Cybersecurity is not just a part of the IT department

Cybersecurity is not just a part of the IT department—it is a distinct domain with its own goals, responsibilities, and methodologies. While cybersecurity may collaborate with IT, its scope goes beyond IT operations.

Here's a breakdown to clarify:

Cybersecurity vs. IT Department

1. Core Responsibilities

• IT Department:
• Cybersecurity:

2. Objectives

• IT Department: Ensures that systems run efficiently and meet business needs.
• Cybersecurity: Ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA Triad) of data and systems while minimizing risks.

3. Skillsets

• IT Professionals: Expertise in system setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Cybersecurity Professionals: Expertise in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, encryption, threat intelligence, and incident response.

4. Independence

Cybersecurity is ideally independent of IT operations to avoid conflicts of interest. For example, an IT admin managing a system might overlook security vulnerabilities to prioritize uptime, whereas a cybersecurity professional focuses on minimizing risks even if it impacts convenience.

Modern Business Practices

• Dedicated Cybersecurity Teams: Many organizations have standalone cybersecurity teams or departments reporting directly to the CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) or other executive roles, emphasizing its importance as a strategic function.
• Integration with Business Goals: Cybersecurity aligns with risk management and compliance, ensuring that security measures support business objectives while protecting critical assets.
• Advisory Role: Cybersecurity professionals often act as advisors to the business, guiding decisions on secure product development, data privacy, and legal compliance.

Why Cybersecurity Should Not Be Subsumed Under IT

1. Conflict of Priorities: IT focuses on uptime and efficiency, while cybersecurity prioritizes risk management, which can sometimes limit system functionalities.
2. Specialized Expertise: Cybersecurity requires advanced knowledge of threat landscapes, attack vectors, and defensive measures, which IT professionals may not specialize in.
3. Risk to Objectivity: Independent cybersecurity oversight ensures unbiased risk evaluations and prevents potential blind spots in IT configurations.

Conclusion

While cybersecurity and IT often collaborate, they serve complementary but distinct roles. Cybersecurity should be treated as a standalone function, ideally with its own dedicated team and leadership, to effectively safeguard organizational assets.