Digital transformation has traditionally been a major focus for IT leaders, but in recent
years, data security has taken center stage as the top challenge facing organizations. This shift is driven by the rapid digital transformation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and businesses' responses to it, which have expanded the IT landscape and made it easier for cybercriminals to access sensitive data.
Data, including personally identifiable information, intellectual property, marketing strategies, and other sensitive content, is among the most valuable assets a company possesses. Failing to adequately protect this data exposes the organization to a range of threats, including hacks, ransomware attacks, regulatory fines, lawsuits, and system outages.
To address these challenges, organizations must focus on securing their endpoints, which are often the weakest link in their cybersecurity programs. Research has shown that attackers frequently gain access to company networks through endpoints such as PCs, smartphones, tablets, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.
The increasing adoption of digital transformation has also changed the landscape of cybersecurity. As businesses adopt more digital technologies in pursuit of new business models and improved customer experiences, the threat surface expands and the frequency of cyberattacks, data breaches, and other cyber events increases.
SMAC (social, mobile, analytics, and cloud) technologies play a central role in digital transformation and security. Business applications that incorporate, analyze, and coordinate client data are essential for organizations embracing digital transformation, but many lack the resources or infrastructure to design and deploy their own custom apps.
The Salesforce Lightning platform offers a cloud-based platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that allows businesses to quickly conceptualize, build, and deploy custom applications. It combines SMAC (social, mobile, analytics, and cloud) technologies with database models, APIs, integration services, visual development tools, and reporting and management services, and includes easy-to-use drag-and-drop app design tools for users of all skill levels. The Lightning Process Builder also enables organizations to automate complex and repetitive tasks for improved speed and accuracy across the organization.
In addition to investing in technical solutions, organizations should also focus on educating their employees and customers about digital security. Providing resources, training, and sharing responsibility for educating consumers, especially those who may not have easy access to digital resources, can help close the gap in digital security. Supporting non-traditional paths to careers in STEM and cybersecurity, and promoting diversity and inclusion within the cybersecurity workforce, can also help ensure that a wider range of perspectives are represented in the development and implementation of security measures.