# Cloud security and the ‘department of go’ Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-12-09 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: How Balancing 'Slow', 'Go', and Meta Description: Discover how companies navigate the trifecta of forces shaping technology growth - 'slow', 'go', and 'no' - and the role of URL: https://financedigest.com/cloud-security-and-the-department-of-gohtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-12958992781-1736814744990-compressed.jpg) ![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/kanwar-loyal-450x674-1736814744964-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Kanwar Loyal,_** _Director, UK & Ireland, CrowdStrike_ We might think of technology growth at many companies as operating around a trifecta of different forces: ‘slow’, ‘go’, and ‘no’. Balancing the requirements of these forces is what occupies IT decision-making and establishes the success and failure of projects, strategies and the overall likelihood of a [company’s success](https://www.financedigest.com/setsquared-companys-maths-system-adds-up-to-pitch-perfect-palace-success.html "SETsquared company’s maths system adds up to pitch-perfect palace success"). In one corner of the triangle, there is the network and traditional infrastructure. The network can support growth; it’s a known, accepted approach to achieving it, but it’s going to take a long [time to happen at most companies](https://www.financedigest.com/oxford-bus-company-outsources-for-the-first-time.html "Oxford Bus Company Outsources for the First Time"). They need to specify, cost, compare approaches, commission, build, test, refine and test some more. We might reasonably describe this as the ‘department of slow’. In another corner, there is almost the opposite force, the demand to upscale and innovate rapidly to increase or maintain [competitive advantage](https://www.financedigest.com/turning-big-data-compliance-into-a-competitive-advantage.html "TURNING ‘BIG DATA’ COMPLIANCE INTO A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE"). Agility is recognised here as a leading factor in the business’s trajectory. This ‘department of go’ demands considerable pace from the company and from IT, and has [embraced the cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/embracing-cloud-computing-how-and-why-organisations-are-set-to-invest-more-in-cloud-computing-in-2023.html "Embracing Cloud Computing: How and why organisations are set to invest more in cloud computing in 2023") fully, alongside other agile approaches like DevOps and Continuous Deployment. Then, in the remaining corner, sits security, which has historically been the ‘department of no’. The imperative to [protect the business has prevented projects](https://www.financedigest.com/the-hearing-protection-devices-market-to-project-invigoration.html "The Hearing Protection Devices Market To Project Invigoration") from happening, innovations from occurring and agility has been hampered. It’s created an unfortunate status for [security at many companies](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-protect-your-company-from-cyber-security-threats.html "5 Ways to Protect Your Company From Cyber Security Threats"). It’s similar, perhaps, to insurance. It’s something we [know we need](https://www.financedigest.com/g20-summit-what-you-need-to-know-now.html "G20 Summit: What you need to know now"). It’s something we pay for. But it’s quite difficult to [realise the value](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-predictions-realising-the-value-of-payments-transformation.html "2021 Predictions: Realising the Value of Payments Transformation"), the real contribution it’s making to the company’s forward momentum. That’s all changing. ### Making the triangle point forward This trifecta remained unchanged for many years, but in recent times, the creation of cloud-based cybersecurity, alongside the emergence of market-disrupting agile startups has really [shifted the dynamic](https://www.financedigest.com/new-research-from-impact-com-shows-shifting-power-dynamic-that-puts-influencers-at-the-centre-of-the-brand-consumer-relationship.html "New Research from impact.com Shows Shifting Power Dynamic that Puts Influencers at the Centre of the Brand-Consumer Relationship"). Companies know they can no longer accept practices, habits and traditions that mean the answer to [innovative projects](https://www.financedigest.com/taylor-fay-homes-recruit-cordant-projects-for-innovative-property-initiative.html "Taylor Fay homes recruit Cordant Projects for innovative property initiative") is frequently ‘no’ or ‘slow’. They seek infrastructure and [security solutions that can create a frictionless experience](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-experience-and-security-the-crucial-combination-for-banks.html "Digital experience and security – the crucial combination for banks") around new procedures, products and services. Solutions that allow agility to flourish rather than be constrained are now valued at all kinds of companies, and they [equally recognise that time](https://www.financedigest.com/nissan-and-renault-agree-to-overhaul-alliance-this-time-as-equals.html "Nissan and Renault agree to overhaul alliance, this time as equals") to market is a key indicator of the likelihood of growth. It’s this goal of frictionless progress that’s now driving [cloud adoption](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-adopting-cloud-technology-in-the-finance-industry.html "The benefits of adopting cloud technology in the finance industry"). We know now that cloud does not always provide the supposed holy grail of cost-competitiveness that people imagined it would be. But it does allow agile companies to get to market very quickly and [disrupt](https://www.financedigest.com/unprecedented-constructive-disruption-to-drive-the-h1n1-vaccines-market.html "Unprecedented, constructive disruption to drive the H1N1 Vaccines Market") markets, as we’ve seen with the new breed of digital-first banks, like Starling and Monzo, for example. And even the slowest-moving [industries are looking now to the cloud to see](https://www.financedigest.com/airline-body-iata-sees-industry-recovery-now-in-2023.html "Airline body IATA sees industry recovery now in 2023") how it can make them more