Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2022. Read them in this 14th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
It’s All About Identity, Security and User Experience.
By Ben Goodman, SVP, Global Business and Corporate Development, ForgeRock
In 2021, we saw many of the trends started in 2020 continue as the COVID-19 pandemic kept much of life online. IT and security teams continued to navigate the challenges of managing remote workforces while also being confronted with growing threats like ransomware and data breaches. In 2022, businesses will face the issues and opportunities of a post-pandemic work world, from remote and hybrid work models to enhanced cybersecurity strategies. Read on for four key predictions that are likely to manifest in cybersecurity, identity, IT and the tech industry overall in the upcoming year.
From Consumer to Enterprise, Digital Expectations Will Continue to Rise
After nearly two years of pandemic-driven digital transformation, remote and hybrid working has gone from a temporary solution to a permanent fixture of work. A recent survey by Upwork found that 28% of Americans are expected to work fully remote by 2025, and large companies are already offering their employees remote and hybrid work options.
One thing is certain: the world of going into an office five days a week from nine to five is no more, and with this ability to work from anywhere, IT departments and employees themselves will have more freedom to “shop” for the tools and technologies that work best for them. They will expect seamless and easy-to-navigate digital experiences from their work technology just as they do from their personal devices, and with many companies competing for talent as part of the “Great Resignation,” job seekers will increasingly choose to work at companies that prioritize employee experience when engaging with IT and other digital services.
Identity Proofing and Verification Will Become the New Normal
In banking, the “Know Your Customer” (KYC) rule requires regularly verifying a customer’s identity to prevent fraud and money laundering. It has been a regulatory requirement for banks and other financial institutions for years.
In 2022 and beyond, the general concept of KYC will play a role in all types of applications and services to prevent data breaches. ForgeRock’s 2021 Consumer Identity Breach Report found that breaches involving usernames and passwords increased 450% from the previous year, and IT teams need to be prepared. Luckily, the tools needed to identify an end-user are relatively cheap and frictionless. These tools will help organizations truly know who is at the other end of their service, and as a bonus, they also provide a better digital experience for employees and consumers.
The Bill Will Come Due for the Rapid Move to Remote Working
During the rapid transition to remote work in March 2020, many organizations quickly reconfigured firewalls, VPNs and other remote access services to instantly accommodate employees. Applications and services once only available from corporate networks were suddenly accessible across the internet. These rapid reconfigurations likely did not follow IT best practices and may have opened a variety of organizations to vulnerabilities.
As a result of these swift transitions, many companies became exposed to hackers and ransomware attacks. For example, IT departments might not be properly deprovisioning inactive accounts of employees who have left or moved positions. Hackers can gain access to these inactive accounts and install ransomware. To address the growing cyber threats of 2022, IT teams must stay vigilant and update their security practices, especially as remote and hybrid working continues.
Self-Service Will Be a Necessity
Prior to the pandemic, employees could troubleshoot their computer or device with an in-person IT department. Now, as employees work in hybrid and remote work models – in some cases, from different cities or states – and have less access to on-premise IT support, they are going to need tools that empower them to support themselves.
IT architectures in 2022 will focus on pairing easy-to-understand experiences with toolsets that allow users to keep themselves productive and enable their IT teams to step in easily and remotely when needed.
2022 is shaping up to be another critical year for digital transformation, and with a heavier emphasis on user experience, security, and identity, it’s set to be a pivotal year for implementing the measures needed to meet tomorrow’s biggest threats.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ben Goodman, SVP, Global Business and Corporate Development
Ben is responsible for corporate development, global strategic partnership and technology ecosystem efforts. A member of the CEO staff, Ben drives and evangelizes ForgeRock’s innovation agenda and product direction. Prior to ForgeRock, Ben led Technology Evangelism for VMware’s End-User Computing business unit, where he was engaged in the product roadmaps and acquisitions that lead to the creation of VMware Workspace One. Before that, he worked at Novell where he was instrumental in the creation and growth of their Identity Management platform.
