Top 5 cybersecurity risks in digital transformation

Risk thinking data management

The fact that many organizations still retain the traditional security mindset with physical firewall devices has existed for many years. These devices are also evaluated by the world’s leading security units with the ability to precisely block and filter bad access.

However, in protecting the company’s systems and important data sources, the hardware-based Web/App security firewall is limited, due to the increasing number of network attacks. larger and more sophisticated.

Therefore, organizations need to look to add solutions that are capable of handling flexibly and without limitation on load capacity.

Risks due to too high expectations on digital transformation

As organizations increasingly digitize their operations, they need to be very careful not to run the risk of placing too high expectations on the benefits of digitalization. Some security risks due to over-expectation in digitization include the possibility of cyber-attacks and data breaches. Therefore, organizations should not only see the advantages of digitization but also recognize the possible security risks.

Risk of lack of security experts

Any digital transformation initiative carries a certain amount of cybersecurity risk. One of the biggest risks is that the organization lacks a team of experts to support security so when bringing technology products to market, it must ensure all elements of integrity, security, and availability. high for users. Without doing these things well, it will be difficult for the organization to compete in the market with its digital technology products.

Risk of closing the door too tight

When it comes to digital transformation, many organizations want everything to happen internally and don’t want the intervention of a third party. This is really a big risk because the organization cannot fight the whole world alone, it needs an alliance. Without the help of a partner who understands the digital security landscape, an organization risks making costly mistakes that can hinder a successful digital transformation.

For example, an organization may choose the wrong security technology platform or invest in ineffective digital content security strategies. Worse still, they may not be able to take advantage of the world’s new, advanced security technologies that make them more competitive in the marketplace.

Organizations need to work with one or more security players in the market both at home and abroad to reduce risk and increase chances of success.

Cybersecurity risks due to tight closures

Risk of not having enough security guidance

One of the biggest risks of digital transformation in enterprises is that there is not enough guidance on security in the Internet environment. Many organizations embark on digital transformation without adequate in-depth guidance on cybersecurity. In the end, they waste time and resources without achieving the expected success with the organization’s efforts.

Internal teams may have deep expertise in the area they are in, but lack security objectivity in the marketplace, and may not find the best security solution. In particular, they do not have the experience to deal with security difficulties in the digital transformation period.

Without adequate security guidance, an organization’s digital products are likely to fail in the face of targeted cyber attacks, costing both time and money.

Manage cybersecurity risks to increase success in digital transformation

Here are ways to help reduce the security risks of digital transformation:

Changing mindset in security

Investing in a mindset shift is critical to helping organizations address the security risks of digital transformation. The reason is that when organizations go through digital transformation, the risks they face will also be different than they were before digital transformation.

Instead of closing the door, just trust in your own solution internally, and change your mind. Because this will help organizations be well prepared for the cybersecurity risks they face and also avoid being outdated when participating in digital transformation.

Enhanced multi-layer security

Security by hardware devices is essential for large organizations. Because these devices are like the innermost armor to protect the database and important components of the organization. However, this security layer is not able to respond well to attacks with too much traffic, limiting the processing capacity of hardware devices.

Therefore, in order to increase comprehensive security in the network environment, organizations need to use a combination of Cloud-based firewall systems with existing hardware firewall devices. This ensures flexible filtering and no load capacity restrictions. This is also considered a necessary multi-layered security solution for organizations in the digital transformation period.

Identify and control security risks

Traditional risk management measures are no longer sufficient to address the unique challenges posed by digital transformation. To address security risks in digital transformation, organizations must identify and manage risks more flexibly. Organizations need to proactively identify potential security risks in order to quickly respond when they actually occur.

Modernizing network security risk identification

Previously, security risks were identified using a variety of methods, such as interviews, focus groups, and surveys. However, these methods are no longer effective in modern times.

With the advent of digital technology, security risks can now be identified using security solutions, including functionality that helps with data analysis such as SOC, and RUM (Real User Monitoring) … In this way, organizations can quickly identify risks and take steps to prevent them.

