How to Reboot Your Network and Security Strategy
- Coevolve
Key Takeaways
- In the face of rising cybersecurity threats, enterprises must assess their current security and reboot network strategies.
- Globally, over 2,200 cyberattacks occur every day: 1 attack every 39 seconds.
- Ransomware alone accounts for 68% of all detected threats across the globe, with current cybercrime damages estimated at $10.29 trillion.
- A report found that AI-automated phishing emails achieved 54% click-through rates compared with 12% for standard attempts (a 4.5× increase).
- Traditional security strategies are no longer adequate in today’s complex environment.
- A holistic approach is the best way forward for ensuring robust security and reducing risk.
- Unifying existing solutions to ensure they share information will boost enterprise security.
Enterprises have always leaned on IT to keep up with evolving business needs, incorporating new and innovative technologies as and when they became available. As a result of this dependency on IT, it is not uncommon for global enterprises today to be working with diverse architectures. These architectures range from physical servers to cloud-based virtual machines to containers and serverless functions.
Increased complexity from having to manage multiple environments is one consequence of such IT solutions. The other, far more concerning side effect is that fragmented IT infrastructures invariably result in security measures and policies being applied inconsistently, increasing business risk.
Growing calls for a unified network and security strategy
Ensuring security in global IT environments has become a top priority for IT leaders, especially as more organizations move their data and workloads to the cloud. However, given the extent of architectural change that most enterprises have gone through over time, traditional security strategies may no longer be adequate.
This shift has led to the rise of a unified network and security strategy, with many industry leaders now choosing this option. Simply put, a unified strategy converges the network and security layers to enhance the enterprise’s ability to safeguard its network, respond to threats, and adapt its security strategy to align with evolving business needs.
Most modern-day enterprises already have a number of security strategies in place. Some common strategies include data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to secure cloud workloads, and data and robust identity access management (IAM) to ensure that the right people are accessing the right machines for the right reasons.
Enterprises may also be using security information and event management (SIEM) platforms that combine user and entity behavior analytics with AI and machine learning capabilities to interpret abnormal activities as threats. In addition, cloud security posture management (CSPM) practices to eliminate security blind spots might be in place.
These options have several benefits. However, without a unified network and security strategy, the individual security measures end up in silos, leading to operational inefficiencies, increased complexity, and decreased visibility. This limits the overall effectiveness of enterprise security.
With the rise of cybersecurity threats, unified security must be top of mind
Maintaining a competitive edge is key for forward-thinking enterprises today. Fortunately, the proliferation of the cloud has enabled enterprises to build intelligent, resilient, and scalable IT infrastructures. However, increased reliance on the cloud has coincided with a rampant increase in cybercrime in recent years.
Globally, over 2,200 cyberattacks occur every day: 1 attack every 39 seconds. Ransomware alone accounts for 68% of all detected threats across the globe, with current cybercrime damages estimated at $10.29 trillion.
In 2026, we are forecasted to see more sophisticated cyberattacks, as methods of persuasion, access, and tooling are far cheaper and more accessible to cybercriminals and hackers, particularly with the rise of AI. In fact, a telemetry-based report found that AI-automated phishing emails achieved 54% click-through rates compared with 12% for standard attempts (a 4.5× increase).
Modern security threats increasingly target enterprises’ core digital infrastructures, which can leave them crippled. Not only are security lapses detrimental to employees, customers, and assets, but they can also cause irreparable damage to an enterprise’s reputation and customer trust. Continued reliance on siloed security strategies for various environments, tools, processes, and teams can therefore put enterprises at a major disadvantage when it comes to protecting core digital infrastructure.
A unified approach to security is key to success
A unified approach to security allows enterprises to detect, investigate, and respond to threats that impact their digital applications before they become full-fledged security incidents. Converging existing security protocols maximizes the effectiveness of enterprise security and gives organizations the following advantages and benefits:
Early adopter enterprises today are addressing the security needs of multiple environments through a holistic approach. A unified network and security strategy is the way forward – and it requires a rejection of traditional approaches to network security. A unified approach involves a fundamental reboot based on the following considerations.
