Cisco, a leading provider of technology solutions, has highlighted key predictions for 2023 in a recent statement by Jeetu Patel, executive vice president of security and collaboration at Cisco. Patel states that the next evolution of security is about sensing anomalies and behaviour patterns, which will aid in predicting a security breach. In 2023, just detecting malicious code won’t be enough to combat the sophistication of current security threat actors (who use modern ‘toolkits’ consisting of modular malware). Advances in AI and machine-learning will make this possible, and smart organisations will get ahead of this trend.
Patel also predicts that human resources will play a larger role in technology software purchases as hybrid work becomes essential to productivity and worker satisfaction. With the shift to remote work, HR departments have had to adapt to new technologies and software to ensure the smooth functioning of the organisation. In 2023, look for HR to expand its knowledge of and influence in all kinds of technology and software purchases.
Another disruption to hybrid work will be the countless employees who will not want to go back to rigid, in-office work schedules. Many organisations may choose to double-down on workplace mandates in 2023, but they’ll ultimately lose. Progressive companies will create a flexible, secure hybrid-work experience and a great physical workspace — that people will want to visit, but only when they choose to or the work calls for it. Such organisations will win on talent, agility, sustainability, and worker satisfaction and see long-term success.
Patel also notes that AI and machine learning have the potential to revolutionise various industries, but it is important to ensure responsible and ethical use cases to prevent bias and advanced scams. As AI continues to take over important decision making such as employee recruitment or deciding who gets approved for loans, bias may become an unfortunate “side effect” of utilising such technology. Additionally, AI will also enable more advanced scams, incidents of identity theft, convincing deep fakes, and more. Despite the tremendous positive impact AI can have, it’s more critical than ever that the industry ensures responsible and ethical use cases, guidelines are implemented, and, when appropriate, restrictions win out.
2023 promises to be a year of evolution for security, work culture and AI. Organisations that adapt to these changes will be better equipped to face the challenges of the future and achieve long-term success. Cisco will continue to provide cutting-edge technology solutions to help organisations navigate these changes and stay ahead of the curve.