Salesforce recently took significant steps to strengthen its security protocols, requiring all users to implement multifactor authentication (MFA) to access its products, solutions and platforms. The requirement complements initiatives launched by other tech giants, such as Google and Twitter, and comes as sophisticated cyberattacks continue to target businesses of all sizes and industries.
Tribune – According to Charles Cao, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Conga, this acceleration of action by players involved in the digitalization processes is necessary in an environment where cyber risks are very high for organizations, which must put cybersecurity at the forefront:
“For two years now, we have observed a significant acceleration of digital transformation within companies to meet the changing needs of customers. These major and rapid changes have allowed organizations to maintain or even boost their business in the face of a rapidly changing society. For many companies, digital has generated a significant number of business opportunities.
At the same time, these transformations have exposed organizations to new threats that they now face. They have to deal with new ways of working, dispersed employees, between office and remote work, and thus the need to assess the risks linked to the proliferation of connected devices, both professional and personal. As a result, the volume of sensitive and critical data in circulation has increased considerably, as has the attack surface. Coupled with more stringent regulations and compliance requirements, it is imperative that organizations realize the strategic value of cybersecurity as a driver of sustainability and growth.
To meet these challenges, cybersecurity must be integrated into the design and development of the digital transformation strategy. It should not be treated as a simple reflection once the process is underway. Today, organizations have begun to recognize the need to establish a solid security strategy and successfully implement it. This is because leaders increasingly understand that they need to go beyond compliance and ensure they have the capabilities to keep the business running and the data secure. Data security is essential to protect intellectual property and to build trust with employees, partners and customers.
This includes adopting tools that can identify malicious activity, respond to attacks and recover quickly to minimize the impact on business operations. Organizations also need flexible and scalable solutions to verify that users are who they say they are. This includes restricting access to corporate resources and protecting identities to reduce the risk of data loss and unauthorized access.
In addition to technology, organizations also have an important role to play in raising employee awareness. People are often the weakest link in the chain. A solid strategy cannot succeed if employees are not trained in cybersecurity issues, company policies and incident reporting. Even the best protection tools are not foolproof when employees commit malicious actions, intentional or not. Education and awareness of company policies and best practices, through regular training and simulations, is the best way to reduce negligence as well as the risk of compromise.
If digital transformation is now a must for businesses, so is cybersecurity in light of today’s cyber threats. Cyber risk is omnipresent and no organization is immune. It is no longer a question of if an attack will occur, but when; which is why it is essential to integrate security into your digitalization strategy. It is a crucial issue for the sustainability of activities, but also a real competitive advantage, since the slightest cyber attack can have major consequences from an economic and financial point of view, but also in terms of reputation.
