HYPE OR HELP? Disruptive Tech Trends that Could Affect Your Data

Transcription

1 HYPE OR HELP? Disruptive Tech Trends that Could Affect Your Data

2 Undoubtedly, the way we access and receive information, the way we interact with the world around us, and even how we each produce data has completely evolved in recent years. We re seeing the adoption of technology hit the mainstream sooner, with more and more people excited to experience the conveniences that many of the latest technologies have to offer. Innovative or disruptive technology trends not only have the power to change how people access information, but how we interact with the world around us. With the s curve growing shorter within the technology adoption life cycle, consumers are integrating technology into their lives with less hesitation. What does that mean for organizations? How do you know if the latest disruptive tech trend is a game changer, or if it s not quite ready your organizational needs? Take into consideration that over the past decade, as a result of the mass adoption of technologies like the cloud and Big Data, employee routines have completely evolved. Combine the evolution and mass adoption of technology with the influence of trends like flexible working and bring your own device (BYOD) and you have a major change in work habits. ARE THESE TRENDS JUST OR HYPE HELPFUL? For organizations that manage sensitive data from their internal teams and work with customers, third parties, and vendors, how will some of these new tech trends affect the way data is managed or shared? Globalscape ebook 2

3 A REVIEW OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRENDS AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR DATA There is no denying that IT departments are a vital resource within every organization. With the swift evolution of technology, we re more reliant on our IT systems than ever. An IT outage can cost an organization a lot of time and money. The responsibility of maintaining constant uptime and a secure IT infrastructure doesn t happen overnight or without a vigilant staff and a proactive strategy to keep things moving in a positive direction. In addition to infrastructure, among the biggest challenges faced when implementing a new technology is how corporate data is used, managed, and shared. Today s disruptive technology trends are exciting consumers around the world, making their personal lives easier to manage. How are these disruptive technologies affecting the corporate sector and will they be more of a hindrance than a help? These are a few of the questions that we hope to answer in this ebook, but we ll let you decide! Here s a look: 1 3 For more than one third of companies, a single hour of a DDoS attack can cost up to $20,000[ ] The Atlantic Globalscape ebook 3

4 1. AUGMENTED REALITY The uptake of technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and internet of things (IoT) at the enterprise level is rising at a similarly fast rate. Apple CEO Tim Cook believes AR is set to become a crucial part of our daily lives, arguing it will become as important as the iphone and even three meals a day. The introduction of products like Google s Project Tango, Microsoft s HoloLens, and Oculus, which is owned by parent company Facebook, suggests many other tech giants share this same view. Some of the potential use cases can appear revolutionary to even the most advanced IT departments. The data and computing power required to support technology like AR could pose an operational challenge for IT departments when it comes down to managing the data flow, and there may not be a lot of time to plan for it. The market is pushing for the success of AR. According to an IDC report, AR reality headset shipments will reach an estimated $15 million by While AR may seem consumer oriented based on early use cases, there are some major players who see the enterprise value in AR. For example, the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) board members includes organizations like Bosch and Lockheed Martin. The alliance was created to promote the benefits and value of visualizing information in in the real world in real time. (AREA) AR can bring to mind movies like Minority Report, Iron Man, or even Back to the Future. Imagine the power of an AR presentation, where you and your audience can engage with your digital content. According to the AREA website, AR can boost operational efficiency and offer users an increase in relevant data (fresh and contextual information), better resources (experts are never far off, even in remote locations), and real-time compliance (capture, record, and certify achievement of policy compliance). Globalscape ebook 4

5 VERDICT: HYPE AR is not fully developed enough or ready to be integrated with the enterprise, but well on its way. In the not-too-distant future, AR could eventually provide a three-dimensional perspective on data, offering new perspectives on data visualization. At present, widespread adoption of this technology will take some time while some large enterprises are taking it for a test drive. The odds of AR coming to an IT department near you are still a couple of years away. Globalscape ebook 5

