While cyber and IT may seem distinct, they are interdependent functions and essential for protecting modern businesses.
A well-maintained IT infrastructure is a strong foundation for cyber security, while robust cyber security measures safeguard IT systems from vulnerabilities and threats.
Ageing, neglected IT systems can be exploited by attackers or fall victim to hardware failure. A well-managed, up-to-date IT environment significantly reduces the risk of cyber threats or future issues with continuity. The bottom line is, your IT health directly impacts your cyber security posture.
Below is a review of the different segments of IT and cyber.
The evolving IT landscape
- Cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS): The shift from on-premises to cloud services has created more complex IT environments. Companies are now reliant on third-party services, increasing the need for secure access management, data encryption, and constant monitoring of cloud infrastructures.
- Edge computing and on-premise: Distributed IT ecosystems through on-premise systems and edge computing involve many connected devices, making endpoint security critical.
The role of cybersecurity in IT
- Identity and access management (IAM): IT systems handle the identity of employees, customers, and third parties. Strong IAM ensures that only authorised individuals have access to sensitive data, protecting against insider threats and breaches.
- Data protection and privacy: Cyber security is central to protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data. Regulations such as GDPR make compliance an essential part of both IT and cybersecurity roles.
- Vulnerability management: With the increasing number of applications and devices within IT, vulnerabilities are inevitable. Cyber security teams work alongside IT departments to regularly scan for potential vulnerabilities, enabling IT to patch systems and apply updates to reduce the risk of attacks or breaches.
Key areas of both IT and cyber
- Network security and IT infrastructure: IT is responsible for the infrastructure and operations of a network, including routers, switches, and firewalls. Cyber security provides the tools (such as intrusion detection systems) and expertise to monitor, protect, and react to suspicious network activity.
- Incident response: IT teams often lead the initial response to cyber incidents by identifying affected systems and recovering lost data. Cyber security professionals work to contain the breach and investigate the cause, forming a collaborative approach.
Challenges in integrating cybersecurity and IT
- Cultural gaps: Traditionally, IT and cyber security teams operate in isolation. IT often prioritises speed and uptime, while cyber security focuses on risk management. This dynamic has the potential to impact IT’s ability to maintain high-speed infrastructure and network uptime.
- Compliance and regulatory pressure: Integrating cybersecurity into IT environments often involves aligning systems with strict regulations and standards such as ISO and GDPR. These requirements can be resource-intensive for IT departments that are focused on growth and agility.
Future directions
- Zero trust architecture: This security model is gaining leverage in IT environments where no entity (internal or external) is trusted by default. Cyber security professionals work with IT teams to enforce strict access controls and continuous checks for all users and devices.
- Cyber-physical systems: As businesses deploy smart technologies in operational settings, like manufacturing and healthcare, securing the interaction between digital IT systems and physical processes becomes critical.
- Cloud-native security: As cloud-native environments become the standard, IT and cyber security are blending into a single operational team where microservices, and serverless environments require continuous security monitoring.
By allowing cyber services and IT to work together as a single team you greatly reduce your company’s risk of cyber attacks, whilst ensuring your systems are maintained, compliant and always available.
As has been discussed in the past, any attack or breach of your systems can have wide-reaching effects, from big fines to customer confidence in your brand. By working together, IT and cyber security teams can create a more secure and resilient IT environment.
Our partners Net Defence, offer comprehensive cyber security solutions and IT support to address both technical and human vulnerabilities, ensuring your organisation is well-equipped to defend against these threats.
Stay Up to Date With NEBRC
For further guidance on staying safe online, contact [email protected]. You can also stay up to date with the ever-changing digital landscape and security threats, by signing up for our free core membership.
The NEBRC is a Police led non-profit organisation that seeks to educate, inform, and support businesses across the UK on how to protect their business online through good cyber security practices.