In IT, there is a continuous struggle against the tide to ensure a business runs smoothly. That precious break can give IT gurus a much-needed moment to take their foot off the throttle and take stock of what lies ahead.
Here we will summarize some of the findings and tips on how to tackle some IT problems we are facing nowadays:
Security is the Number One Concern
After a year of extensive cyber threats, it is clear that a diverse attack could happen at any time on nearly any part of the network. Highly publicized data breaches have catapulted security to the top spot in the survey, with over 25% of respondents highlighting it as a major concern. As cyber convicts become more sophisticated and better-funded, the reality is that we are not doing enough to keep up.
Heading into 2018, the focus on security needs to be data protection. Data breaches stole first place in the security category, while securely transferring data ranked at number two. End users often won’t consider the risks when selecting a method to transfer information, and unsurprisingly, data, i.e., mid-transit, has the highest probability of loss. Scheduling your approach to security is essential and will help you understand where your system is weakest.
Privacy will Undergo a Huge Overhaul
There are massive changes to the way data can be adequately transferred. Businesses will find privacy at the forefront of their agendas. For technological giants such as Google and Amazon and businesses using services like Dropbox, there can be severe insinuations for companies storing data long after it has been transmitted. In any situation, keeping up with evolving security threats while meeting new privacy standards will be one of the biggest challenges in 2018.
Considering these changes, compliance was another matter highlighted by research as a concern. Many industries require full transparency and must secure their business-critical data, whether in the healthcare, financial, or legal sectors. With the introduction of new data privacy regulations, all businesses will have to comprehend and obey what is being asked of them. An awareness and education program could benefit an organization by helping share the compliance burden.
Standing Out will be a Major Challenge
IT teams are looking to revolutionize and need to tackle application performance and monitoring issues. As networks become increasingly demanding and dispersed across many platforms and devices, every aspect of the infrastructure must be monitored to optimize efficiency and highlight performance issues, from applications to servers, connected devices, and virtual environments.
Keeping up with New Technologies will Prove as Difficult as Ever
As technological advances continue to push on at an exceptional rate, invading new devices such as smartwatches and fitness bands and streaming high-bandwidth content will pressure IT pros. When arraying new technologies, handling user devices, and ensuring new technologies are compatible with the existing infrastructure, a clear action plan must be implemented. This will ensure the IT department is not left gasping at the starting line.
In addition to precise planning, implementing automated systems to tackle repetitive tasks will open your time to spend on running IT infrastructure and business-critical setups. When new technologies are implemented, training staff could save time and trouble later down the line, increasing efficiency and productivity while ensuring that workforces make the most of the available technology.
Conclusion
IT professionals have a lot on their plate with many concerns, including data protection and management, storage, device management, automation, and reporting. The simplest solution is this – do not attempt everything. Decide what is achievable for your department and follow through with your improvements.
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