The document discusses strategically implementing secure hybrid IT systems. It notes that security has traditionally not been a priority in IT integrations. As organizations now utilize both on-premise and cloud-based systems, identities, data, and skills need to be managed securely across environments. The document advocates embracing hybrid IT by strategically defining a comprehensive security framework. It concludes that traditional perimeter security is no longer sufficient and recommends shifting to an identity-focused approach and utilizing experts to help integrate secure hybrid solutions.

1. Strategically Moving Towards a
Secure Hybrid IT

2. Introduction
Owing to lack of strategic foresight or sheer
laziness, security has traditionally taken a back
seat in IT Systems integrations. Lack of security
foresight in IT endeavors can impact businesses
in the course of time, thus it is recommended to
look into security related aspects from the very
start.

3. As we are in a hybrid era, a mix of IT touch-
points, including on-premise, cloud (multi-
tenant and/or single-tenant) infrastructure, are to
be secured. Most of the time we have the
understanding that security is perceived to be a
disabled, rather than be rightly viewed as a
workflow business enabler.

4. Why Your Business Should Embrace Hybrid IT
1. Managing and protecting identities is no longer a
stand-alone task — it takes into consideration a
complex set of criteria, including users,
platforms and applications. Identity management
has become dynamic. The security perimeter has
to be widened to incorporate identity while it
establishes interaction with data, tools,
applications and devices.

5. 2. Data is no longer just a necessary asset that
stays within the secure radius of an organization.
With mobility, cloud computing and
collaborative business environment — data has
become flexible and dynamic. Though the origin
of data could be within a single organization, it is
being used by partners, vendors, employees, in
the cloud, across nations etc.

6. 3. To stay competitive in the market, harness global
resources poll — there is an imminent need for
businesses to diversify beyond defined border.
Enterprises are to be empowered to confidently take
a step without getting stuck-up with security and
regulatory issues. This means securely moving to
cloud, strengthening existing IT setups,
synchronizing legacy IT systems, so on. It might
translate into strategically defining the complete
security framework — including approach, roadmap
and architecture.

7. 4. Staying in track with best of industry standards
and practices is crucial, as no one is spared, cyber-
attacks are the norm of the day. Researching about
breaches that occurred in large organizations
can help in developing security solutions for both
on-premises and in the cloud to detect threats and
respond immediately. Furthermore, how
vulnerabilities enter in to the system is also
important and includes monitoring super users’
accounts.

8. 5. Cloud and on-premise need different skill sets to
keep the system running, integrated and optimized.
They need to possess a working knowledge of
varied capabilities including SOA, automation,
vendor management, application migration &
integration, establish work-flows in distributed IT
architectures, PAM, API, hybrid IT monitoring and
so on. The IT professionals need a wide range of
talents that allow them to juggle between various
technical hats.

9. Conclusion
For a modern hybrid enterprise, relying on traditional
perimeter security is not sufficient. It has found that
forward-thinking enterprises are shifting their security
focus from eroding perimeters to user identities — and the
results have been impressive. Avancer, an IT Security
specialist, offers strategic insights in how to implement
secure hybrid IT solutions end-to-end. Avancer’s experts
can help in tactical integration of Centrify’s solutions to
create a connected, integrated and comprehensive IT
environment.