Change is inevitable. IT environments are evolving, being updated and upgraded, modified and modernised, to keep pace with technological advancements and organisational needs.
However, if these changes are not managed effectively, all the new technologies in the world will not make a difference because they will not be properly integrated, utilised, and maintained, leading to inefficiencies and resistance among users. Importantly, they will put businesses at risk of data breaches. After all, malware on a system is just an unmanaged and unauthorised change.
In an IT context, change management refers to the process of managing changes to an entity’s IT infrastructure, including software updates, hardware replacements or upgrades, and configuration adjustments. Effective change management is critical for ensuring system stability, security, and compliance.
Inadequate change management can lead to sensitive data being compromised, damage to a brand’s reputation, and loss of customer confidence.
Understanding Change Management in IT
Change management in IT involves the systematic planning, tracking, testing, and reviewing of changes to a company’s IT environment. These changes can include:
- Software updates: Applying patches and updates to operating systems, applications, and security software.
- Hardware changes: Adding, upgrading, or ripping and replacing hardware components such as servers, storage devices, and network equipment.
- Configuration adjustments: Modifying system settings, network configurations, and security policies.
Monitoring these changes is crucial for maintaining security and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. By keeping track of what changes are made, when, how, and by whom, organizations can identify unauthorised modifications and respond quickly to potential security incidents.
Chaos in the Ranks – The Risks of Poor Change Management
Inadequate change management can expose organizations to various risks, including:
- Security vulnerabilities: Without proper change management, any alterations to the IT environment may inadvertently introduce vulnerabilities, heightening the susceptibility of systems to a range of attacks and exploits.
- Compliance issues: Neglecting to document and oversee alterations adequately may lead to breaches of industry regulations and standards, potentially resulting in significant financial penalties.
- Operational disruptions: Ineffectively handled modifications can trigger system downtime and performance degradation, disrupting business continuity and negatively impacting productivity and revenue streams.
One real-world example that shone a painful spotlight on the consequences of poor change management is the Capital One data breach in 2019 that exposed the personal information of over 100 million individuals in the United States and 6 million in Canada. The exposed data included names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, and self-reported income. Additionally, credit scores, credit limits, balances, payment history, and some transaction data were also compromised. A malicious actor exploited a misconfiguration in Capital One’s AWS cloud environment. Specifically, the web application firewall (WAF) was improperly configured, allowing them to execute commands on the server and access sensitive data stored in an AWS S3 bucket.
Future-Proofing Your IT: Mastering Change Management
Implementing effective change management practices involves several key steps:
- Planning: Develop a detailed plan for each change, including objectives, potential risks, and rollback procedures.
- Tracking: Maintain a comprehensive log of all changes, including dates, responsible personnel, and impacted systems.
- Testing: Thoroughly test changes in a controlled environment before deploying them to production.
- Reviewing: Regularly review and audit changes to ensure they are properly documented and compliant with policies.
In addition, documentation and compliance are critical components of change management. Detailed records of changes help organisations demonstrate compliance with regulations and facilitate audits. Also, clear documentation ensures that IT staff can quickly understand and address issues arising from recent changes.
FIM Tools for Change Management
Technological solutions, such as File Integrity Monitoring (FIM), play a vital role in effective change management. FIM solutions monitor files and system configurations for unauthorised changes, alerting IT staff to potential security incidents.
FIM tools compare current states to known, trusted baselines, check to ensure that changes were expected and generate alerts for any unauthorised modifications. This monitoring helps organisations quickly detect and respond to potential security threats, and businesses benefit from:
- Enhanced security: FIM provides continuous visibility into system changes, helping detect unauthorised modifications.
- Improved compliance: Automated change tracking and reporting facilitate compliance with industry regulations.
- Operational efficiency: By automating change monitoring, FIM reduces the manual effort required for change management.
Turning the Tables for Telecoms
Many organisations have successfully implemented FIM solutions to enhance their security posture and achieve compliance. For instance, a telecommunications company with a global network and a workforce of 44,000 employees faced a significant challenge when it came to safeguarding its extensive business and customer data against cybersecurity threats.
To address this, it chose a FIM solution to detect unauthorised changes in its environment and maintain compliance with the stringent standards mentioned. Before implementing the solution, the company grappled with a change management dilemma exacerbated by the fast-paced nature of its cloud IT environment, where rapid changes were essential for business operations.
However, this speed increased the risk of human error or negligence in adhering to change management and compliance protocols. With the new FIM solution, it gained an automated system that provided reliable monitoring of change approvals and reconciliations, mitigating the risk of breaches resulting from shortcuts taken to save time and ensuring a robust cybersecurity posture.
Implementing FIM Solutions in an IT Environment
Integrating FIM into your IT security setup involves several steps:
- Assessment: Evaluate your current IT environment and identify critical systems and files that require monitoring.
- Installation: Deploy a FIM solution across your IT infrastructure, ensuring it is properly configured to monitor essential assets.
- Customisation: You can tailor the FIM settings to suit your organisation’s specific needs, including setting baselines and defining alert thresholds.
- Training: Train your IT staff on using these tools effectively, emphasising the importance of monitoring alerts and responding to potential incidents.
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update FIM configurations to adapt to evolving security threats and organisational changes.
Most FIM solutions are scalable and customizable, making them suitable for organizations of all sizes and industries. By providing real-time visibility into system changes, the solutions help organisations maintain security and compliance.
Monitor and Manage Change Effectively
Effective change management is critical for securing IT environments and preventing security breaches. By implementing structured processes and leveraging technological solutions, businesses can monitor and manage changes efficiently. This not only enhances security but also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.
