It’s hard enough keeping up with cyberthreats that are more complex than ever. Add managing a diverse security ecosystem — and it’s easy to see why business leaders are looking for a new way forward.
Today, a strong security management program is vital for safeguarding against advanced threats and responding to incidents more effectively. But how can you know if your security program and overall strategy are driving value for the business? Here are five key traits of a security management approach that can keep up with the current — and next — era of cybercrime.
1. Your program drives continuous improvement.
“Set it and forget it” is the last mantra you want to align with your cybersecurity program. Insight’s CISO (and my esteemed colleague), Jason Rader, puts it well: “Security is a long game, and it requires the ability to readily adapt.”
If your cybersecurity strategy involves regularly assessing measures, keeping a pulse on the latest threats and adapting your posture as needed, you’ve taken one of the most important steps to protecting the business.
Remember: Your organization will always be a target for hackers — make sure the target never stops moving.
Insight’s Managed XDR platform serves as a security operations and AI ops head — that means a comprehensive dashboard that not only keeps you secure but also lets you analyze vast amounts of data in near real time. The benefits extend to the SecOps center, where human expertise is complemented by Machine Learning (ML) and AI.
2. Your program accelerates troubleshooting and resolution.
Efficient troubleshooting and resolution are critical parts of an effective security program. Security teams often find themselves flooded with alerts, leading to subpar response times and gaps that hackers can easily take advantage of. A robust program speeds up the troubleshooting process through advanced analytics, automation and modern threat detection capabilities.
I’ll give you an example: One of Insight’s clients, an NBA organization, had been dealing with too much noise in its Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) environment. Security incidents were being camouflaged, posing risks to the business. We delivered a customized environment, and with the dynamics of AI at scale, automated incident response and more, our client cut reporting time by 97%. Security data generated anywhere in the environment is now aggregated in one place for optimal visibility and analysis. The org continues to create more and better-targeted alerts to help identify abnormalities and accelerate incident response.
SIEM is a critical component in any cybersecurity strategy. A strong SIEM management program enhances threat intelligence, log management and incident response capabilities — providing a centralized platform for security analysts.
3. Your program offloads operational burden from your teams.
Security teams that are already stretched thin often face the challenge of managing the operational load across the business. A strong security program alleviates this burden, often by leveraging Managed Security Services (MSS) to monitor networks, systems and data 24/7. This offloading of day-to-day defense responsibilities allows internal teams to focus on strategic initiatives and higher-value tasks, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
4. Your program enables more seamless growth and scalability.
In a world where markets can fluctuate rapidly and success hinges on quick pivots, scalability needs to be a core part of your security program.
The most effective security programs can enable seamless additions of new security capabilities and resources to support expanding operations. This can include adding new security technologies, increasing the number of security personnel or expanding security coverage to new locations or business units. This can be especially valuable during periods of rapid growth or when facing new security challenges.
When migrating to cloud, securing cloud environments becomes paramount. Managed cloud services provide a comprehensive set of tools and practices to fortify cloud infrastructure.
5. Your program improves accountability for reaching targets.
A strong security program ensures a way to confirm that your organization's security actions are consistent with its overall goals and risk acceptance. Cybersecurity requires accountability, and a solid security program achieves that by defining clear security objectives and tracking performance.
At the outset, developing your objectives should include not only complying with regulatory standards — but also matching security efforts with business priorities.
How to build these layers into your security program
While it’s very rare to have a powerhouse security program right out of the gate, we find that managed security services help clients start checking the boxes with confidence.
At Insight, we built an entire portfolio of MSS to make sure every business has a strategic shot at strong security.
Clients tell us they’re benefiting from:
- Highly flexible, fully coordinated security services from support centers worldwide
- Deep knowledge across various tools, ML, automation and more to help you simplify detection, protection and response
- Faster identification and resolution of attacks — from weeks or months to minutes or hours
- 24/7 safeguarding of the environment — across network, systems and data
- Quality standards and practices to deliver services and reporting for organizations under regulatory oversight
- Technical and consulting expertise
To sum up, organizations that consider managed services with the right partner are more likely to handle complex security challenges with confidence. From detecting and responding to advanced threats, to having centralized SIEM capabilities and strong cloud security measures, integrated solutions offer a comprehensive way of dealing with cybersecurity, allowing organizations to be always prepared for cyberthreats.
Transform your security posture. Insight provides a programmatic approach from identifying gaps to helping you implement and manage with confidence. Learn more here.