Considerations for unifying your security strategy | Key benefits of unified security |
Need for greater visibility across users, applications and data | Provides a single view across users, devices, applications, and security events |
Increasing operational complexity | Seamless information exchange between network and security layers enables smarter – not harder – work, boosting productivity |
Growing demand for consistent security enforcement | Enables centralized policy enforcement and stronger governance |
Pressure to optimize technology spend | Simplifies the technology stack and reduces the cost of managing multiple point solutions |
See the big picture of security overhaul
An integrated approach to security covers not only aspects of identity and access management, network security, endpoint security, data security, and incident response, but also risk management, compliance, and governance.
Given the sheer scope of security measures, unifying enterprise security calls for close collaboration between the network and security teams as well as other departments. This will help you to better understand interdependencies, increase visibility, and critically evaluate current processes for risks.
Along the way, a security overhaul needs to be supplemented with a flexible underlying architecture; one that allows organizations to adjust their security strategies quickly and at short notice. From a cost perspective, approaching security more holistically also enables enterprises to better allocate investment and resources.
Ensure nothing slips through the cracks
Today, IT and network management is a shared responsibility that sees enterprises and cloud service providers (CSPs) working closely together. Being clear on these shared responsibilities when it comes to the complex, hybrid environments is key to ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks.
The rule of thumb is that CSPs are responsible for the security of the cloud, while the enterprise is responsible for security in the cloud. This includes the security of the assets deployed in the cloud, such as applications, data, and workflows.
Leverage frameworks and best practices
Fortunately, enterprises today can lean on several methodologies and frameworks designed for unique business requirements. ISO’s Information Security Management System (ISMS) is well-known for its focus on network security, application security, and incident management, while the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) lays out best practices for IT service management, with a primary focus on meeting an organization’s business needs.
Over the years, better industry-wide collaboration on cybersecurity has resulted in other frameworks including The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF): an enterprise architecture methodology used by organizations to improve business efficiency. In addition, the Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture (SABSA) is used to develop risk-driven enterprise information security architectures.
Ask yourself the tough questions
For IT leaders looking to reboot their network and security strategy, the following questions can serve as a good jumping-off point:
- When was the last time you had an organization-wide conversation about security?
- Do you get your network and security teams together? Do they have open communication and collaborate regularly?
- Do you have a centralized point of control and visibility when it comes to security?
- Has your enterprise audited its security tools and technologies recently and retired any that may be redundant?
- What methodologies or frameworks is your enterprise security currently modeled on and is it still effective?
- How quickly can your enterprise adapt its network and security strategy to respond to changing business needs?
Enterprises today need to operate with the assumption that it is likely their network security is out of date. Luckily, modernizing enterprise security in the current climate no longer means adding more security strategies. Unifying existing solutions and ensuring they share information with each other is a more effective way of staying on the front foot when it comes to enterprise security.
In contrast, disconnected, siloed security strategies compromise the enterprise’s ability to scale and adapt to changing times. There is an urgent need for enterprises to assess their current security efforts and reboot network strategies to achieve greater resilience in the face of growing security risks.
As network technologies continue to evolve and increased competition drives pricing down, enterprises have greater access to security solutions than ever before. And they don’t always have to break the bank either. The advice to enterprises thinking of rebooting their network security strategies is simple: do your research and act now.
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FAQs
Why is reassessing my cybersecurity so important?
Reassessing your cybersecurity strategy is crucial to help reduce your vulnerability to cyberattacks. It’s important to ensure your internal systems are protected against evolving threats and risks. Regular assessments and security reboots enhance your organization’s security posture, maintain compliance within necessary regulatory frameworks, and safeguard sensitive data from possible breaches.
How can cloud-based services make a difference?
Cloud-based services can enhance your security posture by providing scalable security capabilities, centralized visibility, and continuous monitoring. Many CSPs also offer features such as identity-based access control and automated patching, which help organizations better protect their data and applications against security threats.
How can Coevolve help improve my network and security strategy?
Coevolve is a leading global provider of telco-independent Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and multi-cloud networking solutions to enterprises. With nearly a decade of experience supplying co-managed solutions and proprietary Smart Services, Coevolve delivers robust network and security strategies to help your enterprise develop agile networks for global applications.