At Secureworks®, we believe open platforms offer the best security outcomes and value to customers over the long run. Simply put, open security platforms offer a combination of native controls and third-party integrations, whereas a closed approach uses controlled solutions tied to a more rigid proprietary system.
Our conviction is rooted in the success of open software approaches, the value we see in diverse data for detections, and how often we see our customers using open security tools to meet their security goals. Open approaches offer adaptability, which is critical to staying ahead of the threat.
In addition, many of our customers operate within mixed security control and sensor environments (i.e., multiple endpoint protection providers, multiple network security tools, multiple connectivity tools). We anticipate that they will continue to do so for many years as they experiment and adapt to changing needs driven by the cyber threat landscape.
Why Secureworks Has Taken the Open Approach
We have embraced the open platform approach for several reasons:
- Customization and Flexibility: Open platforms provide the customization and flexibility needed to tailor security programs to the unique operational needs of each organization, even as cyber threats and company needs evolve. In open approaches, organizations can assemble solutions and prioritize “best of breed,” “highest value” or any combination in-between. A common example of this is a complex organization merging with another complex organization. Often, as the organizations come together, there are differences in security control technologies, philosophies on security risk posture and overlapping operational responsibilities. Having an open and flexible solution is critical in these environments to handle security program transitions.
- Enhanced Interoperability: Open platforms are designed to work harmoniously with a myriad of security tools and other business systems. This interoperability helps enable a strong security posture that can span across IT environments for comprehensive threat detection and response.
- Analyst Efficiency: Connecting existing systems makes security analysts more efficient and effective by allowing them to work through a single console rather than constantly switching between tools and to take advantage of available automations, freeing up more time to focus on threats correlated and prioritized from across the organization’s ecosystem.
- Rapid Evolution: Whether it’s new Zero Trust solutions, cloud security innovations, or the use of AI, the cybersecurity market is constantly evolving. Open platforms are more easily able to integrate with and take advantage of new security innovations from across vendors.
- Future-Proofing: Similarly, the ability to integrate future technologies and solutions as they emerge ensures that an organization's security measures can grow and adapt alongside the industry.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Open platforms circumvent the pitfalls of vendor lock-in and facilitate integration with existing infrastructure, maximizing the ROI of current solutions, and allowing for more strategic budgeting.
Why We Don't Believe Closed Platforms Work in the Long-Run
Closed platforms, on the other hand, come with a set of disadvantages that can hinder an organization's cybersecurity efforts:
- Lack of Flexibility: Closed platforms attempt to be a one-size-fits-all solution, which can make it difficult to adapt to the unique environment and needs of each organization. Uniformity is required at the expense of individual requirements.
- Implementation Challenges: Closed platform solutions often take years to integrate fully, if they ever do, making the promise of a "seamless" experience far from reality.
- Expertise Limitations: No single vendor can claim expertise in every aspect of cybersecurity, a field characterized by its dynamic nature. It is unlikely any single organization can assemble technical experts in every field required. A closed platform restricts an organization's ability to rapidly leverage emerging technologies and innovations.
- Costly Transitions: Migrating to a closed system often necessitates a complete overhaul of existing investments, which is not only time-consuming but also expensive, whether you're utilizing internal resources or outsourcing to professional services.
- Vendor Lock-In and Single Point Risks: Once committed to a closed platform, changing systems, whether for security or business reasons, becomes exceedingly difficult. Organizations can find themselves at the mercy of the vendor's pricing changes and product direction. Additionally, adversaries focus on large, consolidated platforms from single vendors to maximize the value of their attacks.
- Narrow Focus: Even EDR platforms that claim to offer XDR capabilities are often still over-focused on endpoint detection and response. True visibility and comprehensive security require an open XDR approach that encompasses the full spectrum of security data and analytics. For example, at Secureworks, our SOC is able to ingest and investigate third-party alerts.
From enhanced interoperability and customization to cost-effectiveness and future-proofing, an open approach aligns with the dynamic nature of cybersecurity. It empowers organizations to stay agile, up to date, and secure across all connected systems — not just the technologies covered in a closed platform. As the cybersecurity world continues to evolve, open platforms stand as the most viable option for organizations seeking to protect their digital assets over time.
Learn more about the Secureworks Taegis™ platform.