Data must be both secured and protected through an intelligent data infrastructure, which means adopting a datacentric approach where security happens from the inside out rather than the outside in. This method prioritizes the protection of the data itself rather than securing only the systems and network infrastructure that support it.

As IT environments continue to modernize and expand, the traditional lines that determine who is responsible for which data function are blurring—both within internal IT and among external partners such as cloud providers. Ultimately, securing and protecting data in a cross-platform, multi- and hybrid cloud world requires a cross-IT approach that considers the critical role data plays in modern organizations.