As businesses increasingly adopt robotic process automation (RPA), it is essential to be aware of the security risks associated with this technology. While RPA brings a host of advantages, ranging from increased efficiency to cost savings, it also poses compound but solvable concerns. These risks range from typical security issues to broader business risks, making awareness and mitigation essential for maintaining security and compliance.
Although there are some risks involved, the adoption of RPA is snowballing - with predictions that the market will reach $22 billion by 2025. This technology has been shown to be extremely valuable; for example, Telkomsel saved over 110,000 hours per month in 2021 by using RPA and IDP toolkits.
However, businesses must remember the unique and widespread security risks of RPA. Technology leaders, including fintech businesses, must know these less familiar risks and take appropriate measures to address them. Ultimately, while RPA offers many benefits, it is crucial to approach its implementation cautiously and prioritise security and compliance to ensure the technology's successful adoption.
In many ways, RPA is a unique technology which is why robotic process automation security risks are somewhat different. Consider the fact, for example, that RPA effectively behaves like a human being, making use of standard human user credentials and UI actions to complete tasks. These are some of the key points risk-conscious enterprises should watch out for when implementing RPA:
As always, new technology should be implemented with the support of existing teams and CXO staff. Implementation must be planned thoroughly and evaluated every step of the way. Teams must be conscious of change management too, understanding the implications RPA has for the wider business, for individual processes, and for staff members.
Identity and access management (IAM) become key issues with RPA as robots often go through exactly the same motions as humans, using similar credentials. Yet, that also means that the same security controls that keep the staff from exploiting systems can also keep RPA processes safe. Nonetheless, robotic process automation security risks do present another threat surface and security teams should always stay aware of the additional risks presented by the presence of robotic processes.
Yes, RPA can very much be a set-and-forget technology, humming away in the background. But what are the repercussions when an RPA process breaks down? What if a single software update causes a point of failure, interrupting RPA workflows? Companies should understand how RPAs introduce a threat to business continuity and establish plans to mitigate this.
Robots running amok can cause the types of reputational damage that even the most trusted business will struggle to recover from. It is not just gross errors companies should be concerned about. For example, a subtle programming decision that means loans approvals discriminate against sections of the population can be equally damaging.
RPA poses a regulatory threat too, in part because RPA-driven processes can appear like black boxes, inscrutable to regulators. Explaining how these processes get results can be difficult. Where errors caused by RPA creep in companies can be in trouble with regulators, unable to explain why inaccurate statements were made.
Companies should not step back from implementing RPA in concern about . Instead, mitigation is the answer. In taking steps to mitigate robotic process automation security risks a company could very well secure robotic processes to the extent that these are far more reliable than the human equivalent.
We’ve hinted at some of the steps to mitigate RPA risks in the previous section. More specifically, we suggest that companies implementing RPA concentrate on the following points:
Though RPA risks are slightly different in nature, the risk mitigation required to ensure risk-free use of RPA is not so onerous as to erase the benefits of RPA. In addition, businesses can always seek out software development vendors with experience and expertise in providing security consultancy for RPA services. These professionals can help ensure the safe and successful implementation of any company’s RPA solutions.
Of course, robotic process automation security risk mitigation can go wrong and be lacking in effectiveness. Consider finding a technology partner with the RPA background to ensure best in class approaches against the risks and threats unique to RPA.
Our security team at ELEKS can give a full assessment of business continuity and compliance to ensure a safe, secure RPA environment. This includes locating aggregated misconfigurations or vulnerabilities that may leave your business open to attack.
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