There are many reasons to avoid technology sprawl and ensure your systems house is in order. However, there is one area that often gets overlooked. That area is security.
What is Sprawl?
Let’s back up and define technology sprawl. It is not a hard and fast definition, but almost a state of an organization. Sprawl occurs when you have too many systems and are not sure what they do or how they do it. Sometimes, you do not even know why they do it.
This situation has become common in recent years as technology has bloomed via software as a service and applications for almost every business need. The pandemic made it worse as we saw layoffs and a loss of continuity in systems. The pandemic caused a lot of companies to pause or halt system development and upgrades, which caused some of those processes to fade into a sort of legendary status where no one is sure what is real about it anymore.
How We Got Here
Let’s get back to the security concerns. Defining the ins and outs is one of the first steps in securing a place or situation. For example, locking down a room starts with identifying all entrances and exits. If you miss a door, your security will have an easy workaround. Systems are the same. You need to identify what has access to your data and how in order to keep it secure. When we allow our systems and solutions to grow at will, things can get lost.
Fixing your systems via an IT audit and the subsequent systems upgrades and replacements can be expensive while taking a long time to implement. Security is not something you want to leave until next year. So, how does one address potential security flaws amidst technology sprawl?
Addressing The Issue
I recommend utilizing your entire team. This starts with security awareness. Employees need to be aware of the fact that they have access to data and information that is not meant for the general public. They also need to be aware of the many ways that hackers will try to take advantage of employees to gather that data. While it seems like a simple answer, security awareness programs are an excellent start, easy to implement, and often cost less than $5 per employee per month. Many of the security awareness programs and tools out there are not only highly informative, but they are also entertaining and often gamified in a way to keep your employees engaged.
Do a search for security awareness programs with your favorite search engine and get started today on a safer organization.
