Cybersecurity and technology trends tend to be global in nature, and 2023 is no exception.
The trends we’re going to discuss here are global trends, but we’ve focused our lens on how these global trends can impact businesses in Winnipeg and Manitoba. We’ve chosen five of the trends we think will have the greatest impact—let’s dive right in:
The surge of consumer-ready AI programs
You’ve probably seen a million news articles about the AI revolution—AI language models like ChatGPT and image generation programs like DALL-E (both developed by OpenAI) have already begun to upend the way we work and create.
Then there are the AI models designed for businesses—everything from building maintenance to accounting can be improved with AI.
Our recommendation for businesses in Manitoba is simple: Learn which AI-assisted technologies are right for your business and take advantage of them. Our market is large enough that there are significant financial incentives for innovation but small enough that you can beat your competitors to the punch on leading-edge technology.
Use ChatGPT to improve your research and writing. Use DALL-E to create unique images for advertising and products at a fraction of the cost. Research industry-specific AI technologies and determine whether or not they're the right fit for your business. We believe you’ll be rewarded.
Remote work continues to transform cybersecurity
Remote work remains one of the biggest cybersecurity hurdles for Manitoban businesses. Hybrid work, which is becoming more common, may exacerbate the problem, as work-from-home routines are broken up by regular trips to the office.
Generally, simple is best—one protocol for signing in to devices and programs both at work and remotely. We’re creatures of habit, after all. We understand, however, that this is often impractical with VPNs and other remote work security measures.
What we recommend considering is a zero trust security model—one that assumes that any device, on any network, could be compromised. This model has dual advantages: It’s much more secure than other security models, and it provides a level of standardization, as all devices, be they remote or on location, must be verified regularly.
A more mature cyber insurance market
We’ve talked plenty about cyber insurance on our blog—the protection that it offers from cybercrime has become an attractive option for businesses worried about data breaches, ransomware, and other threats.
As the cyber insurance market matures, it should stabilize, and business owners will see more predictable rates and levels of coverage. We suspect this maturation will continue in 2023, and that more Manitoba businesses will purchase cyber insurance in addition to taking measures to safeguard network security.
Stiffer digital privacy regulations
Around the globe in the past number years, we’ve seen governments crack down on data collection, with both the GDPR and the CCPA having already made a substantial impact on how websites and users manage third-party cookies.
Canada is gearing up to launch its own revised digital privacy legislation—Bill C-27. This Bill has yet to be passed, so we can’t remark on its impacts yet; we can, however, say that businesses in Manitoba should expect new digital privacy legislation soon.
You can prepare for this by reviewing your third-party data collection strategy—something that most businesses should do to comply with other countries’ privacy legislation, anyway. All data collection should be opt-in. Network security is paramount. Once new legislation is introduced, mishandled data collection and data breaches may lead to serious penalties.
More businesses will turn to third parties for cybersecurity
Cybersecurity and technology are becoming more complex by the day. With new legislation constantly being tabled, changes to the nature of work, and everything from AI-assisted cyber attacks to new methods of asset protection like MDR and cyber insurance being introduced into the mix, there are more moving parts to a comprehensive cybersecurity plan than ever.
Third-party cybersecurity providers simplify things. They can focus on securing your network and keeping you abreast of new developments, so you and your IT team can focus on your core competencies.
We’re Constant C, a Winnipeg-based IT and cybersecurity company. Want to keep your network ahead of the curve? Get in touch with us.
