Dive Brief:
- A new survey released Wednesday found digital transformation is quickly becoming a reality for many businesses, but security is often an afterthought in the process.
- The survey, conducted by Dell, found 85% of respondents say security teams can better enable digital transformation initiatives if they are included earlier in the project.
- Respondents indicated that security teams "often have been perceived as barriers to the business’s seamless adoption of new technologies because keeping the business secure trumps the benefits of technologies that foster employee productivity," according to a Dell announcement.
Dive Insight:
Only 18% of the survey respondents indicated that security has been involved in all of their digital transformation initiatives, and that when security is brought into the process, it’s often at a point where it’s too late to make a meaningful impact. Respondents said they believe the security team can better enable the business if given more resources.
The study also confirmed the momentum of digital transformation. Of the over 613 IT decision-makers responsible for security surveyed, 97% said they are currently investing in digital technologies to transform their business. But 75% of respondents say the need to increase employee productivity was the primary driver behind digital transformation initiatives, while 67% said the primary driver was business growth.
The study also offers strategies to help organizations change the perception of security teams from 'stumbling blocks' to digital transformation enablers.
"Today’s sophisticated, constantly morphing threat landscape makes it critical for organizations to evaluate their approach to security and ensure it spans not just the business, but also the devices accessing it and the practices used to enable that access," according to the study.
