4 Pillars for Integrated Security
All of us have data and services in the cloud and on-site. Whether we have local servers or just our laptops, securing your business means applying an integrated security solutions strategy.
What is Integrated Security?
An integrated security system is a centralized platform that typically combines or “integrates” two or more electronic security systems such as access control devices, video surveillance, or wireless alarm systems. This integration makes it easier to manage all of these seemingly disparate components and adds a layer of security to the organization.
What are the Purposes of Integrating Security System Solutions?
The following 4 pillars for integrated security solutions create a foundation that can be applied and adapted for your business.
4 Pillars of Integrated Security Solutions
1. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IAM protects users’ identities and controls access to valuable resources based on user roles and responsibilities, risk levels, and regulatory (or policy) requirements. IAM solutions are often a collection of logins, each with their own requirements and processes, such as multi-factor authentication. Integrated IAM solutions simplify the user experience, improve security, and lower hard and soft costs.
2. Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)
ATP protects against advanced threats and, if done well, helps you recovery quickly when attacked. ATP is more than “next gen” email protection. ATP applies to threats from infected websites and human behavior exploits. Integrating ATP into your security architecture helps prevent increasingly sophisticated attacks from succeeding.
3. Information Protection (IP)
Information Protection shares the same acronym, IP, as intellectual property. This fits well as Information Protection ensures your documents, emails, and other communications are seen only by those authorized to do so. IP uses encryption, advanced access controls, recipient validation, and other services to manage data visibility. Integrated Information Protection is key to security hybrid cloud/on-site environments effectively.
4. Security Management
Security Management gives you visibility and control over your security tools, processes, and activities. As part of an integrated security architecture, Security Management empowers you to assess risk and compliance, manage services, and respond effectively.
How to Include Integrated Security Services
How do you know if your integrated security solutions architecture is up to stuff? Do you have opportunities to simplify security for your team? To save money? Here is a roadmap.
ASSESS
Assess your current security architecture against your regulatory, industry, and business requirements. Ensure you have the necessary components, policies, and procedures. Assess the “user experience” and look for ways to simplify. If security is a burden, users will finds ways to sidestep the data protections.
PLAN
Plan you updated security integration. Understand the impact on your systems, and your people, and how you will make the changes. Communicate your needs and plans, as communications is key to success.
EXECUTE
Make the changes. Too often, needed solutions get delayed or dropped as other issues arise.
Next Steps for Integration Security Solutions
Security, Privacy, and Compliance is a cornerstone of what we do. Contact us to speak with a Cloud Advisor; we are here to help.
