Are Expenditures on NHI Justified? – Source: securityboulevard.com

Does Your Cybersecurity Strategy Justify NHI Costs?

Organizations must frequently evaluate their strategies to ascertain if the costs of implementing and maintaining specific security measures are justified. The scenario is no different when it comes to Non-Human Identities (NHIs) and their associated costs. So, is the investment in NHI management justified? The answer, quite simply, is a resounding “yes.” Let’s delve into why.

NHIs: A Crucial Pillar of Cybersecurity

NHIs represent machine identities that include encrypted passwords, tokens, keys, or other unique identifiers that serve as “passports”. The associated permissions granted by a destination server act as the “visa” that allows the identity to operate. Hence, managing NHIs and their secrets involves not just securing the identities and permissions, but also monitoring their behaviors.

Given our increasing reliance on cloud-based solutions, the importance of robust NHI management cannot be overstated. A study by the research firm Ratish Agarwal predicts that the global cloud services market will reach $612.3 billion by 2023. With such a high stake, implementing an effective NHI management strategy is not only wise but also crucial.

Contextual Benefits of NHI Management

The value of NHI management transcends mere technicalities. It delivers tangible benefits that justify its cost, including:

1. Reduced Risk: NHI management enables proactive identification and mitigation of security risks, hence reducing the likelihood of breaches and data leaks.

2. Improved Compliance: NHI management facilitates compliance with regulatory requirements by providing policy enforcement mechanisms and audit trails.

3. Increased Efficiency: Automating NHI and secrets management allows security teams to focus on strategic initiatives, hence boosting efficiency.

4. Enhanced Visibility and Control: A centralized view for access management and governance, coupled with insights into ownership, permissions, usage patterns, and potential vulnerabilities, leads to improved control over your cyber.

5. Cost Savings: NHI management reduces operational costs by automating secrets rotation and NHI decommissioning.

ROI on NHI Investments

Estimating the return on investment (ROI) for NHI management is key to understanding if the expenditures are justified. This calculation is not straightforward, as it involves quantifying the potential cost savings achieved through risk mitigation, increased efficiency, and improved compliance. A report reveals that organizations with mature NHI management strategies experience a 60% reduction in the likelihood of breaches and data leaks. This reduction directly impacts the company’s bottom line and serves as a critical ROI indicator for NHI investments.

The Big Picture

Many organizations might view NHI management as an unnecessary expenditure. Still, the reality is that its holistic approach to securing machine identities and secrets extends beyond mere cost savings. With enterprises increasingly move towards cloud-based environments, the relevance and significance of managing NHIs become undeniable.

Moreover, with the growing emphasis on data protection regulations, the importance of demonstrating compliance cannot be ignored. Enterprises operating in sectors such as finance, healthcare, travel, DevOps, and SOC teams stand to gain immensely from robust NHI management.

The tangible and intangible benefits, coupled with the potential to mitigate cybersecurity risks and improve compliance, make a compelling argument for the justification of NHI costs. It is essential to revisit traditional cybersecurity strategies and enhance them with forward-thinking practices like NHI management.

If you seek to secure your cyber environment while meeting regulatory standards and streamlining operational processes, investment in NHI management is not merely an expense. It is a strategic decision for future-proofing your cybersecurity infrastructure. Remember, when it comes to cybersecurity, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The Broader Implications of Implementing NHI Management

Deploying NHI management has strategic, operational, and regulatory implications that stretch far beyond cybersecurity. By integrating these practices, you directly impact overall business performance and reputation—a fact supported by a study conducted, a renowned data management expert. Companies that proactively manage their NHIs report not only significantly lower risk exposure but also an enhanced trust quotient from customers and regulatory bodies.

Importantly, implementing robust NHI management systems is not only a prudent business strategy for the enterprise itself. It also contributes to the broader goal of nurturing a more secure and trustable cyber ecosystem. By mitigating the risk of creating ‘weak links’ in cyberspace, we can collectively work towards creating a safer, more reliable digital realm.

Addressing Concerns about NHI Management

Despite its profound benefits, some organizations might have reservations about adopting NHI management due to perceived complexity, cost, and the necessity of achieving organization-wide buy-in. These concerns, while valid, can be effectively addressed by adopting a phased implementation approach and integrating NHI management systems with existing cybersecurity infrastructures. This can be achieved by providing adequate training and resources to the team, effectively addressing staff resistance, fostering a cybersecurity-aware culture, and embedding NHI management compliance into broader operational and strategic processes.

Pitfalls of Corner-cutting in NHI Management

Some companies might be tempted to cut corners and implement partial NHI management solutions. However, as stressed in her research, this approach often proves to be a costly mistake in the long term. Piecemeal solutions often leave hidden vulnerabilities that can be exploited by threat actors—resulting in vastly inflated damage when compared to the initial savings. Therefore, a comprehensive, end-to-end NHI management strategy is always the optimal choice.

There is a rapidly growing recognition of the vital role that NHI management plays. Complex digital laden with sophisticated threats, requires organizations to reassess NHI management’s strategic value.

Adopting a well-planned, robust NHI management system is undoubtedly a substantial expense for businesses. Nonetheless, it is an investment that safeguards an organization’s digital arsenal—not just for today but for the future as well. With businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based solutions and the volume of digital transactions continues to grow, the importance of effective NHI management cannot be ignored.

When more sectors recognize the benefits of dedicated NHI management, adoption rates are set to rise, contributing to stronger overall cybersecurity resilience. It is important for organizations—regardless of industry or size—to understand the strategic relevance of NHI management. The associated costs, while significant, are justifiable when weighed against the potential risks and long-term savings.

Therefore, organizations must view NHI management not as an extraneous expense, but as a critical component of their cybersecurity portfolios—one that offers significant return on investment through reduced risk, improved compliance, and enhanced operational efficiencies.

Remember, we are investing in the strength and resilience of our cybersecurity infrastructure, which, ultimately, is an investment in our organization as a whole.

The post Are Expenditures on NHI Justified? appeared first on Entro.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Entro authored by Alison Mack. Read the original post at: https://entro.security/are-expenditures-on-nhi-justified/