agile. We’re now seeing quite conservative [financial institutions](https://www.financedigest.com/a-cloud-migration-guide-for-financial-institutions.html "A Cloud Migration Guide for Financial Institutions") that, 5-6 years ago said, “We’ll never move to the cloud”, making those moves because staying relevant requires it. We’ve [moved beyond](https://www.financedigest.com/the-high-fiber-feed-market-to-move-beyond-the-monotony.html "The High Fiber Feed Market To Move Beyond The Monotony") the typical ‘chasm of doubt’ around new technologies and up the bell-curve of acceptance: now, all of these institutions are describing themselves as ‘cloud-first’. Companies now want to be able to solve problems and purchase a capability in as little time as possible: almost like [buying a car](https://www.financedigest.com/4-things-to-consider-before-buying-your-dream-car.html "4 Things To Consider Before Buying Your Dream Car"). If you can’t buy it off the forecourt, then you’re [prepared to wait 1-2 weeks](https://www.financedigest.com/facebook-parent-meta-is-preparing-large-scale-layoffs-this-week-wsj.html "Facebook parent Meta is preparing large-scale layoffs this week – WSJ"), maybe a little longer for something special. But people aren’t prepared to wait for 12-24 months any more, like they used to for traditional IT projects, projects which regularly failed because the requirements and the [problems that need solving](https://www.financedigest.com/british-start-up-reveals-the-secret-to-solving-the-problem-of-identity-fraud.html "British start up reveals the secret to solving the problem of identity fraud") evolved during the period they were being worked on. Fortunately, being cloud-based, with only a minimalistic sensor app to install to endpoints, we’re able to roll out our [cybersecurity technology to large](https://www.financedigest.com/large-investment-success-for-basingstoke-cybersecurity-start-up.html "Large investment success for Basingstoke cybersecurity start-up") organisations quickly. That’s game-changing for several reasons. ### Speed bumps and guard rails The barriers to adoption for new innovations have [changed in the advent of cloud technologies](https://www.financedigest.com/how-technology-has-changed-our-lives.html "How Technology has Changed Our Lives"). It’s not really about cost or time any more, but risk. Any innovation involves some risk, and ultimately companies need to decide their [appetite for risk](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-dollar-climbs-to-two-year-peak-as-risk-appetite-tumbles-yuan-drops.html "U.S. dollar climbs to two-year peak as risk appetite tumbles; yuan drops"). That appetite can’t be zero, because otherwise they’d never do anything, but they need to be in a position where they have developed both the technology to reduce those risks, and a calculated level of [resilience that provides a match for the risks](https://www.financedigest.com/heineken-sees-europe-resilience-offseting-asia-slowdown-risk.html "Heineken sees Europe resilience offseting Asia slowdown risk") they’re planning to face. Bad things might happen, but their robustness in cybersecurity means the likelihood of that is reduced, plus, they can recover and move on when they’re attacked. They have the technology, but also the layers of planning and policy that mean even serious issues [don’t pose a lethal threat to the business](https://www.financedigest.com/pitiless-machines-will-kill-your-business-if-you-dont-respond-now-warns-servion.html "‘Pitiless machines’ will kill your business if you don’t respond now, warns Servion"). Reducing these risks at speed, so security is now much more aligned with the ‘department of go’, has had radical implications. [Security can now assist where innovation](https://www.financedigest.com/infosecurity-europe-agenda-spotlights-innovation-as-security-leaders-address-cybersecurity-spend-in-the-face-of-economic-headwinds.html "Infosecurity Europe agenda spotlights innovation as security leaders address cybersecurity spend in the face of economic headwinds") requires the use of service partners that don’t have the same regulation as our clients, such as mainstream cloud environments like Amazon or Azure. We’re able to help to provide guard rails for innovation, so projects can go ahead, even in heavily [regulated industries](https://www.financedigest.com/how-solvency-ii-transformed-itself-the-fund-industry-and-regulation.html "How Solvency II transformed itself, the fund industry and regulation"), but with much-reduced risk, including the necessary controls and meaningful contingency plans required by the likes of the FCA. And the necessary protection can be deployed at the same speed, with the same lack of friction, as these innovative projects. ### The new motivators The [technology growth](https://www.financedigest.com/innovative-apps-to-foster-the-growth-of-gene-editing-technologies-market.html "Innovative apps to foster the growth of Gene Editing Technologies Market") agenda has very much shifted. There are three key motivators for many customers right now, and they each revolve around time. The first is _time to deploy_. They want to deploy very quickly without any disruption, as we’ve discussed. The second is _time to operation_, so they’re able to derive the technical benefit of the project equally quickly. And the third is _time to value_, which is the end result of the first two drivers. [Creating value](https://www.financedigest.com/creating-sustainable-value-through-responsible-investment.html "Creating sustainable value through responsible investment") at pace is the real advantage in cloud-based security. [Costs are something you pay](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-strikes-protests-in-europe-over-cost-of-living-and-pay-2.html "Factbox-Strikes, protests in Europe over cost of living and pay"), but value is something you start to accrue from the moment the rollout is operational. So, then, there’s a big difference in the value calculation between projects that take two weeks compared to those that take two years. For cloud-based cybersecurity, that value means both doing the fundamental work required to protect the business, but also helping to de-risk the business’s forward momentum. The best of both worlds. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---