Rethinking Cybersecurity: Innovative Approaches for Today's Digital Age

Kumar Ritesh

22 Sep 2023 • 7 min read

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant security implications for enterprise companies, prompting a need to rethink cybersecurity strategies. With remote work becoming the new norm, organizations have witnessed a 63% increase in cyber attacks. To address this evolving landscape, it is crucial for companies to take action and avoid breaches like the SolarWinds attack in 2020.

Key Takeaways:

There is an immense need for cybersecurity developers to combat security breaches.
Executives need to prioritize security at the boardroom level and drive meaningful change within their organizations.
Developing tools and templates to facilitate the adoption of security best practices is necessary to balance security and innovation.
Upskilling individuals with relevant knowledge is essential to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities at the individual level.

The Impact of Remote Work on Cybersecurity

With remote work becoming the new norm, organizations have witnessed a 63% increase in cyber attacks, making it essential to rethink cybersecurity strategies. As illustrated by the SolarWinds attack in 2020, security breaches pose a significant threat to companies that handle sensitive data.

A recent webinar discussing the current cybersecurity landscape highlighted the urgent need for cybersecurity developers. It is a challenge for many companies, particularly smaller ones that rely on technology but aren't tech-focused, to find enough developers with cybersecurity skills to fill the gaps.

The shortage of 300,000 developers in North America while only 30,000 engineering graduates are ready to enter the workforce each year, creates a significant gap. To address this shortage, upskilling workers similar to what Udacity does, is crucial. It is essential not only to educate individuals on combating data breaches but also on identifying and mitigating security threats proactively.

Another critical takeaway from the webinar emphasized the need for security prioritization at the boardroom level. With the pandemic forcing organizations to restructure and remote work opening up more avenues for cyber attacks, it is imperative for executives to recognize the importance of security threats and drive meaningful change within their companies.

Developing tools and templates to facilitate the adoption of security best practices, such as Zero Trust Security, could help bridge the gap for companies lacking dedicated cybersecurity teams. By providing the right frameworks and resources, companies can enhance their security posture and remain competitive. Technology companies and smaller organizations need these tools to balance security and innovation.

To drive change in the cybersecurity landscape, it is essential for individuals to acquire relevant skills. Udacity offers an Intro to Cybersecurity Nanodegree program that helps build foundational skills in evaluating, maintaining, and monitoring the security of computer systems. Upskilling individuals and equipping them with the necessary knowledge can strengthen cybersecurity capabilities at the individual level and contribute to a more secure digital age.

Rethinking cybersecurity in today's digital age is crucial to mitigate the ever-increasing cyber threats. The pandemic has demonstrated the vulnerability of organizations and the urgent need to prioritize security. Addressing the shortage of cybersecurity developers, elevating security discussions to the boardroom, and creating the right data tools are foundational steps in developing innovative approaches to combat security challenges. Investing in education and upskilling plays a pivotal role in preparing individuals to tackle cybersecurity threats effectively and safeguard the digital landscape for the future.

Addressing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

One of the top takeaways from the webinar was the immense need for cybersecurity developers. Security breaches pose a constant threat to companies that handle sensitive data, and the surge in cyber attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgency to prioritize cybersecurity. However, many companies, particularly smaller ones that rely on technology but aren't tech-focused, struggle to find enough developers with cybersecurity skills to fill the gaps.

Kerrest mentioned in the webinar that there is currently a shortage of 300,000 developers in North America, while only 30,000 engineering graduates are ready to enter the workforce each year. As technology continues to advance, this gap will likely widen further. To address this shortage, Kerrest proposed scaling up efforts to educate and upskill workers, similar to what Udacity does. It is essential not only to educate individuals on combating data breaches but also on identifying and mitigating security threats proactively.

Another critical takeaway from the webinar emphasized the need for security prioritization at the boardroom level. With the pandemic forcing organizations to restructure, and remote work opening up more avenues for cyber attacks, it is imperative for executives to recognize the importance of security threats and drive meaningful change within their companies.

