Data protection and digital privacy have generated significant attention from C-suite executives, with Securities Commission Boards of directors of public companies recently proposed sharing responsibility for overseeing IT security, compliance and risk mitigation.

As business leaders begin to educate themselves on the basics of Cyber ​​security, one of the things they cannot overlook is cohesion. With different security tools aplenty, leaders must ensure that the IT security group is working together – rather than creating additional silos.

Here's how to achieve optimal security group cohesion.

1. Achieving visibility across all systems

One of the biggest benefits of a cohesive IT security stack is greater visibility. During a time when cyber threats are more sophisticated than ever before, organizations can't afford to have blind spots – security teams shouldn't be chasing false results either. But a common question facing business leaders is how to do this increase visibility without necessarily reinventing the wheel or replacing some safety tools in the arsenal.

One way to maximize visibility and integration across systems is through a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform. SIEMs consolidate data from disparate systems to provide a centralized view giving users real-time visibility into the entire IT environment. It's one of the first recommendations I usually make to business leaders who want to better understand their organization's security posture without boiling the ocean.

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2. Strengthen API security

Once visibility is established, you must also assess security Application programming interfaces (API) through which your systems, tools and applications interact. In simple terms, APIs work as a supporting framework for mobile and web applications — and cyber criminals often take advantage of any security loophole in the API as a means of gaining access to an organization.

If APIs are not properly secured, they can become the next big supply chain attack, with malicious actors injecting malicious code during the attack and wreaking havoc on an organization. Actually, recent research found that cyberattacks targeting APIs increased by 400% from June to December 2022, and since then, they have shown no signs of slowing down.

Business leaders must ask themselves: how confident is the organization in its API security? How exactly are these APIs protected? APIs must have high levels of security; otherwise, they are no more secure than a standard password login.

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3. Provide flexible integrations

In addition to gaining visibility and strengthening API security, it's important to strive for flexible integrations into your security systems.

To achieve this, first determine:

• Are you integrating your systems through custom coding? While coding has its benefits, a major drawback is the long-term impact that will arise when engineers leave the company. US Department of Labor RATINGS that the global shortage of software engineers could reach 85.2 million by 2030, and the position is likely to be a revolving door between now and then. How easy will it be for the new engineer to continue working on this personal code? This creates a major obstacle to infrastructure modernization.
• What happens when you need to switch from one vendor to another, especially to meet compliance requirements or reduce budget? This is where identity orchestration plays a massive role. Traditionally, identity has been a bottleneck in the integration process, but through identity orchestration, enterprises now have the ability to add or remove vendors – including applications and services – quickly and easily. It's like a 'light button' for the technology suite, providing simplicity, flexibility and peace of mind throughout the user experience.
• Are you factoring? everything integration costs, even those that are hidden or come after the fact? I've come across selecting a new vendor because of cost savings, but then organizations forget to consider the track to integrate the new system into the ecosystem – and the hidden costs that can come with that. Often, these costs can be up to four times the cost of the new system, along with the need for 6-12 months to be effectively integrated into the organization. Fortunately, identity orchestration can help with integration time as well as long-term ROI.

Regardless of the size or sector of the organization, businesses are always looking for a more cohesive experience across the technology stack, where speed and security are optimal. This year, when all eyes are on security – including the Board's – is the ideal time to start paving the way to simpler and more seamless security integrations.