With the new year about to begin, many of us are probably reflecting on 2019 and thinking of ways to improve our lives in 2020. New Year’s resolutions are often personal, but it can also be helpful to come up with professional goals for your business. It’s important to plan ahead, particularly in areas like information technology that can have a huge impact on your overall success.
If you’re considering what your tech road map should look like for 2020, here are four suggested IT resolutions for the upcoming year.
1. Keep investing in IT security, especially endpoint protection and awareness training.
Data breaches have plagued all kinds of organizations in recent years, and it looks like that trend will continue in 2020 and beyond. Staying focused on maintaining up-to-date cybersecurity measures is a must for business leaders, as hackers will keep releasing new malicious programs and finding novel ways to break into private networks.
Our security experts predict that cybercriminals – seeking the path of least resistance – will focus on mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. As companies have integrated IoT devices and mobile gadgets into the workplace as part of digital transformation, we’ve already seen a spike in cyberattacks targeting them.
For example, in the first six months of 2019, there were 13.5 million IoT attacks, a 55 percent increase compared to the first half of 2018, according to the 2019 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report. There’s a similar trend in the realm of mobile devices, with mobile malware attacks rising from 66.4 million in 2017 to 116.5 million the following year, according to Kaspersky Lab.
Phishing also continues to be a popular strategy, with the median company receiving the vast majority (more than 90 percent) of detected malware via email, Verizon’s 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report states.
Overall, that means businesses looking to avoid becoming the victims of costly breaches should prioritize security and invest in solutions like endpoint and network Managed Detection and Response (MDR), employee security awareness training and spoof phishing, among others. Check out our Managed Cybersecurity Solutions page for more information about what you can do to protect your data.
2. Leverage Business Intelligence (BI) and analytics to get the most out of your data.
We’re living in the age of Big Data. In 2020, the digital universe is expected to balloon to 44 zettabytes, the World Economic Forum states. Leaders today have the opportunity to use Business Intelligence (BI) solutions to interpret all the information available to them and make better-informed decisions.
With the right BI solutions, you can help your organization operate more efficiently than ever. If you’d like to learn more, check out this blog entry on “5 Key Benefits of Business Intelligence Solutions.”
3. Focus on digital transformation.
Mobile devices, the cloud, the IoT and other new technologies are changing consumers’ expectations. Businesses must adapt and embrace emerging tech through the process of digital transformation to deliver the best possible customer experience (CX) and stay competitive. By 2024, the International Data Corporation (ICD) has predicted that more than half of all IT spending will be devoted to innovation and digital transformation.
However, modernizing business processes and adopting new tech is a monumental and often overwhelming task. If you’re in need of guidance, our senior technology advisors can help your organization develop a road map. Visit our Digital Transformation page for details.
4. Make life easier for your internal IT team.
Tasked with staying on top of cybersecurity and the adoption of new technologies (on top of routine support tasks), in-house IT staff members have plenty on their plates these days. Partnering with a managed IT service provider like Stratosphere Networks can make your team members’ days less stressful by giving them access to automation, on-demand security expertise and more.
We offer various solutions and services – such as Platform as a Service (PaaS) – to supplement internal IT teams. Visit our Empowered Internal IT page to learn more.
If you have any questions or comments about these IT resolutions, feel free to contact our team of expert techs. We’re happy to help and offer advisory services concerning your IT road map for 2020. Connect with us today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
