“Security is hard” has become a damaging misconception in the business world. It frames security as slow, exhausting, and complicated, as if running a company weren’t challenging enough already.
Under this pressure, decision-makers start sacrificing pieces of security to buy time and productivity. Not aware that the results can be the opposite, creating vulnerabilities they'll regret when it's too late.
So how do we end the cycle? How do we build a security-first culture without affecting our productivity?
Before planning to fix it, the rooted myth of security coming at the expense of productivity should be understood. It comes from a complex collection of ideas throughout the years:
Legacy security models were built to be slow. Heavy, inefficient tools, manual review processes, and security scans that require a full-system shutdown turn security into a burdensome process that directly blocks productivity.
Despite the risks, working with legacy systems remains a problem that even critical companies, such as banks and hospitals, often fall prey to. Productivity levels get evaluated while the legacy system is still in place, normalizing inefficiency as the natural cost of security.
When security is separated from the rest of the organization, it becomes a source of conflict and friction. The security team takes full responsibility, while other departments remain detached and uninvolved.
When problems arise, they are difficult to explain and almost impossible to resolve without affecting the workflows of other teams that don’t understand the underlying risks. What should be a shared problem becomes a last-minute interruption.
The absence of shared metrics between security and product teams is the easiest way to break communication. As a result, this breakdown becomes a direct blocker to productivity.
Security controls that are poorly implemented can backfire and risk both security and productivity at once. Blocking tools without alternatives and configuring overly restrictive network policies will end up doing more harm than good for the overall system.
For instance, hours-long approval processes for routine tasks slow teams down and build frustration. Employees start gravitating toward less secure workarounds to avoid waiting and get their job done.
This is why security controls should balance usability and protection. The NIST Digital Identity Guidelines (SP 800-63B) explicitly state that verifiers shall not require periodic password changes unless there is evidence of compromise. An update that came after years of research showing that forced password updates add little security and harm usability.
Security is never supposed to be the opposite of speed. In fact, it is the enabler, the safeguard that lets you work comfortably without worry.
“Security is hard” has become a damaging misconception in the business world. It frames security as slow, exhausting, and complicated, as if running a company weren’t challenging enough already.
A security-first culture is an organizational mindset where security is embedded into everyday decisions and product development. It is not treated as a separate or final step but rather as a part of every process. It prioritizes shared responsibility, proactive risk management, and secure-by-design practices, while enabling teams to move fast without sacrificing safety.
To embed security within an organization, change must start at a high level. Executives and managers should take the lead and visibly follow security protocols in every aspect of their work.
In a Microsoft article, it’s highlighted that their shift towards a security-first culture started with CEO Satya Nadella. He made security a top priority and mandated it for all employees.
When leaders position safety as a way to reduce costs and minimize disruption, it becomes clear that a security-first culture is an enabler, not a burden. Employees feel valued, cared for, and supported to work safely.
Thanks to advanced security, today’s intelligent background systems can protect you with little to no interaction.
These tools vary:
When security fades into the background, teams stay focused on their work instead of technical details. Security becomes a habit, easy to follow and implement.
DevSecOps is a trend for a reason. It incorporates security into every stage of the development lifecycle rather than treating it as a final step. Instead of security reviews blocking releases for weeks to check and test, automated tools provide real-time feedback during development phases.
Shift-left security takes many forms. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools analyze configurations for misconfigurations, container scanners detect vulnerable images before deployment, and automated testing ensures security controls evolve alongside the code.
Verizon led by example by building a developer dashboard that provides centralized, real-time feedback to developers on vulnerabilities across applications. It was their way of instilling a secure-by-design mindset, and it earned Verizon a CSO50 Award for security innovation.
Instead of focusing solely on prevention, a security culture implements bravery and intelligence, the ability to manage risk while maintaining velocity. Over-prevention creates friction and fear. And the balance relies on detection, response, and recovery.
To build a good risk management plan, similar tools could be used:
Defendis specifically provides Cyber Threat Intelligence that monitors for data breaches involving your organization, tracks dark web mentions of your domain, and correlates threat intelligence with your infrastructure. It gives security teams actionable warnings to manage the risk and react.
Remember: people are your first line of defense, and the human factor remains the biggest source of breaches. A good security culture embeds micro-training into daily work, rather than treating it as an annual checkbox.
Continuous learning is what builds cyber resilience by always exposing the teams to
When employees understand that a security-first culture supports productivity and protects their work, they become more invested in learning and securing their spaces.
To challenge the myth that security slows work, you need real data.
If employees report that security measures are slowing them down, prove it by tracking the details. Measure where friction occurs, which workflows get affected, and what tools or policies are creating delays.
The goal is to identify gaps and find the right balance between protection and productivity, without sacrificing either.
Prioritizing productivity over security might feel like a win, but it’s a temporary one. When systems go down due to a breach, productivity is not even an option.
Did you hear about Maersk’s Notpetya Recovery? In 2017, the company was hit by Notpetya, a destructive malware, and lost access to tens of thousands of devices. Thanks to robust backups, resilience, and a strong security culture, Maersk rebuilt its entire infrastructure in just 10 days.
If this proves anything, it’s that security is productivity. Investing in robust defenses pays off when you need it and ensures your teams’ work isn’t interrupted.
Stay tuned for more articles, and get your dark web exposure report to learn how Defendis’ CTI tool helps teams stay ahead of threats.