Kerrest expressed the need to educate executives in large organizations and government agencies about risk posture, understanding security options, assessing current security status, and identifying future needs. The webinar participants acknowledged that this is a complex problem to solve, considering the potential consequences of a data breach in the government sector. To overcome this challenge, regular discussions about cybersecurity should be held among leadership across industries, ensuring that security remains a priority at the highest levels.

Additionally, the webinar emphasized the importance of creating the right data tools to balance security and innovation. Traditional software development approaches often relegated security work to an afterthought. However, the increase in security breaches necessitates a shift in mindset. Even for tech giants, building with security in mind poses challenges, and it becomes even more daunting for smaller companies lacking dedicated cybersecurity teams. Kerrest suggested that developing tools and templates to facilitate the adoption of security best practices, such as Zero Trust Security, could help bridge this gap. By providing the right frameworks and resources, companies can enhance their security posture and remain competitive.

To drive change in the cybersecurity landscape, it is essential for individuals to acquire relevant skills. Udacity offers an Intro to Cybersecurity Nanodegree program that helps build foundational skills in evaluating, maintaining, and monitoring the security of computer systems. By upskilling individuals and equipping them with the necessary knowledge, it becomes possible to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities at the individual level and contribute to a more secure digital age.

Prioritizing Security at the Boardroom Level

During a webinar on Rethinking Cybersecurity in Today's Digital Age with Frederic Kerrest, Executive Vice Chairman, COO, and Co-Founder of Okta, Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Udacity, discussed the current cybersecurity landscape and highlighted several key takeaways.

"It is essential to educate executives on risk posture, understanding security options, assessing current security status, and identifying future needs. Regular discussions about cybersecurity should be held among leadership across industries, ensuring that security remains a priority at the highest levels." - Frederic Kerrest

Investing in cybersecurity at the boardroom level is critical to ensuring that companies prioritize security to mitigate cyber threats. With the pandemic's impact on remote work and the potential for security breaches, executives must take proactive measures to ensure the safety of sensitive data. By prioritizing security and fostering a culture of awareness, organizations can become stronger and more resilient against cyber attacks.

Building Security into the Development Process

Kerrest suggested that developing tools and templates to facilitate the adoption of security best practices, such as Zero Trust Security, could help bridge this gap. By providing the right frameworks and resources, companies can enhance their security posture and remain competitive.

Upskilling Individuals for Stronger Cybersecurity

To drive change in the cybersecurity landscape, it is essential for individuals to acquire relevant skills. The shortage of cybersecurity developers and the difficulty in finding skilled professionals to protect sensitive data are pressing challenges for organizations. To bridge this gap, companies must prioritize upskilling workers and invest in cybersecurity education.

Udacity's Intro to Cybersecurity Nanodegree program is an example of an educational resource that can help individuals build foundational skills in evaluating and maintaining the security of computer systems. With a focus on hands-on learning and real-world scenarios, the program helps learners gain practical experience in cybersecurity tools and techniques.

By investing in education and upskilling, individuals can acquire the necessary knowledge to identify and mitigate security threats proactively. This approach leads to stronger cybersecurity capabilities at the individual level and contributes to a more secure digital age.

Conclusion

In conclusion, rethinking cybersecurity in today's digital age is crucial to mitigate the ever-increasing cyber threats. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of organizations and the immediate need to prioritize security. The surge in cyber attacks during the pandemic underscores the urgency to take action and avoid breaches like the SolarWinds attack in 2020.

Key takeaways from the webinar on rethinking cybersecurity include the need for cybersecurity developers, security prioritization at the boardroom level, building security into the development process, and upskilling individuals for stronger cybersecurity. Addressing the shortage of cybersecurity developers, elevating security discussions to the boardroom, and creating the right data tools are foundational steps in developing innovative approaches to combat security challenges. Investing in education and upskilling plays a pivotal role in preparing individuals to tackle cybersecurity threats effectively and safeguard the digital landscape for the future.