6 2. INTERNET OF THINGS IoT is a lot like being able to flip on a light switch, except the switch is your device and the light can be turned on or off from anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection. The concept behind IoT is that you are always connected, no matter where you are. IoT is a little bit further down the line than AR in terms of uptake and development, recognized as an area of technology innovation that can bring significant value. DHL and Cisco estimate that $1.9 trillion in economic value could be created through the use of IoT devices and asset tracking within the supply chain sector. We re already seeing this value in the consumer market with tools like NEST already available. Gartner has estimated that in 2017, we might see the IoT needle tip and create a surge in IoT adoption, with many already resourcing and building the support structures to cope with an influx of these devices. Globalscape ebook 6

7 VERDICT: HELPFUL Consumer IoT devices can expose a variety of security risks to an organization. However, as a tool supporting the enterprise, IoT is far different than the potentially unsanctioned devices that employees may bring to the office. For the enterprise, there can be a huge boost in operational efficiency. Consider such potential IoT devices such as automated control systems, security systems, and door locks. The automation component of an IoT device can even include forklifts, lighting, and HVAC environmental controls in a data center. (CSO) The biggest concern with an IoT device is the security component. For better or worse, such devices have the possibility of exposing more security vulnerabilities and provide some uncertainty around data security within an organization s infrastructure. If you plan to implement an enterprise IoT device or solution, then designing an IT infrastructure with full visibility and control is a beneficial way to help reduce the risks that may accompany the use of IoT devices within your organization. Globalscape ebook 7

8 THE CHALLENGES OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY The sheer volume of emerging and disruptive technology is likely to produce some challenges for even the most resilient and well prepared IT department. For many new technologies, it is not yet even clear how the business community will leverage and use them, making any IT planning challenging to say the least. Many new or disruptive technologies are built and deployed in the cloud, meaning they can t be secured within traditional on-premises architectures. Oftentimes, this leads to challenges with trying to juggle the management of data when there are disparate applications involved, which includes the disruptive technologies deployed in the cloud. Their management however, if approached the right way, doesn t have to be overcomplicated. The key is ensuring scalability and ease of use. In such a fast flowing landscape, requirements and use cases are likely to change fast. Of course, it s also important to speak with the solution providers (including those who create or develop AR or IoT offerings) about their security protocols, if they are using the cloud or on-premises deployments, and how they collect or manage data at the device level, to ensure you re able to put the appropriate protections in place. As a result, if you re evaluating potential tools, look for a solution that will help you ensure that IT remains scalable and flexible. Globalscape ebook 8

9 PROTECTING THE FLOW OF DATA In addition to considering the deployment model that makes the most sense for your organization, it s also important to consider the flow of data and ask yourself the following questions when considering the use of new technologies within your organization: Does the technology obstruct visibility over your system? Is the technology secure and compliant with industry and government security standards? Will the technology integrate with your existing infrastructure? For organizations that wish to use technologies such as IoT or AR, taking proper precautionary measures by protecting the flow of data exchanged with these new technologies is critical as well. Managed File Transfer (MFT) technologies can provide a centralized approach to reduce file transfer complexity, including a security layer for authentication and encryption, and the ability to monitor file transfers en-route, and allowing you to address file transfer failures in real time. MFT also allows for rapid deployments as demand changes or as additional calls for transparency are needed. Disruptive technology trends are naturally going to shake things up, both in business operations and data management within IT departments. The business benefits of these tools, however, must be taken into full consideration by IT leaders who may be skeptical of their use due to data challenges. Ultimately, those trends will be seen as helpful will be adapted to an enterprise environment and the early challenges overcome. IT departments are likely to see more changes than any in the enterprise in the next few years, making preparation and monitoring of these trends even more important than ever. If you re considering deploying any of these disruptive technologies into your network and would like a review on how to best connect it to your MFT environment or learn more about potential data flow issues, contact your Globalscape representative today. Globalscape ebook 9

10 Contact us today to learn more Globalscape enables businesses around the globe to unleash the power of their data. As a leader in secure information exchange and a data integration innovator, Globalscape s powerful yet intuitive platform, reliable support and dedication to solving even the most complex of data challenges help organizations accelerate their digital business transformation.