Security and digital transformation, hand in hand

Kam Karaji at the NFL explains why security must keep pace with digital transformation

 

The business world is competitive.

 

Organisations are constantly striving to keep up with their peers, demonstrate to customers that they are industry leaders, while ensuring their workforce benefits from innovations that can supercharge productivity and efficiency.

 

To achieve these important goals, it’s not surprising that business leaders turn to the latest and greatest in technology.

 

Whether its AI to cloud computing, from platforms that enhance remote working to tools that streamline operations, technology has become the backbone of modern business, delivering an increased competitive edge, driving operational efficiency and delivering greater value to customers.

 

Business leaders are often keen to adopt these innovations quickly, devising adoption roadmaps that focus on immediate benefits and rapid implementation.

 

But what happens when security is not a part of these plans?

 

It’s safe to say that without this due diligence, ambitions for success can prove to be futile, leaving organisations exposed to risks that could undermine their success.

 

 

Security cannot be an afterthought

While technology underpins modern business, security underpins modern technology.

 

It cannot be treated as an afterthought or something that is “bolted on” after projects are implemented. Security must be integrated into digital transformation from day one, planned alongside projects and reflected in budgets.

 

When security is overlooked, investments in technology can inadvertently create vulnerabilities.

 

Misconfigured cloud platforms can leave sensitive data exposed to the web. New tools can fail to meet regulatory requirements, leading to compliance breaches and potential fines, while customer and employee data can be accidentally leaked, creating reputational damage that can take years to repair.

 

These risks are real, tangible and can prove detrimental to the future of any organisation.

 

Cyber-security leaders therefore have a critical role in ensuring security keeps pace with transformation.

 

They must have a voice at the executive table, clearly articulating the risks and reinforcing that security cannot be delayed or deprioritised.

 

It’s not enough for security teams to provide lip service; they must actively guide decision-making, ensure budgets account for robust security measures, while championing practices such as red teaming and penetration testing to verify the integrity and security of all deployments.

 

 

Collaboration between security and business teams

Digital transformation is a balancing act.

 

Business leaders are under immense pressure to innovate, remain competitive and operate efficiently. But technology alone is not a panacea. Without security, even the most advanced tools can create more problems than they solve. Challenges multiply when vulnerabilities are exposed, potentially bringing operations to a halt and eroding stakeholder trust.

 

For technology to truly add value, security must be embedded into the process.

 

Security teams should work hand-in-hand with product development, IT and operational teams to ensure that new platforms, tools and processes are not just innovative but also resilient and compliant.

 

This collaboration ensures that transformation delivers sustainable benefits without exposing the organisation to unnecessary risk.

 

So while business leaders continue to innovate their operations with digital transformation, the question shouldn’t just be are we gaining a competitive advantage, but are we building security and resilience alongside it?

 

Because they could soon learn, this might just be the real difference between success and failure.

 

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Kam Karaji is director of cyber-security and risk management at the NFL He will be taking part in a Panel discussion at DTX London titled, “The Transformation Tightrope: How to Balance Speed, Security, and Global Complexity Whilst Preparing for the Unknown”. Join him on Thursday 2nd October 2025, from 1:05 PM to 1:45 PM.

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and Thanaphum Tachakanjanapong