Cyberthreats have grown significantly in the last decade in terms of sophistication, volume, and associated cost. Security incidents such as ransomware and social engineering attacks are constant. According to IBM research, the average cost of a data breach jumped 10% to $4.88 million in 2024—the highest total ever.
While it’s impossible to guarantee that a data breach will never happen, I’ve seen many organizations leave their managed service providers (MSPs) because of data breaches that were preventable. Part of the problem is that MSPs and managed security services providers (MSSP) often operate in silos and perform separate functions rather than integrating their teams and services.
Without alignment between the MSP and MSSP, IT and security efforts can become fragmented. This not only makes an organization more vulnerable to cyberthreats, but also creates inefficiencies and distrust between leadership teams that negatively impact both operations and business strategies.
Given their shared skill sets, processes, knowledge, and objectives, integration of these teams and services is paramount for a unified approach to reducing an organization’s risk and maximizing their efficiency.
How to Create IT and Security Alignment
Open communication between IT and security teams is essential to ensure technology decisions, security priorities, and business priorities and processes are aligned. Defined roles and clearly understood responsibilities will prevent confusion and redundancy while promoting a cooperative working relationship.
Integration and communication will prevent security from becoming an afterthought. Organizations should never implement new IT solutions and figure out how to protect those systems and environments after the fact. Security must be embedded into IT operations and strategies from the start.
Why an Integrated Approach Works
When IT and security are on the same page and working together, organizations are better equipped to proactively detect and quickly respond to threats. The focus is on prevention, not damage cleanup. With greater collaboration and accountability, they maintain the trust of business leaders and employees, reducing the risk of rogue systems and mismanaged resources that drive up costs.
For example, an integrated approach prevents shadow IT, which happens when departments implement their own IT solutions without approval or oversight because they don’t trust IT to meet their needs. This can lead to security gaps and inefficiencies that make these departments more susceptible and slower to respond to threats. When IT and security teams and processes are integrated, shadow IT becomes unnecessary.
Who Should Lead Integration Efforts?
Integration of IT and security must begin at the top with executive-level support. When senior leadership prioritizes integration efforts, this shows an organizational commitment to security and efficiency. IT and security can then operate as a unified force with shared priorities and objectives.
Cross-functional team members, such as business relationship managers and other strategic roles, can help bridge the gap to ensure alignment and collaboration across multiple departments.
This process is typically managed in partnership with an MSP staffed by experienced, credentialed cybersecurity engineers and technicians who understand your business, security, and compliance requirements. The MSP will implement and monitor IT and security solutions that are owned by the client, make recommendations for improvement, and offer security awareness training for employees.
Conclusion
When IT and security teams are not aligned, the entire organization is at risk. Silos must be broken down and replaced with a culture of collaboration to enhance security, improve operational efficiency, and drive business success.
The first step is a comprehensive assessment of IT and security alignment, as well as the current state of IT systems and process, to identify gaps, vulnerabilities, and inefficiencies. This assessment should be performed by a neutral, independent third party that can then recommend strategies for better collaboration and more effective protection.
If you’re not sure where to get started, contact me today to discuss your challenges and concerns and begin the process of creating a sustainable path forward.
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