January 5, 2009

Data-Centric Security Requires Devolution, Not A Revolution

CISOs Must Revisit The Need To Centrally Control Data Security

by Andrew Jaquith

with Khalid Kark, Stephanie Balaouras, Rachel A. Dines

Executive Summary (This is a document excerpt)

Despite years of investments in technology and processes, protecting enterprise-wide data remains a maddeningly elusive goal for chief information security officers (CISOs). Software-as-a-service (SaaS), Web 2.0 technologies, and consumerized hardware increase the number of escape routes for sensitive information. Regulations, statutes, and contractual expectations drown CISOs in audit requests and ratchet up the pressure to do something about the problem. Meanwhile, hordes of vendors confuse CISOs with innumerable sales pitches. Forrester believes there is a better way to secure corporate data — stop trying so hard. Instead, devolve responsibility to the business, keeping controls closest to the people who use the data. IT security should be primarily responsible only for deploying data protection technologies that require minimal or no customization.

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