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Why Security & Profitability Go Hand-In-Hand
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PaloJoel
PaloJoel,
 User Rank: Apprentice
6/9/2014 | 7:02:16 PM
Security is a competitive advantage plain and simple
If your more secure than your competitors, if you do it more efficiently from a man power perspective, and you get a better investment yield on security technologies than your competitors its a competitive advantage to the business.


Better security controls, better efiiciencies, and better investment yield equals an advantage verse other companies who loose more data, see more breaches, have larger teams, and burn through ever increasing wads of cash.


The CEO of Target was fired not because their virtualization strategy was incomplete, or they lost a server, or the TCO and cost savings in reduced travel and better decision making through video conferencing did not compute.  It was not really even due to his job performance.  It was because they were less secure than Walmart, were not as efficient as Macys, and did not get a good return on their investment(s) like Kohls.  Presuming Walmart is safe, Macys is efficient, and Kohls see a good return.


Target was and may still be at a competitive disadvantage due to less relevant security controls, operational ineffiiencies, and poor investment yield in reducing risk from their legacy controls.


Bottomline- If i am robbed less, protect myself better, do it more easily, and spend less doing it than the other guy I am going to grow faster and be more profitable.


The real question business leaders should be asking security practioners is make my security a competitve advantage verse " how do i get you to stop draining my pockets."

 
Bprince
Bprince,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/28/2014 | 9:23:47 PM
Ultimately though...
I agree with Randy. Once you get beyond regulatory compliance requirements, it is easy for security to be viewed a lot like medical insurance - you have to have it, but you don't necessarily need the best insurance plan being offered. At least not until you are sick. I think that's just a conundrum that security pros are going to have to deal with whenever it's budget time.

BP
Marilyn Cohodas
Marilyn Cohodas,
 User Rank: Strategist
5/22/2014 | 4:12:22 PM
Re: Why Security & Profitability Go Hand-In-Hand
It is hard to justify, but in the wake of recent events, you would think that the case is a little easier to make. The structural issue, is one that seems really out of whack with today's reality -- with the IT teams broken into application, server, infrastructure, desktop  -- none of which is directly responsible for security. 


Do you find that consistent in organizations you've worked in or that of your colleagues
Randy Naramore
Randy Naramore,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/22/2014 | 9:19:20 AM
Why Security & Profitability Go Hand-In-Hand
Hard to justify security in an organization from a profitability perspective. It is definitely a necessary evil but unless you have been affected directly by breaches or such it does not mean much.


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