Just as security technology continues to evolve, so too do the tools that criminals are using to commit their crimes. From hacking into secure computers, to breaking into restricted areas, the crimes that people are committing against businesses and organizations are becoming more and more sophisticated.

This is one reason that more organizations are using things like physical security information management systems and situational awareness technology. In 2016, these systems could become even more important, as security and personal data breaches become more common and coordinated.

Is your organization prepared to defend against these threats? Take a look at this list of some of the top security concerns that you should be aware of in 2016.

1. The motives behind cyberattacks are becoming more diverse. It used to be that financial gain was the primary motive behind cyberattacks. However, as it becomes less and less expensive to mount these attacks, “hacktivists” like the group Anonymous and cybercriminals with more diverse motives are also targeting organizations.

This is something that security staff must keep in mind in the event of a breach as they search for a motive.

2. Wearable technology security risks. As wearable technology continues to be able to track more and more of our data, vulnerabilities in these systems are becoming of more concern. Hackers who exploit these vulnerabilities will then be able to access our mobile devices - which we all know contain huge amounts of sensitive personal information.
3. “Social engineering.” We all know that vulnerabilities don’t only exist in a company’s data and computer systems, but as cyberattacks become more common, we can forget that criminals can also target individual employees.

In a social engineering situation, a criminal might initiate a fraudulent relationship with an employee to gain access to sensitive information, or even to manipulate the employee into sabotaging his or her own company.

This is, of course, one of the oldest tricks in the book, but social media is now making it even easier to do. Employees who over-share on their social media profiles can become easy targets for unscrupulous individuals. To help prevent this sort of issue from arising, companies may want to invest in a quick training session to let employees know about the possibilities of their social media profiles being exploited for nefarious reasons.

4. More money for security budgets. Security departments around the country are more likely to receive more funding this year, as companies realize just how vital it is to protect themselves and their information from criminals.

In the past, security breaches have gone undetected for months or years. But now, companies are seeing that in order to protect themselves, they need to take the time (and money) to identify their specific risks and invest in the staff, technology, and knowledge they need to protect themselves.

We see this in large organizations, which are increasingly investing in things like physical security information management technology. This allows individuals to collaborate and share information on potential security threats and events.

In addition, situation management technology is becoming more common with not just organizations, but entire cities. While security departments may still have to fight to get the budgets they want, they may find that the struggle is a bit easier in 2016.

5. Cloud malware. As more businesses move to using Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or cloud services, hackers are focusing their malicious efforts on these cloud databases more than ever before.

At the same time, however, cloud security is ramping up. SaaS providers know that they’re facing increased threats from hackers, so they’re taking measures like creating back-up systems, improving their encryption, and putting their services through extensive vulnerability testing.

KOVA offers some of the best and most secure technology in the public safety and workforce management industries. If you’d like more information on how our public safety software solutions and enterprise workforce optimization software solutions can help you keep your data safe and secure, contact us!