How Do You Know if Your IT Security Strategy is Working?
Organizations like yours invest significant resources into their security strategies. The time and money you spend are often worth the protection your organization receives, but the amount of resources you allocate is no guarantee that your current strategy is working. Periodically reviewing security measures helps ensure your organization isn’t vulnerable to threats.
But what exactly do you look for when analyzing your strategy? Here at Spot Migration, we have ample experience identifying ineffective measures and improving strategies based on organizational needs. Read on to discover signs that your security strategy is working and understand when you might need to make changes. If you have any questions please give us a call at (312) 561-9703.
Your Team Provides Positive Feedback
Man in White Dress Shirt Sitting on Black Rolling Chair While Facing Black Computer Set and Smiling by Andrea Piacquadio is licensed with Pexels License
Aparna Rayasam, a chief product officer at Trellix, notes that 94% of IT (information technology) employees admitted a need to improve their organization’s overall security strategy. Thus, one of the simplest yet most effective ways to analyze security strategy effectiveness is by polling your team. Consider creating a survey for your organization’s IT employees to complete. The survey can cover topics ranging from communication between departments to the team’s readiness to manage digital threats. The responses may help your organization incorporate highly relevant feedback, as IT employees are the ones who frequently interact with and rely on your security strategy.
Transparency Is an Integral Part of Your Strategy
While a successful security strategy has many essential components, transparency is an integral part. Try determining whether components ranging from users to machines, hosts, and services have identities. Transparency and accountability help you track different actions and ensure everyone who accesses your network is an authorized user. For instance, you might determine whether logins to a server track not only the user but also the actions they performed and at what time they performed them. If your evaluations find that it’s difficult to track who performed what actions, you might implement tighter access restrictions.
You Implement Role-Based Access Control
Even if you determine that only authorized users can access your systems, you should consider whether your organization implements role-based access control (RBAC). This framework operates under the principle that not every employee needs access to every permission.
Assigning only essential permissions to each employee makes it easier to track activities and protect your organization from threats. At the same time, your employees should have enough permissions so they can efficiently perform their duties instead of depending on other employees for access. Organizations with the most effective security strategies tend to find a balance between consolidation and accessibility when it comes to employee permissions.
Your Policies Are Consistent
Another sign of an effective security strategy is its implementation of consistent policies. Ideally, policies should be complementary and not compromise the results of each other. Consistent policies also align with the organization’s goals and allow team members to identify the appropriate solutions. For instance, an organization might emphasize fast reactions to security threats regardless of the expense. A supervisor might schedule IT employees around the clock without worrying about budget restrictions, as 24/7 support is necessary for quick responses to breaches.
While effective security strategies tend to focus on consistency, their policies aren’t necessarily stagnant. Updating policies according to evolving trends ensures that the organization has the resources to adapt to new digital threats. As an organization updates its policies, it must inform all team members of the changes so they can continue to implement policies consistently.
Your Team Members Are on the Same Page
While the IT department commonly deals with security issues, all employees are responsible for ensuring the organization’s safety. You can determine whether team members are on the same page by analyzing their communication strategies. Ask yourself how often different departments meet to discuss how their interactions can contribute to the organization’s security. More frequent meetings or improved accountability strategies may help departments better understand their relationships with each other. For instance, IT employees might inform other departments to promptly alert them of suspected security issues and submit supporting materials accordingly.
Your Organization Implements AI
IT employees are smart individuals who can identify various security threats, but their skills can only take an organization so far. They also have limited time, so consider analyzing your organization’s use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI solutions can be much more effective at monitoring user behavior and alerting teams of suspicious activity. By automating these types of tasks, you can allow your IT employees to focus their efforts on other pressing tasks.
Your Organization Uses Few Platforms
Throughout the years, your organization may have adopted several platforms for implementing its security strategy. While these platforms accomplish different tasks, more isn’t always better. Different programs create obstacles within workflows and limit effective communication among employees. If you notice opportunities for consolidation, consider combining your security solutions into as few platforms as possible. One platform from a single vendor is ideal, as it can promote key values like consistency and accessibility.
Your Team Demonstrates Knowledge of Policies
If your security policies seem airtight on paper, the problem might be your team’s knowledge of the policies rather than the policies themselves. Consider testing your team’s knowledge by administering practical quizzes or conducting performance evaluations. If employees don’t demonstrate a proper understanding of your policies, you can implement additional training as necessary. Training programs might cover topics ranging from how to handle customer information to how to report breaches. You might also refine orientation materials to ensure new employees have the resources they need to succeed in their roles and ensure the organization’s security.
As this guide has demonstrated, you can look for indicators as to whether your current security strategy is effective. If you’re concerned about the safety of your organization’s data, be sure to contact Spot Migration today. You can rely on our fully managed and supplemental IT services to protect your organization from threats. Our team uses its years of expertise to identify vulnerabilities that tend to go under the radar. Additionally, we provide the comprehensive IT support your organization needs so it can focus on what it does best.
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