2014 was comprised of a multitude of data breaches (many being megabreaches) that affected businesses and employees around the world, making for a year of complete digital turmoil. It would hardly seem to be the appropriate time for taking positive action when something like a data breach affects your business, but there’s quite a bit that can be learned from what 2014’s worst had to offer. It was simply only a matter of time before our outdated (almost antiquated) digital “security systems” were rendered obsolete, as hackers exposed the many flaws and inadequacies that these security systems were built upon.
2014’s worst was very eye-opening, but somewhat of a necessary evil that reminded us that even the largest brands (The Home Depot, Verizon Wireless, JP Morgan Chase) with the largest budgets, with fortified data security systems, and with the largest customer bases weren’t safe from attack. Just as the structures of buildings begin to wither over time, so do the digital frameworks that were created to protect both employee and customer information. That being said, if 2014 was a time for suffering, for learning and for re-evaluation, then 2015 is the time for vindication — a time to rebuild the digital walls that keep eCommerce alive with an augmented, reconditioned frame, structure, and digital efficacy.
Repeating the same mistakes that were made in 2014 (and years before) is not an option. Now that data breaches have made headline news, it’s obvious to see that the general public is more aware, more cautious, and more keen of the digital threats, compromises, and the stability (or instabilities) of company websites/applications.
Efforts have already been made involving the UK’s digital security effort to ensure that 2015 is a safer, more secure day and age for users, as leaders from Europe’s payment and security sectors will meet at their inaugural Payment Card Industry (PCI) London event. Businesses simply complying with initial PCI requirements hasn’t been enough to continuously meet standards; re-establishing and reinforcing requirements for European businesses is the next step.
Data security has become one of the (if not the very) top priorities for businesses this coming year. We’ve seen the mainstream affects and lingering issues that data breaches have caused this past year — especially in regards to the recent Sony Pictures data breach — and it’s safe to say that no business wants to make front page news for insufficient security protocols and systems. Sony Pictures and The Home Depot may have been the two scapegoats of digital insecurity in 2014, but they should more readily be a reminder of what’s most important ad what always will remain at the core of a business.
Protect your business, protect your customers, and protect yourself — 2015 and beyond.
2015 with NeoCertified:
- Our Microsoft Office 365 plug-in application will be released in the coming months
- CustomerConnect, a secure contact form, is now available
- Secure statements, a bulk secure message capability, is to release in the latter half of 2015
