Challenges of Traditional Security Data Architectures

This is the second installment in our security data fabric series. If you missed the first part, you can read it here: Introduction to Security Data Fabrics

In this blog, we will use the metaphor of rapidly growing cities to illustrate the challenges faced by rapidly expanding companies in managing their security data.

Managing security data using old methods is like trying to navigate a rapidly growing city with outdated maps, clogged roads and isolated neighborhoods. Imagine trying to get across the city during rush hour with only a paper map and no GPS.

Problems with Old Ways of Managing Security Data

Scalability Problems

As a city grows, more roads and infrastructure are needed to support the increasing population. Similarly, as a company grows and uses more tools, it generates more data. Old systems that store all data in one place are like narrow roads that can’t handle heavy traffic. They slow down, making it hard to quickly find and use important information to stop security threats.

These old systems can’t easily expand to handle more data. To make them bigger and faster, companies need to invest in new, expensive equipment/tool stack, much like building new highways in a city. However, not all companies can afford this.

Instead, keeping the bulk of data in its original location and accessing it through a middle layer is like adding express lanes to existing roads, saving the expense of building entirely new infrastructure.

Lack of Flexibility

Just as a city needs to adapt to new transportation methods and traffic patterns, companies need systems that can quickly update and handle new types of security threats. Old systems are often rigid and slow to change, like a city with outdated infrastructure.

Updating these systems is challenging, time-consuming, and disruptive, similar to road construction causing traffic jams. This difficulty makes it hard for companies to stay protected against the latest security threats.

Implementing a middle layer for viewing data is akin to creating temporary detours and quick fixes, allowing for rapid adaptation without overhauling the entire infrastructure.

Data Silos

This happens when different departments or parts of a company keep their data separate from each other, like neighborhoods in a city being isolated from one another. As a result, it's difficult to get a complete picture of the company’s security because important information is scattered across various locations.

When data is siloed, security teams struggle to quickly find and understand all the information they need, delaying their response to threats and making the company less secure.

Consolidating key data into a central location while keeping the bulk of it accessible in its original place is like building interconnected roads, providing a unified, high-performance view of the entire city. This approach is crucial for detecting, remediating, and preventing malicious attacks.

Conclusion

Old ways of managing security data have big problems with scalability, flexibility, and data silos. As security threats get more complicated, companies need new, better ways to manage their data. Using newer systems that can grow easily, change quickly, and keep all data connected will help keep companies safer from security threats.

Learn how Leen  is working to address these issues faced by large security teams.

Schedule a demo with our team.