Why Security Must Be a Continuous and Collaborative Process

Cybersecurity is top of mind for many organizations today, for many reasons. Cyberattacks have become more numerous, more sophisticated and more damaging than ever. Furthermore, many IT departments currently find themselves struggling to keep up while they contend with not only an expanding threat landscape, but also a shortage of skilled talent.

Managed detection and response providers can help improve customers’ security posture, which can minimize downtime and provide more thorough recovery in the event of an attack. Initial improvement is only the beginning of the story. 

Cybersecurity posture must be improved continuously. Here’s how to make sure that happens.

Security isn’t just about choosing the right product; a lot of continuous evaluation must happen even after acquiring the right tools. The policies and procedures an organization implements, as well as the standards and baselines established internally, are all important to building a robust security program.

Establishing security processes is an important element because internal disagreement, confusion or miscommunication all have the power to undermine a strong security posture. Every organization’s security strategy involves multiple stakeholders, and it’s important that they all be aligned.

It’s helpful for an organization to first perform a security assessment to identify any hidden vulnerabilities and potential gaps in security architecture. This assessment can serve multiple purposes — from evaluating existing policies to determining whether products and tools can be integrated — that all work together to set a secure foundation.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the way we work and do business has changed in many ways that have created new gaps in most organizations’ security. 

Highly publicized ransomware attacks have exposed the vulnerability of organizations of all sizes and have raised questions about supply chain security. 

At the same time, hybrid work environments have introduced a vast number of new devices and endpoints. Many of these might not be connected via secure networks, or may bypass security controls altogether. As threat actors double down on social engineering and phishing attacks, organizations must be even more vigilant about access and identity issues.

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, an organization’s security strategy must continuously change to protect its digital assets — and not just defensively. A truly effective security strategy will employ innovative tools such as automation that uses AI and ML to anticipate threats, bridge security gaps and minimize damage in the event of a breach.

Many IT teams are already stretched thin due to a shortage of skilled talent. Security concerns have a way of monopolizing a team’s focus, eating into the valuable time and energy that could be spent on other priorities, such as digital transformation and innovative improvements to the user experience. 

This is where managed services can help. Managed detection and response service providers can alleviate much of the burden associated with ongoing security tasks. A third-party provider can assess an organization’s security posture and offer guidance on how to improve it. And in the event of a security incident, an MDR provider can quickly identify the problem and minimize its effects — all while internal IT staff remain involved in development projects to help the organization gain and maintain a competitive advantage.

Story by 

Dominick Daidone

Michael Cappiello