Automatic control to respond to cyber attacks

As digital transformation becomes more common, the need for automated control of security risks also increases. Automated control of security systems such as Cloud WAF, Multi CDN, and AI Load Balancing… can help organizations address risks by monitoring and verifying valid access requests to the system. Web/App of the organization and prevent bad, invalid traffic flows.

In addition, some smart security systems also display possible cyberattack risks to the organization, helping them to be proactive in defense and security.

Increased ownership of security risks on the front lines of defense

In many organizations, the responsibility for managing cybersecurity risks falls on the shoulders of senior executives. However, in the digital transformation era, this approach is no longer effective. The speed and complexity of digital change make it impossible for senior leaders to anticipate every potential cybersecurity risk. Instead, IT teams working on the front lines of defense need to be held accountable.

It’s important that frontline IT teams have decision-making power and focus on security risks from the outset. This way, organizations can address cybersecurity risks quickly and effectively before cyberattacks occur and cause damage.

Good management of network security resources

Organizations need to ensure that employees have the necessary security skills and knowledge to successfully implement digital transformation and reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes. In addition, organizations need to ensure that key employees are not overloaded or withdrawn from important projects.

In addition to keeping resources inside, organizations also need to have a coordinated alliance with third-party security units. This helps the organization quickly update the latest security technologies and has more good support resources from many parties.

As described above, the system includes WAF (or Cloud WAF) and CDN to help ensure that requests to access the organization’s Web/App system are requests from real users. Specifically, a web application firewall combined with a Content Delivery Network will protect an organization’s websites and applications against exploit attacks and service congestion attacks.

In particular, the system of many Cloud WAF (Multi WAF) clusters in many parts of the world is capable of isolating dangerous attack sources quickly, before they reach the organization’s Web Server. WAF and CDN provide comprehensive protection for Websites and applications at scale while ensuring high performance.

Cloud WAF and CDN coordination model in security solution

Features of Cloud WAF

• Bot Blocking - Automated, non-human traffic will be blocked with advanced detection technology (e.g., drawing to an exact match).
• Anti-Cross-site Scripting - anti-hacker inserting malicious scripts into Web/App to gain access to valid users.
• Denial of Service (DDoS) resistance - all incoming traffic is controlled by WAF and ensures legitimate access by real users.
• Stops OWASP Top 10 Threats - against OWASP Top 10 Security Threats.
• SQL Injection Protection - prevents hackers from adding code to forms and input fields… to gain access to an organization’s website’s application or database.

Benefits of Cloud WAF

• Protect the Web Server system from illegal intrusions.
• Optimize investment costs using specialized hardware and system operating resources with a secure platform on the Cloud.
• Filter and monitor traffic on the application layer (Layer 7), which other types of firewalls cannot do.
• Prevent theft, or data migration out of applications.
• Anti-crash web and ensure Web Server stable operation even when under attack.
• WAF scalability is flexible, helping against large DDoS attacks on Layer 7.

Features & Benefits of CDN

Even without a WAF, a CDN helps protect an organization’s website by diluting DDoS attacks. CDNs help protect origin servers against being overloaded by massive spurious traffic that can slow down or even crash Web Servers.

CDNs do that thanks to their ability to replicate website or app content globally. That is, that content is not only stored in a single server but in many places.

However, the ability to replicate content depends on the size of the CDN network that the organization uses. If your customers are mainly in the Vietnamese market, then VNCDN is one of the largest CDN providers in Vietnam that can serve you well.

Learn about: What is CDN? and 6 special benefits of CDN technology

While the huge benefits of digital transformation have been proven, there are also risks that organizations must carefully consider and manage. Once you understand the risks of digital transformation and implement solutions to reduce them, your organization will make great strides.

To learn more about comprehensive security solutions for Web/App in the digital transformation journey, please leave a message in the contact form below, and our experts will assist.