ZenPrivata™ Privacy Predictions for 2022

We are wrapping up a tough year and getting ready for 2022. Let’s hope 2022 is a better year for all. Every year for as long as I can remember, predictions around technology and security have been an industry tradition. The upcoming year is certainly a year not to miss, given the seismic shifts in remote work technology, privacy and security. 

The predictions and rationale for each:

1. Artificial intelligence will be weaponized and become a new class of cybersecurity and privacy attack. Just as 2021 was the year of ransomware, we think AI will play a much larger role in attacks in 2022. 

2. Top cloud computing platforms will suffer a large outage either by accident or with strong malicious intent. This predicted outage will be different in scope, scale, complexity and length of outage. Many organizations will begin to reconsider cloud computing or suffer significant losses to business.

3. Several G20 countries will prioritize cyber-warfare over the strategies and methods of traditional warfare. Top world countries will begin to embrace the full impact and possibilities of using cyber over kinetic warfare. G20 data privacy is at stake.

4. Organizations will create a “stand-alone” privacy function composed of legal, marketing, cyber, and IT representatives. The cybersecurity team will focus on “block and tackle” type responses, and the new privacy function will begin to value the loss, risks and legal implications of attacks.

5. The flood of disconnected, patchwork type, state based, Privacy Laws will begin to normalize and the beginnings of consensus on a national law that will grow at an expedited pace in 2022, with a goal to prevent a confusing Balkanization and creation of “one of a kind” state and provincial laws.

These predictions, to some, may seem dire, unlikely, or like something from a science fiction movie. The truth is many of our past predictions have not only materialized, but in some cases made our predictions look tame by comparison to the actual reality that unfolded.

While technology can be a great asset for organizations, we must always remember that people come first and last, as a line of defense for organizations of all sorts. Adjustments to organizational policy are inevitable, as adversarial capability gains keep pace with organizational data security capabilities and the ever expanding regulatory landscape.

Reassessing Privacy Plans, Practices, and Priorities

In light of these predictions, organizations will need to frequently reassess the status of their data privacy plans, practices, and priorities. We believe that with these challenges continuing to increase, it's time to elevate the importance of privacy. Organizations that continue to be reactive instead of proactive, can expect a significant deleterious impact on their customers' trust, success, relationships, and bottom line.

ZenPrivata can help you build the kind of plan you need to address these challenges, and to turn them into a win for your customers and stakeholders alike.