IT Era of Constant Change

Software and Applications Use

Then: Office employees generally used the basic functions of a limited number of applications – a word processor, a spreadsheet program and maybe a database.

Now: Depending on the role, they might use apps hosted on the cloud – under the purview of their organization or outside of it – for everything from in-office communication to work-specific tasks.
Local Applications vs. in the Cloud

Then: People used work machines only for work, on applications installed directly on machines or on an internal server.

Now: People live a huge portion of their lives online, using personal devices for work matters and work devices for personal matters. They conduct a large portion of this on cloud-based apps that exist on a third party’s infrastructure (which is out in the ether, as far as the user is concerned).
Software Purchasing Process

Then: People with job-specific software needs, like designers, would install Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator on their machines after going through a long chain of forms and justifications to get the license.

Now: If they can’t get what they need quickly and easily, they circumvent work networks entirely.
On Site vs. Remote

Then: Oh and of course, all employees were in the office whenever they were doing their jobs.

Now: People work everywhere – you might be working remotely while reading this.

Things are only getting less centralized and more complicated. For example, people in more technical fields like software development can use Amazon Web Services (AWS) and infrastructure-as-code processes to create an atmosphere of continuous testing and integration of solutions. Weeks-long workflows that once required IT sign-off and support can now be done instantaneously.

So, what does this mean for the future of cybersecurity? Today’s IT department needs to operate less like a utility company and more like a consortium of city planners.
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