Welcome to the second part of our blog series in which we focus on the central aspects of IT security. In the first part, we looked at the role of IT assets and the support provided by enterprise architecture management as a tool for mapping the information network. Now we turn our attention to business processes and show how they can be captured for the information network using business process management tools.
The role of processes in the information network
Business processes create structure and an overview of a company’s workflows. They define how tasks, resources and technologies are efficiently utilised in order to achieve goals. Through clear procedures, processes ensure consistent product and service quality and support compliance with standards. They promote the company’s adaptability and enable continuous improvement. At the same time, they create the basis for scalability so that the company can react flexibly to changes. As central building blocks of value creation, business processes strengthen competitiveness and innovative strength and contribute to the sustainable development of the company.
In the information network, business process management (BPM) helps to define and implement security requirements in a structured manner along the process chain. These requirements relate, for example, to the protection needs of the business processes and the data processed within them. The protection requirement describes the extent to which certain information must be protected against threats such as unauthorised access (confidentiality), data loss (availability) or manipulation (integrity). This ensures that the security measures correspond to the actual requirements and the dynamics of the company processes.
Business process management as a tool for ensuring process integrity
With modern BPM tools such as SAP Signavio, processes can not only be modelled, but their security-critical components such as risks and control measures can also be specifically identified. Risks include potential threats or vulnerabilities within the processes, while controls represent the requirements that need to be implemented to minimise these risks. This allows companies to define all relevant security requirements early on in the process design and automatically transfer them to the supporting IT landscape. This “inheritance” of security requirements ensures consistent and end-to-end protective measures that are automatically derived from the requirements of the processes.
A complete view of the process chains allows potential weak points or risks in process touchpointes to be identified. This detailed view makes it possible to recognise and close security gaps along the entire process chain before they become real threats.
Cooperation between BPM and EAM to ensure the IT security architecture
The combination of methods from BPM and EAM provides companies with a comprehensive basis for documenting the information network. While the processes are identified and structured in BPM, EAM ensures that the associated applications and IT components are documented and integrated into the security strategy. This synchronisation enables a seamless security architecture in which processes and the IT landscape are viewed and controlled as a unit.
Cooperation between BPM and EAM significantly increases efficiency in the information network. Processes that are designed with security in mind using BPM transfer their requirements directly to the associated IT systems. This creates a consistent and efficient security structure that helps companies to minimise security incidents and manage security measures in a cost-effective and targeted manner.
Cross-process view and control of safety requirements
Clear process modelling makes it easier for companies to meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate compliance. The information network systematically documents all dependencies between processes and IT assets so that companies are quickly and effectively prepared for audits and can ensure compliance.
Advantages of BPM and EAM summarised in the information network
Linking the process landscape with the IT landscape
BPM and EAM enable close integration between business processes and IT systems, which not only increases efficiency but also takes into account the security requirements of the processes. This link ensures that security-relevant requirements are implemented in the IT systems and consistently adhered to. This ensures that processes are not only efficient, but also secure and protected against unauthorised access and data loss.
Support for compliance and audits
BPM and EAM offer valuable support in meeting security-related compliance requirements and preparing for audits. Clearly documented processes and a transparent IT architecture allow security requirements to be implemented and verified in a traceable and consistent manner. As a result, companies benefit from increased traceability and reduce the risk of security breaches, which strengthens IT security overall.
Accelerating the transformation
By using BPM and EAM, companies can implement transformation projects faster and in a more targeted manner in order to fulfil current security requirements. The transparency of processes and IT architecture helps to strategically plan security-relevant changes and deploy the required resources in a targeted manner. This enables the company to react more quickly to new threats and security standards and remain agile in a constantly changing security environment.
Optimisation of IT resources
The close integration of processes and IT within the framework of BPM and EAM enables companies to utilise IT resources more efficiently and securely. Redundancies are avoided and security-relevant systems can be specifically customised to the company’s requirements. This not only leads to cost savings and higher performance, but also improves the security situation, as resources can be used specifically for security-critical tasks.
In the next part of our series, we look at the monitoring and continuous improvement of security measures in the information network. We will show how companies can strengthen their security measures through targeted monitoring and continuous optimisation and thus prepare themselves for future challenges. Look forward to practical insights into effective monitoring and improvement strategies for a dynamic IT security architecture!
Are you interested in this topic?
Then take a look at our website!
