wellbeing.

• Occupancy management – if you move to a hybrid work model, occupancy management software can help you determine a need for downsizing. You can gain an accurate perspective of how much your office space is used and whether meeting rooms and function rooms prove necessary.

Increased Cybersecurity Awareness

Cybersecurity is one of the leading security concerns for businesses in the modern era. If sensitive information becomes compromised, this can incur enormous costs for your business, and smaller companies could potentially go into liquidation. Many cybersecurity incidents are caused by human error and can be avoided by providing employees with cybersecurity awareness. You should provide your staff with ample cybersecurity training that covers the following topics:

• How to avoid falling victim to phishing scams, malware, and ransomware.
• Keep all security software up-to-date to ensure no weak spots in your protection.
• Changing passwords regularly and how to avoid weak passwords.

Educating your employees on these basic cybersecurity practices can protect your business from falling victim to cybersecurity incidents caused by human error.

Summary

These security trends are adapted to facilitate the increased use of IoT hybrid work models and to face the growing concerns surrounding cybersecurity. Consider the areas of your business that would benefit from increased security, and consider the adaptations you can make to create a security strategy equipped for the modern security climate.