Develop a culture of collaboration for cloud security success

summary

Company culture is key to improving cloud security. As industries increasingly adopt integrated cloud automation systems, securing these environments is becoming more difficult. With the global cloud market expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2025, nearly 55% of organizations report difficulties securing cloud environments due to poor collaboration between teams. In industrial environments, where automation and IoT devices work together, security mistakes can lead to costly downtime or breaches. Addressing these challenges requires a cultural shift, as fostering collaboration and teamwork across departments is critical to success.

The human element: one of the pillars of IoT and cloud security

Security challenges often stem from human factors, such as misaligned priorities between IT, OT, and security teams. According to the International Study Centre. Studying the Cybersecurity Workforce Cloud security remains one of the most complex fields to manage. Integrating IoT devices adds further complexity, as these devices often come with built-in vulnerabilities, such as weak credentials or outdated firmware. Without proper alignment between teams, vulnerabilities in IoT systems can spread quickly across interconnected automation networks.


In smart manufacturing environments, these challenges are exacerbated. Vulnerabilities in IoT systems that monitor production lines or manage equipment can disrupt operations and compromise data integrity. Strong collaboration between IT and OT teams is essential to proactively detect and mitigate these risks.

Real-world lessons from Norsk Hydro and Capital One

The 2019 ransomware attack on Norsk Hydro provides a valuable example of cooperation under pressure. LockerGoga ransomware forced the company to halt production in 40 countries and return to manual operations. However, rapid coordination between IT and OT teams helped contain the damage and restore operations efficiently.


While Norsk Hydro exemplifies successful collaboration during crises, the Capital One hack illustrates the dangers of disruption.


The Capital One data breach that same year highlights how poor collaboration can leave cloud environments exposed. A misconfigured firewall allowed an attacker to access more than 100 million customer records. If security and networking teams had better aligned their priorities, misconfiguration could have been identified and corrected earlier. Both cases demonstrate that technology alone cannot address security challenges; collaboration and transparency are essential to reduce risks.

The high cost of silos in IoT and cloud environments

Operational silos between security, networking, and OT teams remain a major obstacle to securing end-to-end cloud systems. In environments with IoT connected devices, these silos can delay incident response, resulting in greater operational and financial damage. As IoT systems continue to proliferate, organizations that fail to break down silos risk leaving vulnerabilities unexamined, increasing vulnerability to attacks.

Building a culture of cooperation and transparency

Security is not just a technical issue, it requires a cultural approach that promotes transparency, teamwork, and shared goals across departments.

Basic steps to enhance cooperation

Cross-Functional Training: Regular training between network, security, and OT teams helps build mutual understanding and align priorities around shared security goals. Unified Threat Management Systems: Implementing Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) ensures that teams have a unified view of vulnerabilities, enabling more effective coordination. Cross-Departmental Meetings: Frequent meetings improve communication, break down silos, and promote better collaboration during incident management.

Case example: Organizations adopting CTEM frameworks report faster detection and response times through improved alignment between network and security teams.

Invest in cultural change for long-term resilience

Building a collaborative security culture requires sustained effort but offers significant benefits. Organizations that align operational and security priorities experience faster recovery times and less downtime. The World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2024 emphasizes that integrating cybersecurity with enterprise risk management is essential for long-term resilience.

In environments that rely on IoT and cloud-integrated automation systems, cultural fit is even more important. Without it, vulnerabilities may go undetected, putting security and continuity of operations at risk. By investing in cultural change, organizations ensure they stay ahead of evolving threats while maintaining smooth operations.

Final Thoughts: Go beyond tools to embrace culture

Improving security requires more than just tools, it requires a cultural shift towards collaboration. Companies that prioritize teamwork and transparency will build the resilience needed to thrive in the evolving threat landscape.


It's time to act. Companies that invest in cultural change will not only protect their systems, but will also build the resilience needed to thrive in the evolving threat landscape.