organizational technology strategists must develop appropriate technology road maps W r i t i n g

The world of technology is changing at an unprecedented pace, and these changes represent business opportunities as well as challenges. Mass connectivity and faster speeds create opportunities for businesses to network more devices, complete more transactions, and enhance transaction quality. Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and internet of things (IoT) are two such technologies that represent significant opportunities for strategic cybersecurity technology professionals to create lasting value for their organizations.

IoT is the phenomenon of connecting devices used in everyday life. It provides an interactive environment of human users and a myriad of devices in a global information highway, always on and always able to provide information. IoT connections happen among many types of devices—sensors, embedded technologies, machines, appliances, smartphones—all connected through wired and wireless networks.

Cloud architectures such as software as a service have further enabled big data analytics and improvement in areas such as automated manufacturing. Data and real-time analytics are now available to workers through wearables and mobile devices.

Such pervasive proliferation of IoT devices gives hackers avenues to gain access to personal data and financial information and increases the complexity of data protection. Given the increased risks of data breaches, newer techniques in data loss prevention should be examined.

Increased bandwidth and increased levels of interconnectivity have allowed data to become dispersed, creating issues for big data integrity. In such a world, even the financial transactions of the future are likely to be different—digital currencies such as Bitcoin may be used for some future financial transactions.

To survive and thrive, organizational technology strategists must develop appropriate technology road maps. These strategists must consider appropriate function, protection, and tamper-proofing of these new communications and transactions.

It will be impossible to protect data by merely concentrating on protecting repositories such as networks or endpoints. Cybersecurity strategists have to concentrate on protecting the data themselves. They will need to ensure that the data are protected no matter where they reside.

In this project, you will work with team members to compile a technology strategy plan for your organization to protect data throughout the company. This project will take about two weeks to complete. There are 10 steps in the project, which will include a 12- to 15-page report, slide presentation, and lab report. First, begin with the project scenario above, and then move to Step 1, where you will be assigned roles within your team and sign the team project charter.