According to the the CAASM report, drawn from a survey conducted jointly by OverSOC and CESIN7 out of 10 IT security professionals surveyed admit that they do not have a good understanding of their perimeter. 48% lack management dashboards. The survey also reveals a "need to consolidate cyber data". Data consolidation and centralization are key to controlling the attack surface, and contribute to effective information system governance.
What are the advantages of data centralization? What are the best practices? What impact does data centralization have on information system governance?
Data centralization: what are the advantages?
Improving operational efficiency
"Data is everywhere": the famous adage also applies to cybersecurity. Data can be found in various security solutions, in Excel work files, but also in the brains of teams.
The dispersal of this data considerably reduces efficiency. Conversely, centralizing data in one place facilitates access, saves time and improves operational efficiency.
Enhanced data security
When properly implemented, data centralization on a single platform improves data security, ensures data integrity and guarantees confidentiality. Data access is traceable.
Optimizing governance and decision-making
Data centralization optimizes decision-making and, by extension, also optimizes information system governance. The challenge here is to get data to "speak", to correlate and contextualize it, to give it its full value. The aim: to make the most appropriate decisions to raise the organization's overall level of security.
This contextualization of data enables security professionals to better understand the complex relationships between the various components of the IS, and therefore to "make better decisions": prioritize vulnerabilities to be corrected, improve reactivity and decision-making during incident response, etc. This is what OverSOC offers with its its 3D IS mapping tool. In addition to being centralized, contextualized and updated in real time, the data is rendered visually and shared with teams.
Best practices for centralizing data
Identify relevant data
Data centralization is not an end in itself, nor is it a race to the top. Rather, it's about finding the most relevant data to support your security strategy. And there are many types of data to be aggregated: mapping of the various assets of the information system, telemetric data from the various security solutions used (log sinks, CMDB, EDR, etc.), data relating to risks, compliance and so on. Data that can be transformed into performance indicators is particularly interesting for assessing the efficiency of your security policy.
Successful integration of existing systems
From a technical point of view, one of the major challenges of data centralization is to gather and aggregate data from multiple sources. Different security tools often coexist within the same organization, each producing data at its own level. This heterogeneity of tools can complicate the task of data collection. The use of APIs facilitates data centralization and automation.
Choosing the right centralization solutions
Data centralization solutions are generally known as GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) platforms. They enable organizations to bring together data relating to security, risks, deployed action plans, etc., in a single location. The ability to link their various security tools (EDR, identity management solution, vulnerability management software, etc.) to the platform is a factor to be taken into account.
Beyond CRM platforms, CAASM (Cyber Asset Attack Surface Management) tools (Cyber Asset Attack Surface Management) tools automate the collection, aggregation and exploitation of security data, by mapping the information system. They centralize data and help teams to better protect the information system by identifying the entire attack surface, vulnerabilities and potential threats. CAASM tools can be interfaced with other tools in your information system.
By rendering the various aggregated data in the form of 3D cartography, a tool like OverSOC offers teams a clear, simple and universally shared visualization of the state of the IS. This is particularly important when it comes to talking to non-experts (Codir, for example) about IS governance issues.
Managing resistance to change
Any project requiring the implementation of a new tool can generate resistance to change. Choosing a data centralization tool that is easy to deploy and integrate into your IT environment is therefore crucial (a cloud solution with multiple connectors, for example). Gradual implementation of the solution and training teams in its use are also part of good practice in this area.
What impact does data centralization have on information system governance?
Simplified workflows
Access to information system data is a major stumbling block to effective governance: who needs access to what data, and for what purpose ? Data is generally stored in tools that communicate little or not at all with each other. As a result, each team has its own vision of the information system, and workflows suffer as a result.
The very purpose of centralizing data is to simplify workflows. Everyone gets the data they need. Operational teams find up-to-date, contextualized data, enabling them to prioritize corrective actions. CIOs and CISOs monitor action plans and build reports.
Easier access to critical data
Security professionals are also looking for centralization solutions that give them easy access to their organization's critical data: assets exposed on the Internet, vulnerabilities to be corrected, assets (applications, tools and services) considered critical to the business, level of anti-virus and EDR coverage on machines, entry points used by attackers in the event of an incident, etc. Centralizing all this critical data improves data accessibility. Centralizing all this critical data improves data accessibility. It facilitates risk monitoring, assessment and management.
Better management of regulatory compliance
Data centralization also makes it easier to monitor regulatory compliance of the information system, and compliance with cybersecurity requirements and standards. The quantities of data to be handled are particularly significant in the context of a compliance process or a project to obtain certification. Detecting and correcting non-conformities, for example, is made easier by the use of a centralized solution. Being able to rely on centralized, directly usable data is a considerable advantage.
Alignment with strategic corporate objectives
Finally, initiating a data centralization process positions information system governance as a support for the company's strategic objectives. Ensuring data security is essential to protect the business and reduce cyber risks. It also contributes to the company's business development.
How can data centralization be successfully aligned with the company's strategic objectives? By moving away from an overly technical stance, and translating cyber threats into business risks, while emphasizing the financial issues inherent in information system governance.
Data centralization at a glance
- In today's business environment, security teams have to deal with multiple tasks on a daily basis. There are an ever-increasing number of security standards and guidelines to comply with. All too rarely do teams have a complete, unified view of their information system, against a backdrop of multiplying security solutions and different data sources.
- A data centralization solution brings together all information system data on a single platform, automatically aggregating different data sources and rendering them in a format that everyone can understand. It facilitates data sharing within teams, the construction of dashboards and the monitoring of action plans.
- The aim of data centralization projects is to provide teams with a global view of their information system. Access to consolidated, enriched data enables them to improve efficiency, IS governance and compliance.
Data centralization is a prerequisite for effective governance: it enhances operational efficiency, optimizes decision-making, strengthens data security, and so on. All of which facilitate the workflows and data analysis inherent in information system governance. In a world where data production is exponential, knowing how to centralize and effectively analyze data is a competitive advantage.
Would you like to know how OverSOC can help you centralize your data and optimize the governance of your information system? Contact us.
