As information technology continues to evolve, more and more people are penetrating cyberspace. Most organizations, companies, individuals, and even governments are now doing their activities in the digital world. This allows them to enjoy great benefits such as instant access from anywhere, fewer usage costs, and worldwide reach.
A lot of internet users cannot imagine having a life without technology or access to e-ticket booking, e-commerce, online banking, the latest news, or getting in touch with their family and friends using online communication or social media. But is it always safe to surf the internet? What type of threats could you possibly encounter? Can the risks be reduced with the help of virtual reality?
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual Reality (VR) refers to the three-dimensional image developed by a computer or other types of devices. VR offers us different types of objects and at the same time it can also depict various events. Virtual reality can either be fictional or based on real-world elements.
How Does Immersive Technology Affect Cybersecurity?
Unfortunately, cyber threats continue to develop and yet there is a shortage of experts that can help in spreading awareness and fighting the growth of cyber threats. Based on a recent study, the rise of data breaches is caused by the lack of cybersecurity professionals, and non-technical staff, as well as a lack of proper training. That is why it is important to ensure safety on multiple devices with a VPN. Immersive technology can greatly help in this problem since it can train staff and spread cybersecurity awareness.
In fact, some companies have started to train their employees using AR and VR-based gamification. As a result, employees are now ready to face cyber threats and solve the issue. Using both AR and VR can help organizations in training their employees which can be beneficial and practical.
Use AR for Cybersecurity Training
Using AR, you can provide your staff with an interactive educational learning platform that can be customized based on the learning needs of the individual. It allows employees to experience appropriate and realistic training. These are highly interactive programs that can help users in recognizing and mitigating cyber threats. Furthermore, since this is an interactive training, then it can help in encouraging employees to keep themselves engaged with the training.
Use VR for Cybersecurity Training
Just like AR, VR can also help organizations in solving the problem of shortage in cybersecurity awareness and training. With the help of VR-based training programs, users will be able to experience prevailing cyber threats such as phishing by using a VR headset. As a result, users will be less vulnerable to these cyber threats. Immersive technology can also be valuable for those who are interested in having a career in cybersecurity. As a result, there will be more skilled cybersecurity professionals.
Does Immersive Technology Have Security and Privacy Risks?
Although immersive technology is very valuable to organizations in developing effective cybersecurity programs, these technologies also have some significant risks. The headsets or other devices that are used in immersive technology come with various sensors that gather information about the wearer. These AR/VR devices are capable of recording the movements, sounds, and surroundings of the user. Keep in mind that this contains relevant information about the wearer.
This information can be valuable to advertisers, however, it could also pose a threat to cyber criminals who might intercept this valuable information. Furthermore, organizations that are using immersive technology for training their employees could access their telemetry data which can be used in monitoring their performance. As a result, this could potentially lead to privacy issues.
Since these AR/VR tools are very vulnerable, they come with the greatest risk. Just like any other IoT devices such as ChatGPT and Bard, these devices focus more on serving their purpose rather than protecting privacy. Hence, they become a vulnerable target for malware attacks. Since these devices are remotely activated, then your company will always be at risk.
Conclusion
As the popularity of VR and AR continues to rise, it is expected that more and more organizations will be seeking professionals that have working knowledge of immersive technologies and any other innovative technologies.
Ultimately, these immersive tools are geared towards the future, however, organizations must make sure that their staff are well versed on the challenges brought about by these virtual environments. These emerging technologies can greatly affect risk management recruitment.
