What do you do if your network security operations lack collaboration with other IT teams?

?Align network security goals with broader IT objectives. ?Define shared KPIs for measuring success across IT teams. ?Organize regular cross-team meetings and workshops. ?Deploy integrated security tools for centralized monitoring. ?Encourage collaboration through training and recognition. ?Clarify roles and responsibilities within each team. ?Monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed. ?By focusing on these strategies, security engineer can bridge the gap between network security operations and other IT teams, fostering collaboration and alignment toward common objectives.

Align the people and educate continuously. Finitely establish the security processes and protocols starting with the physical. Consider, test, review and then decide to implement the technology. Tech is always last as you need the people to be ready and understand the practises required to make it work.

Communication: Initiate open and transparent communication channels with other IT teams to understand their workflows, priorities, and challenges. Regular meetings or collaboration sessions can help foster a culture of cooperation and mutual understanding.

?The network security team of a company frequently talks to the IT operations and development teams in weekly meetings and shared platforms. ?This helps to incorporate security measures into development, communicate infrastructure changes, and handle incidents promptly together.

Communication in security operations is continuous due to new and emerging threats. Notices at log on, frequent messaging by all communications channels with purposeful and actionable information is key. Allocate time for all to train and where appropriate certify with professional bodies.

Cross-Training: Encourage cross-training initiatives where members of different IT teams learn about each other's roles, responsibilities, and technologies. This can promote empathy, collaboration, and a holistic approach to problem-solving

?Integrated Communication: Use platforms like Microsoft Teams for real-time collaboration. ?Centralized Incident Reporting: Utilize tools such as ServiceNow for streamlined incident management. ?Knowledge Base: Maintain a shared repository on platforms like Confluence for security procedures. ?Automated Workflows: Leverage tools like Zapier for automating routine security tasks. ?Cross-Functional Training: Conduct regular sessions to educate teams on security practices. ?Scheduled Sync-Ups: Organize frequent meetings to discuss incidents & updates. ?Threat Intelligence Platforms: Utilize tools like ThreatConnect for collaborative threat analysis. ?Security Orchestration: Implement platforms like Cortex XSOAR for automated incident response.

Find best in class tools and become expert in their application. Certification is important however implementation and effective management of security issues and response is paramount and can only be achieved by daily work practise and established routines of monitoring, review and reporting. Evaluate new tools and add as needed to build and maintain a robust defense.

Joint Projects: Identify opportunities for joint projects or initiatives where teams can work together towards common goals. This not only enhances collaboration but also leverages the diverse expertise within the organization to achieve better outcomes.

Collaboration starts internally and should be open and honest to be effective. Collaboration with external partners and associates keeps the mind open to new ideas and techniques to improve your building security posture.

IT security should not be so extreme that it prevents effective and efficient day to day work. Monitor what comes in and assess risks, apply moderation and governance to what goes out to ensure correctness of practise and compliance with required standards. Each moment of each day can present new challenges so communicate to all in the organisation that awareness of potential threats needs to be constantly considered.

Leadership Support: Advocate for leadership support and buy-in to prioritize collaboration among IT teams. Leadership endorsement can provide the necessary resources, incentives, and recognition to promote a collaborative culture.

?Establish Clear Communication Channels: Set up regular meetings & use collaborative tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams. ?Cross-Functional Training: Educate IT teams about security protocols & best practices. ?Shared Incident Response Plan: Develop a unified plan for responding to security incidents. ?Information Sharing: Share threat intelligence & insights across teams using platforms like ThreatConnect. ?Collaborative Projects: Work on joint projects to integrate security measures seamlessly. ?Regular Updates: Provide updates on security policies, vulnerabilities & patches. ?Feedback Mechanism: Encourage feedback to improve collaboration & address challenges.

The keyword here is CULTURE! ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast,’ Peter Drucker was spot on about this. When it comes to information security, elaborate strategies are of no use if your team continues to use WhatsApp to store passwords (seriously, I've seen it) We need to establish a strong cybersecurity culture in the company, and I would highlight three main points: Awareness and Education: Teach people and show them that the topic can indeed be fun and interesting for everyone! Policies and Procedures: Don't let your policies and procedures gather dust in a drawer!!! Technology and Infrastructure: Security is a CAPEX! You wouldn't want to know the size of the OPEX when a serious security breach happens in the company.

It’s hard to even imagine the thing from this article. This is already about not only cybersecurity but about everyone. It doesn’t matter in which industry and how big a company is – everyone is involved. Security is everyone’s concern, and collaboration is a human factor: management levels needs to support this and not on the surface. Company health is a common goal that pays us salaries, and a cyber disaster can ruin everything. In this case, it is necessary to review all processes of awareness and culture creation in the company from scratch on everything that has already been done, with the participation of HR, and training, and decision-makers.