FINAL WORD
So how do we go about building these
protective, intelligently porous systems?
Let’s break down what a network like
this would entail.
It starts with the foundation
Today’s digital organisations must
strive to build secure systems and
networks that are open and enable
the bidirectional flow of information,
support the needs of the business
and are simple to manage, all while
maintaining security. These networks
are not one element but a collection
of widgets, or to return to the wall
metaphor – bricks that need to be
glued together.
These bricks are crucial to the foundation
of your infrastructure. They must
strengthen each other, maintain the
integrity of the foundation, and provide
the necessary protection, but always
allow the free flow of ideas, information,
commerce and communication.
Control and security come
from the core
The core of the network is what enables
communication and interaction with
others in the broader digital ecosystem.
In stark contrast to rigid perimeter
defences and walls, the network
needs to provide protection without
compromising openness. This means
building digital infrastructure that is
responsive and flexible.
“Walls neglect
to address the
points at which the
threats originate,
allowing hackers
to persist and grow
more sophisticated
in seeking new
backchannels and
vulnerabilities to
penetrate.”
The solution to outdated perimeter
defences is to build layers of actionable
intelligence that seek to understand the
causes, behaviour, history, and nature
of those gaining access to the network
– similar to our unsung heroes, the
officers at airports and borders, who
ask travellers where they’ve been, why
they left, and what they’re bringing
in. These are all contextual pieces
of information that when analysed
provide actionable intelligence.
Defence and intelligence
are synonymous We need to build the same kind of
multilayer defence that the human
physiology provides: the skin (the
wall in this scenario) allows a natural
ebb and flow, but is supported by our
white blood cells fighting infections
internally. Meanwhile, the brain learns
how to avoid external threats using
contextual and actionable insights,
providing holistic defence. Today’s
digital organisation and its network are
much like a living organism that needs
intelligence for survival.
Walls neglect to address the points
at which the threats originate,
allowing hackers to persist and grow
more sophisticated in seeking new
backchannels and vulnerabilities to
penetrate. So in this day and age of so
many threats, how can we safeguard
against all this without erecting walls? Equally important is balancing visibility
and flexibility. To enable a secure
enterprise, you need to be able to see
everything on your network and to
evaluate new additions. Think of a device
that is added to the network: you need to
ensure that it is not introducing malware
into the network while also being
Most importantly, in today’s dangerous
cyber climate, they must protect the
infrastructure’s integrity, the assets and
data in the enterprise, and the users and
devices – guarding against malware,
hackers, data leaks and attacks.
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INTELLIGENTCIO
adaptable enough to accommodate a
new piece of the network.
This could be something as simple
as automating the process by which
a printer is added to the network
or creating guest permissions for a
contractor’s device once it’s been
verified. Crucially, networks must be
scalable so that they can keep pace with
a modern enterprises’ growth, as new
people and devices constantly join or
exit the fold, the network must be able
to adapt.
Moving beyond bricks in the wall
Our rich digital ecosystems can only
thrive and innovate via learning from
and evolving with the disparate digital
communities and netizens beyond
our perimeters, even if this means
occasional friction and conflict. Data,
ideas, digital currency, commerce, and
interactions rely on this two-way flow of
both good and bad.
It is true that like every building, every
organisation constructs defences around
its physical and virtual premises. But
all walls do well is isolate and create an
artificial sense of security. Instead we
must accept the reality that in today’s
cyber climate, threats are bound to find
their way in.
To move forward, we must build layers
of defence, visibility, and intelligence
that are adaptive, responsive and
secure – ones that guarantee open
communication, engagement, and
unfettered commerce, but provide the
protection and openness we need to
thrive. It is about much more than just
adding another brick in the wall. n
“Today’s digital
organisation and
its network are
much like a living
organism that
needs intelligence
for survival.”
www.intelligentcio.com