Cybersecurity and compliance predictions from DTS

As we start the new year, our focus will remain heavily on cybersecurity and compliance regulations. Still, we predict that we will also see a surge in post-pandemic innovation. DTS founder and managing principal, Edward Tuorinsky, shares his predictions for shaping the 2024 business landscape.

Cybersecurity: Critical infrastructure will be the next threat

As many businesses continue to struggle to determine an acceptable level of cybersecurity risk they are willing to bear, we expect to see a rise in critical infrastructure cybersecurity attacks in 2024.

In 2023, we saw many smaller attacks impacting local communities, which didn’t garner as much publicity as national impact events like the Colonial Pipeline attack. For example, in December, a service provider was hit, bringing down over 60 credit unions, and multiple water utilities nationwide were crippled with ransomware.

Despite the warnings and security mandates, many organizations have been slow to invest in comprehensive cybersecurity protection, putting their data, customers, and the national infrastructure at risk for disruption.

Cybersecurity compliance

The Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) rule affects all companies in the defense industrial base citing a standard, required level of compliance. As of mid-December, the CMMC Rule had made it through the White House and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). By this article’s publishing date, the CMMC Rule should be published in the Federal Register and open for public comment.

Few small or mid-sized organizations have the budgets to hire their staff of experts, handle rigorous remediation, or develop advanced cybersecurity solutions in-house. Look for many contractors to turn to outside firms for niche expertise and best-practice solutions for all aspects needed for compliance – policy & procedure, documentation, and technical support. The hidden challenge will be finding a firm that can do all three well.

Knowing what CMMC Level your organization will need and what assessors will be looking for can help you create a strong cybersecurity stance that meets all the standards and protects your business from new or evolving attacks.

With the federal government leading the charge, we predict that most businesses will focus on cybersecurity compliance.

Post-pandemic technology innovation

Disruption from the pandemic continues to influence the nature of Work three years after the lockdown, but not all of that influence is negative.

For some in the workforce, the flexibility they experienced during the pandemic allowed them to accelerate, initiate, and innovate. This includes the application of generative AI tools to revolutionize organizational learning and development, increasing training productivity and task-specific assistance for employees. Integrating AI tools promises highly personalized and engaging training, with interactive modules, adaptive learning paths, and AI-generated stories that inspire learners to view challenges and explore opportunities for professional growth.

In 2024, look for a segment of highly engaged, highly motivated employees to make significant marks on their organizations and industries: using technology to ease the conflict between those in the office and those working remotely; adopting agile mindsets for faster, project-segmented work and effective utilization of all team members; and shifting corporate cultures to be more personalized—from coaching and training to core hours to incentives.

About
Edward Tuorinsky

Edward Tuorinsky, managing principal of DTS, a government and commercial consultant business, brings over two decades of experience in cybersecurity compliance, management consulting, and information technology services.