ASG's Security Solutions Blog

The Great Conversation Continues: IT & Physical Security Collaboration

  

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As we continue The Great Conversation, we hope you’ve had an opportunity to review and think about the three key questions we posed at the Summit. These questions or ‘conversations’ are focused on trends, technology and solutions intended to help move forward and find best practices for the future of our industry. As such, we continue these ‘conversations’ with the intention that they will help you strategize to make those changes in your organization.

In previous blogs, we’ve addressed the first two questions posed. Our final question brings up the importance of collaboration between an organization’s IT and physical security departments.  

Question #3

How do the IT and Physical Security departments within your organization collaborate to deliver increased value and how is the success of your efforts measured?

Most companies find that these two departments work independently and have limited crossover. Throughout our industry, the “status quo” is to divide these departments. While there might be a sharing of infrastructure, their daily tasks and reporting do not overlap or collaborate.  

Brett Arsenault, CISO of Microsoft and Mike Howard, CSO of Microsoft Global Security gave attendees an inside view as to how this critical element is needed in our industry and is working within their organization. If you were unable to attend this year’s Summit, take a moment to watch their presentation.

As evidenced by the answers we received from Summit participants, most companies have limited or no collaboration between the two departments. Additionally, their reporting does not have a mutual strategic approach and findings are not shared. This is an “old school” approach to each department.

Many organizations, although finding a resistance to change, are working towards a “one team” approach. These companies are discovering how collaboration does in fact work and allows each department to be more successful and provide better security throughout the entire organization.

Are your IT & Physical Security departments working together for a common goal? Is reporting shared? Is there a consistent, mutual strategic plan?

We encourage you to share your thoughts and provide insights from your own experiences as to how you are moving forward with integrating these two disparate departments.