Tech companies will face many challenges this year as leaders continue to deal with the ramifications of the ongoing pandemic and the rapid increase of remote workers. From budget constraints to the dark web, here are some of the biggest IT and cybersecurity challenges leaders will have to content with this year.
Adapting to a Hybrid Workforce
Many companies quickly transitioned their employees to remote workers in reaction to COVID-19. The effects of this will continue long after the virus is behind us. Leaders were able to experience firsthand the benefits of remote work, and now that they have the infrastructure in place to accommodate remote employees. Thus remote and hybrid workforces will likely become the new norm. The increase in remote workers comes with new security challenges as employers have less immediate control over the network security of their team members. Leaders will need to ensure data is safe even in remote environments without invading the privacy of their employees.
Budget Constraints
The events of 2020 put a strain on IT departments across the country. Some companies have had to downsize their teams, which has increased the workload of many employees in IT. Budget constraints are also affecting deadlines. Automation projects, in particular, are experiencing unforeseen delays. Companies will need to pay closer attention to their budgets, reevaluate the costs of communication tools, cloud services, and other resources, and investigate what expenses provide them with the most value. It’s likely that leaders will need to take on additional tech talent so careful budgeting and allocating resources will be key.
Changes in The Dark Web
The dark web has become more worrisome in recent months. Cybercriminals have begun using the dark web to recruit members and form criminal organizations. Meanwhile, ransomware has evolved into a service, which has made it significantly easier for people to become cybercriminals because now even people who have little IT experience can participate in criminal activity. This has led to a huge increase in the volume of cybercrime. Leaders in the IT field will need to be more proactive in identifying security threats and preventing data breaches.
Team Burnout
IT employees and cybersecurity specialists had to work harder in 2020 than ever before. They were behind the scenes making sure new remote employees had the technology they needed to perform their work successfully and addressing new cybersecurity concerns related to the rapid transition into remote work environments. Meanwhile, many teams were also understaffed at the time. In 2021, many IT professionals are likely to experience work fatigue and other symptoms of burnout. Leaders can address the issue of burnout my actively working to reduce the stress of their employees, encouraging employees to talk openly about mental health, and encouraging activities like meditation.
This is a challenging time for many IT departments and tech companies. The pandemic has increased the demand for IT skills. Yet, cybercriminals, budget constraints, and burnout have made it challenging for IT and cybersecurity teams. Companies will need to revaluate their priorities to ensure they remain competitive throughout 2021.
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