From smartphones to virtual reality, digital technologies and devices are increasingly present and widespread in both our daily and working lives and are leading us towards a now unstoppable digitisation process.
The benefits offered by the ongoing digital transformation are certainly numerous, including easier data storage and information exchange, the possibility of working remotely, increased productivity, and better control over human error, but they come withseveralriskswhichmay affect security and privacy.
In this article, we will find out what the digitisation process consists of and what risks it is important to watch out for.
What is digitalisation
When we talk about digitalisation, we are referring to the process of moving from analogue to digitaldata, tools, media, and devices. Examples of this process include the use of text files instead of paper documents, the use of e-mail instead of traditional mail, the use of digital media instead of analogue ones, and so on.
Digital transformation is made possible by the introduction of new and increasingly advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual and Augmented Realityand Big Data.
The risks of digitalisation: what to watch out for
Like all transformation processes, the one involving the transition from analogue to digital is not risk-free, which vary depending on the technology implemented, the context of use and the use made of it.
In the working environment, for example, it is possible to identify risks related to smart working, such as an increased workload and the extension of working hours beyond those planned, but also greater isolation and the emergence of problems related to increased sedentariness.
Focusing instead on corporate digitalisation, but also on the use of new technologies in the private sphere, one can identify risks related primarily to privacy and data breaches, as well as hacker attacks and identity theft, all of which are directly related to security. The latter, as stated in the in-depth article about cybersecurity published on Prysmian’s cybersecurity blog, encompasses the technologies and practices designed to protect digital systems, networks, data and computers from unauthorised actions and access that could lead to theft, data loss and damage of various kinds.
Other risks directly related to digitalisation in the corporate environment, but also in the private sphere, stem from software and hardware malfunctions, lack of updates, spam, viruses, as well as natural disasters that could lead to malfunctions or total loss of the media used.
Virtual and augmented reality: what risks they involve
Cybersecurity also plays a very important role in the field of virtual and augmented reality, which can be subject to privacy and security issues arising from the distribution of unreliable content, attempts to distort reality, identity and data theft, malware and ransomware.
In addition to this, VR and AR can also pose physical risks such as visual fatigue and disorientation.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
