Every organization is aware of the variety of security risks that modern businesses face. To mitigate these security risks, they get the best-in-class technology products and services such as antivirus, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, etc. In addition, organizations may also hire the brightest minds in the security industry. In spite of having arguably the best security practices in place, these organizations are still suffering from security breaches.
If you recall, the biggest security breaches of last year, i.e. 2022 involved the likes of LastPass, Okta, and Microsoft, among many others. Certainly, these organizations did not lack the technology or human resources necessary to keep their IT environments secure. So what can organizations realistically do to secure their IT infrastructure and data and protect their business and brand?
The technology and the people using the technology are like a two-legged stool, wobbly and unable to bear the full weight of an organization’s security requirements. Adding a third leg of policies and procedures provides a stable platform upon which cyber defenses can be built.
People, processes, and products (technology) are often referred to as the three pillars of IT security, and that’s what this blog post is focused on.
Pillar 1: Products - Supplying The Necessary Tools
If you look at the IT environment of any organization, be it a small business or a large enterprise, it typically consists of a complex heterogeneous combination of networks, applications, clouds, endpoints, and devices from different manufacturers, running a variety of software.
All of these elements and their interconnections present many possibilities for security gaps and vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious parties. Security products, tools, and technologies provide a convenient way to cover most if not all of these security vulnerabilities and gaps.
There are countless security solutions and tools that promise to provide cutting-edge security to companies and individuals from a host of online threats. These tools and technologies can be classified into the following:
Network Security Tools
The network requires an extensive suite of security tools to protect its integrity, confidentiality, and usability. In addition, the data transmitted within the network also needs to be secured.
The network is the communication backbone of the entire IT infrastructure, connecting all devices and business resources. And this makes the network a hot target for cybercriminals. So, business networks have to constantly deal with attacks including hacking, Distributed Denial Of Service (DDoS), password attacks, crypto-jacking, etc. So, heavy investments in network security are completely justified.
Common network Security technologies include firewalls, network access controls, intrusion detection systems, intrusion Prevention Systems, proxy servers, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Anti-DDoS systems, etc.
Cybersecurity Or Internet Security Tools
Cybersecurity tools are designed to protect the information transmitted and received over the internet, typically through browsers and applications. These tools scan and monitor incoming internet traffic for unauthorized traffic and malware. Common cybersecurity tools include anti-malware, anti-spyware, web filters, spam filters, etc.
Endpoint Security Tools
Endpoint security tools provide protection at the endpoint, i.e. device level. Just like network security tools stop potential security threats at the network level, endpoint security tools provide security at the device level. Endpoint devices typically include desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Attackers commonly target endpoints such as computers and smartphones to gain a foothold in the corporate network and use the compromised device to access applications, steal data, upload malware, or shut down critical systems. So, the goal of endpoint security tools is to prevent network infiltration through a device breach.
Advanced antivirus software and mobile device management solutions are examples of endpoint security tools.
Cloud Security Tools
Businesses are moving more and more of their data and workloads to the cloud to facilitate accessibility and mobility. While this is highly beneficial from a business perspective, it creates serious security challenges since the cloud is not protected by the traditional security stack.
To secure its cloud environment, including data and applications, businesses need to employ cloud security tools such as cloud-access security broker (CASB), secure Internet gateway (SIG), Identity and access management (IAM), etc.
Selecting and implementing the right set of security tools is critical for keeping security threats at bay and ensuring the integrity of your infrastructure, including data and endpoints- both physical and virtual.
Pillar 2: Processes - Providing Clarity And Consistency
Once your IT security team is equipped with the right set of tools, they will need rules and guidelines for the effective use of those tools. The goal of IT policies, processes, and procedures is to provide relevant direction and value to the employees with regard to security. Well-defined IT policies provide guidelines to employees on what to do and what not to do.
While generally relevant, these guidelines are especially handy in exigent circumstances such as a security breach. Demanding situations like security breaches, ransomware attacks, and unplanned outages are stressful, making it difficult to think clearly. Policies and procedures are of immense help in such situations as they provide clear guidance so that employees can act quickly to mitigate risks and recover as quickly as possible.
