The keys to a successful IT security strategy
Fast food is enough to address short-term hunger pains. It’s not necessarily good for you; you don’t have to consume it all the time, but it fills the void. However, it will do you more harm than good in the long run. Off-the-shelf cybersecurity offerings that come free with software platforms are akin to fast food; it’s a quick fix for a small or isolated problem, but not good for the overall health of the IT landscape.
Free cybersecurity software promotes a false sense of adequate protection. This incorrect idea of sufficient network defenses can have devastating consequences, as off-the-shelf cybersecurity tools do not allow for efficient monitoring. Good protection against cyber threats requires better reinforcement of all potential attack vectors. What is the antidote to this recipe for failure? The answer is to develop a thoughtful IT security strategy process that involves continuous collaboration and conversation, with an attitude of continuous improvement.
Cybersecurity is a journey, not a destination
A journey to adequate security requires the collaboration of all stakeholders, including IT staff, security teams, audit professionals and compliance experts, to identify control weaknesses. Uncovering control weaknesses often reveals undocumented and disorganized aspects within the organization. Once deficiencies are identified, new responsibilities, processes and policies can be established to promote a safer environment.
Furthermore, a successful security journey starts with establishing a well-defined baseline. The baseline outlines the optimal state for secure operations and configurations. It resembles a broad-based pyramid that brings together external and internal requirements and insights from third-party recommendations. The core of the pyramid consists of an organization’s culture, values, and unique problem-solving approaches. The concept level is at the top of the inverted pyramid and includes access control, data security, and application security. These concepts form the basis for the security baseline.
It is important to note that constant communication is required to ensure success once the basic trajectory has been established.
Product Management Director at SecurityBridge.
Hackers thrive on dysfunction; keep conversations going
As outlined above, the success of a security strategy is based on a broad awareness of the overall need to improve security – rather than on individual approaches that serve only the needs of certain departments. Continuous discussions need to be initiated with all stakeholders to ensure the longevity of good cybersecurity.
IT security is generally a multi-dimensional, comprehensive endeavor with many ways to solve problems. Regular discussions about an IT security strategy allow different stakeholders to share their specific knowledge and experience to build a common understanding and promote the longevity of a successful plan. Additionally, ongoing conversations align stakeholders, allowing them to align all activities to protect the entire organization – rather than returning to a silo department mentality.
Department budget holders and IT security experts are the key people to involve in any cybersecurity conversation. The unified voices of these individuals are critical, as many C-Suite members are often overly confident that their IT landscape is not on a hacker’s radar. In many cases, inadequate funding often leaves IT security administrators as the only owners advocating for network strengthening. But a united representation of all departments lobbying for more robust protections often convinces the registry to sound in their favor.
A one-day workshop should be held at a neutral location to understand all cybersecurity concerns from stakeholders. During the meeting, stakeholders can brainstorm the best measures to meet the security needs of the entire company, which is a crucial step for solving complex cybersecurity problems. After the first workshop, follow-up discussions should take place quarterly so that stakeholders can assess progress and adapt to new situations. The workshop and ongoing discussions should:
- Create transparency around business-critical data, applications and systems.
- Identify the use and external exposure of business-critical data.
- Define appropriate data security measures and a strategic implementation plan.
- Establish best practices for network, system and application hardening/protection.
- Align all stakeholders with a clear cybersecurity roadmap that fits today’s needs yet is agile enough to focus on tomorrow’s problems.
- Ensure sufficient budget to effectively reduce attack vectors, train employees and continuously validate procedures.
Conclusion
The journey to adequate cybersecurity is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders across the organization. Organizations can identify and address control weaknesses by bringing together IT staff, security teams, audit professionals and compliance experts to discuss methods to create a more secure environment.
Ongoing discussions are needed with all stakeholders to share their knowledge and experiences, promoting a common understanding and alignment of activities to protect the entire organization. Leveraging a mutual consensus will also help free up resources needed to support appropriate cybersecurity efforts to protect business-critical information.
Most importantly, IT professionals should avoid using off-the-shelf cybersecurity software. Rudimentary protection is no defense against well-funded hackers with superior knowledge to easily bypass free cybersecurity software. Ensuring adequate protection is not a nice reward at the bottom of a box; it is a comprehensive process involving many technologies, strategies and tools. Cybersecurity is never a one-size-fits-all solution that can be consumed quickly like fast food, and those who rely on out-of-the-box security methods will inevitably experience heartburn.
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