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Data protection and digital privacy have attracted considerable attention from senior executives, with the Securities and Exchange Commission recently proposing that the Board of Directors of public companies share responsibility for overseeing IT security, compliance and risk mitigation.
As business leaders begin to educate themselves on the fundamentals of cybersecurity, one of the things they can’t overlook is cohesion. With an abundance of different security tools, leaders need to ensure the IT security stack works together, rather than creating additional silos.
Here’s how to achieve optimal cohesion across your security stack.
1. Gain visibility into all systems
One of the biggest benefits of a cohesive IT security stack is greater visibility. In a time when cyber threats are more sophisticated than ever, organizations cannot afford to have blind spots, nor should security teams chase false positives. But a common question business leaders face is how to increase visibility without necessarily reinventing the wheel or replacing multiple security tools in the arsenal.
One of the ways to maximize visibility and integration between systems is through a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform. SIEMs consolidate data from various systems to provide a centralized view that gives users real-time visibility into the entire IT environment. It’s one of the first pieces of advice I usually give to business leaders who want to better understand their organization’s security posture without boiling the ocean.
Related: The ‘Mother of All Breaches’ Just Happened: Here Are the Security Implications for Businesses
2. Strengthen API security
Once visibility is established, it is also necessary to evaluate the security of the APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) through which systems, tools and applications interact. In simpler terms, APIs function as a backend framework for mobile and web applications, and cybercriminals often exploit any gaps in API security as a means to gain access to an organization.
If APIs are not properly protected, they can become the next big supply chain attack, with malicious actors injecting malicious code during the attack and wreaking havoc on an organization. In fact, recent research found that cyber attacks against APIs increased by as much as 400% from June to December 2022 and have shown no signs of slowing down since.
Business leaders need to ask themselves: How confident is the organization in the security of their APIs? How exactly are these APIs protected? APIs must have high levels of security; otherwise, they are no more secure than a standard password login.
Related: Cyber threats are more prevalent than ever, so don’t leave your business exposed. Here’s how to protect it.
3. Ensure flexible integrations
In addition to gaining visibility and strengthening API security, it’s important to aim for flexible integrations between your security systems.
To achieve this, first determine:
- Are you integrating your systems via custom coding? While coding has its advantages, one of the main disadvantages is the long-term impact it will have when engineers leave the company. The US Department of Labor estimates that the global shortage of software engineers could reach 85.2 million by 2030, and the position will likely be a revolving door between now and then. How easy will it be for the new engineer to continue working on this custom code? This creates a serious obstacle to the modernization of infrastructure.
- What happens when you need to replace one vendor with another, especially to meet compliance requirements or reduce your budget? This is where identity orchestration plays a huge role. Traditionally, identity has become a bottleneck in the integration process, but through identity orchestration, companies now have the ability to add or remove vendors, ranging from applications to services, with speed and ease. It’s like a “simple button” for the technology stack, ensuring simplicity, flexibility and continuity across the entire user experience.
- Are you taking this into account? All integration costs, even hidden or subsequent ones? I have come across a new vendor selected for cost saving reasons, but then organizations forget to consider the path to integrate the new system into the ecosystem and the hidden costs that may arise from it. These costs can often be up to four times the cost of the new system, as well as taking 6-12 months to effectively integrate into the organization. Fortunately, identity orchestration can help with integration time and long-term ROI.
Regardless of the size or industry of the organization, companies are always looking for a more cohesive experience across the entire technology stack, where speed and security are optimal. This year, when all eyes are on security, including that of the Council, is the ideal time to start paving the way towards simpler, more seamless security integrations.