Data security is still relevant in age of digital transformation
Digital transformation, or DX for short, is the biggest theme out there today. DX is fundamentally the approach by which enterprises drive changes in their business models and ecosystems by leveraging digital competencies.
Many businesses now have one way or another started the DX journey in order to stay competitive in their market. Supporting DX is the third platform of IT and its four pillars: cloud, mobility, big data/analytics, and social business.
In order for their businesses to grow rapidly and efficiently, cloud and mobility technologies are used by companies. The market has so far embraced both technologies, but many businesses have not yet realised the ensuing and potential threats, given that their current security solutions may not be able to fully guard new touchpoints, such as mobile devices and cloud-enabled applications.
This vulnerability leaves corporate data and information exposed and the issue has become the major pain point of chief information officers (CIOs), as well as overall IT departments.
According to IDC’s “2016 C-Suite Barometer Research”, 93 per cent of 1,472 companies surveyed in the Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, region have recognised the importance of data to their business.
However, only 55 per cent have made cyber security a management key performance indicator, compared to 36 per cent in 2015, while 35 per cent have no clear strategy or governance framework to manage cyber risk.
Additionally, in 2016 security is currently the top business-driver technology for CIOs, and the top IT priority is to build a more secure IT environment.
It is important to note that transformed enterprises treat data and information as they would any valued asset. Information is not only used to make better decisions and optimise operations and products, but also monetised in the form of products and services.
Leaving valuable information unprotected is risky. However, companies have limited security budgets and most times the budget could not provide enough protection against all threats out there.
To address this issue, it is wise to assess your current security solutions against a handful of specific threats that are the most harmful to your business. Not all threats are harmful, so focus on the only ones that matter.
Once the assessment has been made, looking for a suitable partner with the solution that can address your specific concerns is the logical next step.
Keep in mind that your data and information is a valued asset and it can help raise your competitiveness in the market.
Tuang Cheevatadavirut is research manager, IDC Thailand
