Why Effective Hybrid Work Demands Networking & Security Team Collaboration

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the rise of hybrid working has become a significant trend. According to Forbes’ latest report, “Remote Work Statistics And Trends In 2024,” a staggering 98% of workers globally express the desire to work remotely at least part of the time.

Additionally, Gartner reports that 48% of employees will work remotely at least some of the time today, compared with 30% pre-pandemic. The report also finds that as of mid-2024, 26% of employees are working in a hybrid model, splitting their time between home and the office.

This shift has amplified the need for networking and security teams to work closely together to ensure the seamless operation and security of business networks.

The Need for Collaboration

With the increasing reliance on cloud computing, remote connectivity, and hybrid work environments, the traditional silos between networking and security teams are becoming less viable.
According to recent research*, a significant number of enterprises are recognising the importance of this collaboration. In a survey of 1,694 IT leaders worldwide, 44% stated that networking and security teams must work together, while another 30% emphasised the need for shared processes.

However, achieving this collaboration is not without its challenges. The survey revealed that 12% of respondents reported turf wars or struggles between the teams, and 34% occasionally faced problems working together. Despite these challenges, 54% of organisations reported that their networking and security teams currently work well together.

The Role of Zero Trust in Driving Collaboration

The adoption of Zero Trust is rapidly increasing as organisations strive to enhance their security posture and support digital transformation. A rise in remote and hybrid work environments are key drivers behind this shift as they necessitate robust security measures to protect distributed networks and endpoints.

According to a recent report, the percentage of organisations worldwide that have implemented a Zero Trust initiative has almost tripled in the past three years, going from 24% in 2021 to 61% in 2023. This growth is fuelled by the need for scalable, cloud-delivered security solutions that can provide secure access regardless of location. Additionally, the talent shortage in cybersecurity is pushing companies to adopt managed services. Embracing these models is crucial for mitigating cyber threats, ensuring compliance, and maintaining business continuity in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

The Impact on Networking and Security Teams

The growth in adopting Zero Trust models necessitates closer collaboration between networking and security teams due to the integrated nature of these frameworks. Zero Trust requires continuous verification of user and device identities, and combines network and security functions to support secure access from anywhere. This convergence means that networking and security teams must work together to ensure seamless implementation and operation.

For instance, networking teams need to understand security policies to properly configure network paths and access controls, while security teams must be aware of network architecture to effectively monitor and respond to threats. Misalignment between these teams can lead to security gaps and inefficiencies. By collaborating, they can create a unified strategy that enhances security posture and operational efficiency, ultimately supporting the organisation’s digital transformation goals.*

Real-World Examples of Convergence

One notable example of successful convergence is Carlsberg, which has consolidated its networking and security teams. Tal Arad, CISO and head of technology for Carlsberg, highlighted the benefits of this approach, stating that it eliminates turf wars and allows for faster identification and resolution of issues. This unified approach ensures that both networking and security operations work towards the common goal of maintaining business continuity.

Strategies for Effective Collaboration

To facilitate effective collaboration between networking and security teams, business leaders can take several steps:

1. Unify the Vision: Executive leadership should align the priorities of both teams with a common vision that supports the organisation’s higher business objectives. This unified vision will serve as the foundation for future collaboration.
2. Locate the Pain Points: Identify and address potential operational gaps or challenges that may arise from changing how the teams have traditionally operated. Understanding these pain points is crucial for smooth collaboration.
3. Start Asking Questions: Encourage cross-team communication by asking targeted questions that require input from both networking and security leaders. This approach helps to identify areas where collaboration is needed and fosters a closer working relationship.

*Asking the right questions.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

1. Incident Response:
   • “How can our networking team assist in identifying and mitigating security incidents more effectively?”
   • “What are the key indicators of compromise that our security team needs from the network logs?”
2. Network Design and Security:
   • “What security measures should be integrated into our network design to prevent potential threats?”
   • “How can we ensure that our network architecture supports both performance and security requirements?”
3. Policy Development:
   • “What network policies need to be updated to align with our latest security protocols?”
   • “How can we collaborate to create a unified policy for managing network access and security?”
4. Threat Intelligence:
   • “What types of network traffic patterns should we monitor for potential security threats?”
   • “How can we share threat intelligence data between our teams to improve overall security posture?”
5. Compliance and Auditing:
   • “What are the compliance requirements that impact both network and security operations?”
   • “How can we streamline our auditing processes to ensure both network and security standards are met?”
6. Training and Awareness:
   • “What training programmes can we develop to enhance the security awareness of our networking team?”
   • “How can our security team benefit from understanding the latest networking technologies and trends?”

Finding the Balance

Ultimately, the goal is to find a balance between network performance and security. Traditionally, security has been seen as a trade-off against performance, but this mindset needs to change. By working together, networking and security teams can achieve a balance that best serves the organisation’s needs.

In conclusion, the growth of hybrid working necessitates a closer collaboration between networking and security teams. By leveraging a Zero Trust model and adopting strategies to unify their efforts, organisations can ensure a secure and efficient network that supports their business goals.

Sources:

Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics/

SC Magazine
https://www.scmagazine.com/resource/how-network-transformation-is-driving-demand-for-sase-and-zero-trust-edge-services

Microsoft.com
Align your security and network teams to Zero Trust security demands
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/01/10/align-your-security-and-network-teams-to-zero-trust-security-demands/
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/hybrid-work

Zero Trust Adoption Report
Zero Trust Adoption Report: How does your organization compare? | Microsoft Security Blog

*CATO

Networking and security teams tasked to converge, collaborate | Network World