Investing in the Right Architecture for a Security Fabric.

Today's challenges include modern and hybrid operating models, Software-as-a-Service, regulatory requirements, working from home, various types of internal and external users, and the phenomenon of BYOD (bring your own device).

Such challenges emerge on a regular basis, necessitating a flexible approach.

These flexible requirements frequently result in a plethora of specific sub-solutions for specific problems.

As a result, any company lacks a centralized view of which services, devices, and applications are used and for what purpose.

Additionally, the need for a professional cyber-crime expert (penetration tester) to further challenge the internal IT teams of any organization is important.

Based on existing gaps identified in systems, applications, processes, and protection mechanisms, these individuals attempt to steal data or blackmail organizations.

Connect and manage everything - There must be no gaps in security.

Every company's goal must be to contain and structure this uncontrolled growth. Enterprise security efforts must prioritize an open architecture that meets future requirements.A Security Fabric connects all identities to devices, data, applications, systems, and networks.

The goal is to achieve consistent security for everything from beginning to end.The main point is that no access is unmanaged or ungoverned.

The Security Fabric is built around five core topics that every well-defined Security Architecture must include:

Govern and Manage - The core components here are security frameworks, risk assessment and asset classification, and general IT risk management. Governance and security management are essential.

Protect - Covers data security, enterprise information security, network security, and malware protection.

These Building Blocks are designed to safeguard data, applications, systems, networks, and end points.

Detection - The goal is to detect potential attacks through various monitoring and Security Intelligence mechanisms.

Typically, this is carried out by a Security Operation Center or a Cyber Defense Center.

Respond - Knowing what to do in the aftermath of a cyber-attack is a critical component of a comprehensive Cybersecurity strategy.

Incident Response Planning and Processes are fundamental pre-defined processes that ensure all stakeholders understand what to do in the aftermath of an incident.

Recover - Developing the ability to recover from an incident and having some flexibility enabled by Operational Resilience is required.

Business Continuity Management assists organizations in maintaining some of their core services even when they are actively under attack.

The use of a fabric concept aids in the organization and structure of capabilities and services.

The Security Fabric is neither a tangible product nor a service.

It is a toolset and paradigm to define the right building blocks, to bundle them within capabilities, and to define services such as a "Protection and Detection Service" or a "Respond Service".

These services serve as the foundation for the organization's information technology security.

To benefit from advanced, central, and modern security concepts, applications must integrate into the Security Fabric.

This method also assists security organizations in maintaining a centralized approach and overview.

The Security Fabric provides an overview of the zoo of applications and services that run within an organization.

The fabric assists in structuring existing services, highlighting gaps, and revealing the existence of duplicated services.

This helps to improve the overall portfolio, optimize technology investments, and continuously improve security.

Security fabrics enhance security and flexibility.

When selecting your Security Fabric, consider the following:

The Security Fabric must have an open, integrated, and extendable architecture in order to meet today's requirements while also being ready for those of tomorrow.

It should support various deployment models, whether on-premises or as a service, with identical capabilities.

It should provide you with the flexibility and agility you need to build new digital services or integrate with legacy systems, thanks to dynamic orchestration and intelligence capabilities at its core.

Focus on developing a dependable toolset that can be fully integrated and easily extended by new services to meet future needs.

Because it takes a business-centric view of what you really need, having a Security Fabric in place helps organizations improve their portfolio, spending, and cybersecurity.

Kypros Politis.