IT security shouldn’t be a drag on your business

Kris Hagerman
Kris Hagerman
Sophos CEO

As the volume and complexity of threats increase, and user devices multiply, the traditional way security is practiced in many enterprises has become a drag on business growth, slowing innovation down rather than supporting it. I believe it’s time to change the model and re-think how security is implemented and managed.

Some companies are already doing this. An emerging breed of pragmatic enterprises recognizes that complex issues don’t always require complex solutions. When it comes to IT security, good security shouldn’t require the undivided attention of the IT team to make it work. That’s why at Sophos we’re all about “Security Made Simple.”

For example, our Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliance covers all the essential bases of a solid security policy—from antivirus and spam protection to web filtering and wireless security. While the traditional “best-of-breed” approach to security forces IT departments to integrate and manage multiple complex security products, UTM is simple to implement and manage with just a single box.  

Another development for the pragmatic enterprise to consider is cloud-based security-as-a-service, where the management of the security process is handled remotely by a specialist MSP (managed security provider). This has the advantage of flexible licensing, where companies pay for only the services they’re using, without tying up capital in under-used hardware and software.

Lastly, the explosion of mobile devices (tablets, smartphones, etc.) leaves IT organizations with gaping holes in their security posture, and for no reason. With user-centric security models, one simple policy can move with the user, regardless of which device they have in their hands at the time.

Why make things more complicated than they need to be? IT should drive innovation and growth, not bog down your business with complexity. Pragmatic security means delivering comprehensive protection, freeing up a company’s most valuable resource: its people’s brains, talent and time.

Editor’s note: A version of this article originally appeared in Real Business.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *