Technology is designed to make our lives better and more convenient – and each year sees new developments and innovations. However, with any innovation comes a new security challenge.
We’ve rounded up some of our blogs from the past 12 months, tapping into the biggest security hot topics from 2022.
We called for an end of the password
In May 2022, we made headlines across the world by calling for the end of the password as we know it. Grahame Williams, Thales’ identity and access management director, said passwords were “becoming increasingly insecure” and “easily hacked”. Check out the full piece with Sky News here.
With cyber-attacks and data breaches increasing in frequency, it’s vital that we head towards a password-less future. The good news is this isn’t a futuristic pipe dream, but the technology is already there to make this happen. Check out this blog where we discuss the tech that could lead us to a password-less future.
World Password Day: Why we need a password-less future
The rise of smart meters
Smart meters have grown in popularity over recent years. In an environment where climate change and sustainability have never been higher on the agenda, smart meters allow individuals and organisations alike to get a better sense of energy consumption. The data and insights they generate allow end-users to make more informed decisions about their own energy consumption (something that has become vital among the current cost of living crisis). In addition, it can help utilities and smart grid managers make data driven decisions about energy demand, best energy mix and when to scale services.
Smart meters – a new target for hackers?
The European Commission predicts that 266 million smart meters will be installed by 2030. As the cost of living crisis deepens, smart meters are a popular means for people to monitor their energy usage and keep costs down.
That said, while the benefits of smart meters are evident and numerous, they also pose a serious cyber security threat. This blog, developed with our partners ESMIG, looks at what utilities companies and smart meter vendors alike can do to secure the industry from risk.
Exploring the security challenges of hybrid working
Two years ago, the Covid-19 pandemic forced millions of workers across the globe into remote working and turned the way we work on its head. Prior to the pandemic, remote or hybrid working arrangements had been the exception in most organisations – yet overnight it became the norm.
Since then, you couldn’t move for endless (and varied) commentary about the ‘future of work’ – with predictions ranging from the complete abolition of offices, collapse of co-working spaces through to the return of full time office presence. Two years on and we’ve settled on a more middle ground – hybrid work.
While this way of working has fast become the norm, it comes with its own unique set of security challenges. Read our full analysis in this blog.
The Security Challenge of Hybrid Working
Discussing the importance of security by design
Connected devices can make our everyday lives easier – whether it’s checking on the security of your home from afar, setting yourself important reminders via your virtual assistant, or helping us stay connected with friends and family during the pandemic.
However, this increased connectivity does come with its challenges. The increase in devices and interconnectivity provides more opportunity for hackers and other bad actors to take advantage; something that we’ve unfortunately seen increase during the pandemic. These hackers are capitalising on the fact that many of these devices have become integral to our everyday life.
In this blog, originally written for Safer Internet Day, we looked at the importance of security by design when it comes to connected devices.
