The traditional perception of security within an organization is as a barrier rather than a facilitator, imposing approval processes and regulations that inevitably slow down operations. In this blog post, along with our friends at Knowit Experience, we explore how a new mindset keeps growing. One that embraces security as an enabler and a business value contributor.
No more eye-rolls
Organizations’ security departments have traditionally operated as a barrier rather than a facilitator, imposing lengthy processes and controls that required other teams to navigate complex approval systems. This would often lead to inevitable sighs and eye-rollings when someone mentioned the word “security”. Times have changed – we’re now in a climate where agility is crucial and the slightest bureaucracy can significantly hinder innovation and efficiency. Employees know this, and to avoid being faced with red tape they might find workarounds, ultimately undermining the whole original purpose of security.
There’s a focus on delivering customer value faster and more efficiently than ever before. Consequently, the vast majority of organizations have adopted frequent code releases to production, with SaaS companies leading the pack by pushing new releases at least weekly. Where does this leave security? If not properly integrated, organizations will either fail to move at the required pace or have to sacrifice their security posture.
Shifting the narrative
To shift the narrative, it is essential for security teams to adopt the role of enablers rather than gatekeepers. But what does that exactly mean?
It’s a reality that each organization has its own security workflows and criteria for what is an acceptable risk in its business context. Not everything is an outright vulnerability. The challenge for many security teams is how to ensure that every team adheres to these internal policies. This is a daunting task, especially as the organization’s attack surface gets bigger and more complex.
Security in action
Let’s picture a realistic scenario in which an organization’s security teams act as enablers rather than gatekeepers: teams across the organization are constantly adding new assets and technologies without the security team being aware. Despite this, the security team is still accountable for ensuring these assets are secured.
This lack of visibility would create many internal policy breaches that can go unnoticed for months, or even years. However, today, these teams have the option of proactively monitoring their attack surface and setting up their own custom policies to be alerted as soon as an asset does not comply.
In a world where security is focused on proactive monitoring rather than requiring upfront approvals for every action, organizations can monitor potential risks in real-time without interrupting workflows. Security becomes a protective force that supports operational efficiency.
Own security together
With that said, we know that security teams should act as enablers. But it doesn’t end there. This mindset should extend throughout the entire organization. Everyone should adopt a security-first approach. When security teams work to support rather than hinder progress, and when developers and other teams are empowered to build securely from the outset, organizations can operate at the necessary pace while maintaining safety.
Security should not be an afterthought but rather a core component of the development cycle. By embedding good practices within developers’ daily routines, organizations can create seamless flows that protect assets without causing disruption.
The payoff
A security-as-enabler approach allows for faster and safer operations and provides organizations with added business value, including increased customer trust, enhanced brand reputation, continuous business operations, and easier navigation of the current compliance landscape.
Expert take
To gain a clearer understanding of how organizations are evolving to the notion of security as an enabler, we have the opportunity to consult with Dennis Adolfi – Head of Tech at Knowit Experience, a global IT agency that assists organizations in succeeding with their digital transformation efforts.
What’s your take on the meaning of being an enabler?
Being an “enabler” means creating conditions that empower an organization to explore new solutions—such as AI—without being paralyzed by fear of unknown threats. By establishing strong security processes and strategies, teams can manage risks continuously instead of shutting down innovative initiatives prematurely. In other words, a solid security posture can actually foster a culture of innovation rather than hindering it.
What common mistakes do companies make that prevent security from acting as an enabler for their organization? What should they be doing?
One major mistake is treating security solely as an IT issue. When security is labeled to a specific department, organizations lose the holistic perspective needed to protect their entire business. The most successful organizations we work with view security as a shared responsibility, where different teams collaborate and integrate security considerations from the earliest stage in the development cycle (“shift left”).
What trends will likely have an impact on organizations’ security strategy and operations?
AI and other non-deterministic systems are becoming increasingly central, making it harder to anticipate and circle the attack surface. This calls for a more structured approach to threat analysis—such as Threat Modeling and frameworks like the NIST AI RMF—and for tools capable of identifying unexpected vulnerabilities in real time, such as Detectify. By combining a broad, inclusive approach to security, a collective sense of responsibility, and systematic methods for threat analysis, organizations can both increase their capacity for innovation and maintain a strong security posture.
Security that works
It is no wonder that the key to effective security in the modern organization is to shift its perception from a blocker to an enabler. Only when security is seen as a facilitator of progress, rather than an impediment, will it truly be embraced and effective.
“Security needs to be pragmatic, it needs to be seen as a business enabler not as a blocker to be taken seriously. However, pragmatism does not mean undermining the importance of security.” Photobox case study, the story of a company that succeeded at transforming security as an enabler for faster product development.
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