Digital Ecosystem

Should You Take Care of Your Personal Digital Ecosystem?

Nowadays, your home digital ecosystem should matter because you are always connected to the Internet through different platforms that synchronize your data.

What items should you consider in your digital ecosystem?

⦁ Your Internet or digital network
⦁ Your software (local, web, cloud applications)
⦁ Your devices or hardware (mobile, desktop, Internet of Things or IoT and network devices)
⦁ Your information or data

Obviously, we sometimes ignore or underestimate digital risks!

Current context

⦁ Rise of online transactions

⦁ Increased use of the Internet

⦁ Current situation and life challenges

Transitional context

⦁ Lockdowns

⦁ Study at home

⦁ Work at home

Digital components vs Exposures and risks

The level of risk related to your digital assets relies on how you expose them on Internet, including how many devices you own. A lot of devices and software can increase the level of exposure:

⦁ Your work devices exposure

⦁ Your personal devices exposure

⦁ Your software exposure

⦁ Your hardware exposure

⦁ Your network exposure

Your digital risks

⦁ Access risks (User names, passwords, accounts, secrets answers, etc.)

⦁ Data risks (Finance, privacy, identity, data corruption, etc.)

⦁ Network risks (Device, links, intrusion, etc.)

⦁ Cloud risks (Social Media, streaming, Cloud storage and access, etc.)

⦁ Visibility risks (Social networks, data exposure, etc.)

⦁ Software risks (Vulnerabilities, Malware, Corruption, etc. )

⦁ Firmware risks (integrated software, functionalities, etc.)

⦁ Other digital risks.

Which elements requires protection in your digital ecosystem?

Guess what? There are many!

⦁ The digital technologies you use (Internet of Things or IoT, cloud computing, etc.)

⦁ Your digital and network devices (wearable devices, smart connected objects, mobile devices, etc.); also called hardware

⦁ Your network links (WI-FI, NFC, Bluetooth, mobile, wired link, etc.)

⦁ Your data (Accesses, cloud, local, etc.) represents a digital gold for some companies.

⦁ Your software, which includes:

⦁ Your regular tools (Desktop or mobile tools, system tools, etc.)
⦁ Your online transaction tools (such as payment gateway)
⦁ Your digital communication and collaboration tools (social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, cloud tools like Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.)
⦁ Your devices’ firmware (Printer, camera, etc.)

Your Network Addresses (IP)

Your network includes your telecommunications devices that connect physical or digital devices.

⦁ Your Internet Provider assigns a public IP address to your network modem (Ex: 234.25.26.30)

⦁ Your IP address can be compared to your Phone Number

⦁ The IP address of your Internet modem is visible to the world!

⦁ Each connected device has a public or private IP Address

Best practices

⦁ Use a private VPN(Virtual Private Network)

⦁ Update your router firmware regularly

I P means Internet Protocol

Your Network Assets

⦁ Your network includes your telecommunication devices that connect physical or digital devices:

⦁ Your router

⦁ Your cable

⦁ Your links (Wi-Fi, Wired, Phone links, etc.)

⦁ Your connected devices (Mobile, PC, Tablets, Smartphones, etc.)

⦁ Your Wi-fi extenders, if available

Your Data

⦁ Intrusions usually start within your network and affect after your applications; your data is the most targeted part.

⦁ Your data included your Metadata (critical information) and other operational data(pictures, social media posts, preferences, etc.)

⦁ Your data can also be used by providers to get statistics and create marketing models to improve their sale strategies.

Your Credentials (accesses, passwords, user IDS)

⦁ Intruders usually needs your IP addresses, your credentials in order to access your software and data.

⦁ With possible software security breaches, your credentials may be more exposed (such as passwords stolen etc.)

⦁ 2nd factor authentication is a strong way to face several issues you may have.

Your software (or Applications)

⦁ Your OS (Operating System)

⦁ Your software tools (Office, Communication, Collaboration, etc.)

⦁ Require regular monitoring and updates.

Your devices’ firmware (usually ignored or forgotten)

⦁ Firmware are integrated software installed on devices. They also need to be updated.

⦁ Which devices may contain firmware?

⦁ Your printer, your router, your smartphone, your digital camera, your smart TV, your TV receiver, your connected devices, your smartwatch, your computer (BIOS).