Beyond Technology

A successful security strategy is more than the sum of the technology. An often overlooked aspect to data protection is ensuring that employees and others working with various systems understand how to minimize risk through their actions and behavior.

Although DLP solutions, VPNs and other security tools enforce rules at the enterprise level, there’s still no way to eradicate human error and workarounds. As a result, education and training are vital components that every enterprise must address.

Among other things, users must understand what constitutes a strong password. They must know how to avoid practices that increase the odds of a stolen password or an intruder breaking into a system. Users must also be aware of what’s necessary to keep personally owned computers and smartphones (that connect to an enterprise network) updated, patched and free of malware. Helping employees understand how social engineering methods work and how they might inadvertently spread a virus by opening an e-mail attachment or clicking to a malicious website is also critical.

No less important is the ability to integrate systems and tie them directly to business processes. Developing a flexible and agile framework helps an organization avoid costly dead ends and vulnerabilities.

Establishing multilayer protection and involving various internal groups and stakeholders in design and management goes a long way toward building a best-practice security model. Ultimately, the most successful organizations view security as a platform for business enablement rather than as a group of discreet tools and technologies designed to foil intrusions, hacks or outright theft.

Developing an effective strategy may also mean turning to outside expertise for an objective, third-party analysis. Here, you can find a full lifecycle of security services, including assessment, implementation, monitoring and management.

A holistic approach addresses everything from vulnerabilities to costs for gateway and network security, remote access security, mobility, and compliance and policy management. This multitiered approach maximizes ROI while minimizing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Fast-Changing Landscape

The security challenges facing an enterprise grow more difficult by the day. As organizations interconnect systems, embrace mobility, and reach out to customers and business partners via the web and e-mail, the risk of a system breach and data theft increases dramatically.

Today’s fast-changing security landscape demands a comprehensive approach that addresses the full spectrum of issues. It’s no longer effective to respond to threats by tossing spot solutions at vulnerabilities and hoping for positive results.

As corporate assets appear in the crosshairs of hackers and online criminals — and the risk of data theft grows — organizations must take steps to reduce direct and collateral damage, including lost productivity, the cost of litigation, fines and reduced public trust. In the end, an integrated and holistic security approach pays dividends and positions a company for greater business success.