The 2022 new year is here! That means it’s time to bid farewell to the winter of 2021. At the same time, looking at security trends can give us insight into the future. Last year was a record-breaking year for data breaches. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), the number of publicly reported 2021 breaches in the first three quarters of this year exceeded the total number of incidents in the entirety of 2020.

The need for versatile and affordable solutions for storing and processing data in enterprises makes cloud computing an increasingly attractive IT strategy. Cloud computing provides flexible and easy-to-use solutions. It can also be more cost-effective than traditional storage methods that require a physical server and hardware at your corporate premises, which is one of the reasons why businesses often make the switch.

Managing third-party risk is a bit like throwing a fancy party. Everyone wants to attend, but you have to assure that only the most essential and top-rated VIPs get past the velvet rope. So you check attendees’ credentials at the door. Every company uses a third-party vendor or contractor at some point. Whether you are purchasing raw materials or outsourcing specialized processes, working with third parties can help you achieve a competitive advantage and cost savings.

Data theft can devastate any company, resulting in lost profits, regulatory enforcement, litigation, and reputational damage that can be difficult to overcome. Every organization must protect its customer data and assure that sensitive information is kept safe. That said, the data in your company’s possession is held in different states – and each of these states has particular vulnerabilities. A security tactic that works for one state may be inefficient for another.

Cybersecurity professionals are facing an unprecedented amount of scrutiny. Not only are they responsible for securing and protecting their organizations, but they also need to prove that their ideas and strategies for doing so have a meaningful impact. This can be hard when the threat landscape is constantly changing and new tactics to fight cyberattacks shift regularly.

Similar to a home inspection, M&A software due diligence helps organizations assess the risk of an investment. When a company buys another company, the due diligence process is analogous to a home inspection during a real estate transaction. A buyer sees only so much when they tour a home—enough to know they like it and to assess the value, but not enough identify hidden problems that might devalue the property. An in-depth assessment requires time and expertise.

Digital risks are a big issue for today’s society. Digital risks can be anything from stealing sensitive information to exposing your own personal information to the public. This is why an understanding of the digital risk management process helps businesses to identify and protect themselves.

You’ve seen suspicious ads. Some were obvious — ads that claim your browser is infected with malware and you need to click immediately to remedy the situation — but likely, some weren’t obvious at all. They just looked like regular ads, and might have appeared on a site you trust. You didn’t know it (and hopefully didn’t click) but some of the ads you see regularly are malvertising.