Processes and procedures bring greater clarity and understanding by breaking down complex policies into actionable steps. This clarity reduces ambiguity and minimizes the risk of misinterpretation, making it easier for employees to understand what is expected of them and how to adhere to the policies.
Another important benefit of well-defined processes and procedures is that they lead to the establishment of standardized methods for carrying out tasks related to security policies. This standardization ensures that everyone in the organization follows the same steps, leading to consistent implementation across different departments and teams, which is essential for maintaining a strong and effective IT security posture.
Lastly, policies assign responsibilities and accountabilities to individuals or teams. This helps create ownership by holding individuals responsible for specific tasks related to policy implementation. Ultimately, the sense of ownership and accountability reduces the likelihood of policy violations.
Pillar 3: People - Empowering The Human Element
Cutting-edge technology and laser-focused policies are necessary for air-tight security but not sufficient. This is because when the systems are well protected, attackers will target the people behind those systems. More often than not the users, i.e. the employees tend to be the weakest link in your security systems. In fact, 74% of all breaches include the human element, involving either error, privilege misuse, use of stolen credentials, or social engineering. Therefore, the human element is arguably the most critical of the three pillars of IT security.
These are two parts of this pillar that you need to bolster. First, is the security team. They are the ones with the necessary knowledge, skills, and training and are tasked with implementing, monitoring, and maintaining the security systems. They are also the ones responsible for helping other employees when there is a security issue or incident.
To handle such critical responsibilities, you need to hire people with the right skills. But that’s not all, you also need to help them stay up-to-date with the developments in the security industry. The threat landscape is constantly changing, there are new applications, devices, and tools entering your organizational stack that can bring new vulnerabilities and gaps in your security. So it is critical that your IT security team is well-informed about the current state of security not just within but also outside the organization.
The second part of the pillar is the rest of the organization, i.e. all employees. To mount an effective defense against security threats, everyone within the organization has to actively contribute to IT security. Unfortunately, most employees are not always vigilant because they are preoccupied with their tasks. After all, security is most likely not in their job description.
So you need to consistently keep the employees aware of the importance of their role as well as of the security threats facing the business. Continuous education through employee training and security awareness programs plays an important role in achieving this. Additionally, guides, FAQs, and phishing simulations can also be used to empower employees to make secure choices.
The Intersection Of The Pillars Of Security
The three pillars, namely, people, processes, and products, do not work in isolation. They interact with and reinforce each other. Therefore, organizations need to take a holistic approach to IT security considering all three aspects together. Maximizing one aspect at the expense of the others will not improve but rather harm your security efforts. The security tools and systems in place must mirror the security policies and work culture. This ensures that all the three pillars are in harmony and in balance.
While it is easy to visualize the balance in the three pillars of security in theory, it is not easily achieved in practice. Too often organizations invest in cutting-edge technologies and security systems, craft comprehensive policies and processes, and hire the best and the brightest in security. However, they fail to reinforce their weakest link, as is evident from the fact that 74% of all security breaches have human involvement in some form.
To have truly holistic security in place, organizations need to engender and sustain a security-conscious culture. A culture that values the behaviors that contribute to and promote safe IT practices, a sense of ownership with respect to security, and accountability.
In a security-conscious culture, employees are aware of security policies, their responsibilities, and security threats that the organization is likely to face on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, security-conscious employees engage in behaviors that mitigate those potential threats, actively adopt good security habits, and adhere to security protocols.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a robust IT security strategy is built on the 3 pillars, namely products, processes, and people. Balance among the 3 pillars brings stability and an environment where they will complement each other for improved security. A holistic approach considering all three aspects together is, therefore, necessary for building an effective and sustainable defense against security threats.
In your organization, are the 3 pillars of security balanced? Are the pillars robust enough to sustain the security requirements of your organization? Reach out to us by clicking the button below to learn how we can help improve the foundations of your IT security.
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About The Author
Hari SubediMarketing Manager at Jones IT
Hari is an online marketing professional with a focus on content marketing. He writes on topics related to IT, Security, and Small Business. He is also the founder and managing director of Girivar Kft., a business services company located in Budapest, Hungary.