CNI security: from awareness to action

Artur Martins at Logicalis explains why CIOs in Critical National Infrastructure need a new cyber-security playbook

 

For CIOs working across the UK’s critical infrastructure, cyber-security is now a well-understood priority. The threats are widely recognised and discussions around resilience are increasingly common at the board level.

 

Despite this awareness, many organisations still struggle to turn understanding into effective action. Complex and fragmented IT environments are making it difficult for CIOs to respond with the clarity and speed that today’s online risk landscape demands. According to the Logicalis 2025 CIO Report, more than half of IT leaders say they are not realising value from their current cyber-security tools, with many of those tools underused. Over 50% also report that their environments have become too complex to manage effectively.

 

This growing gap between awareness and execution is beginning to undermine security at all levels.

 

Fragmentation: how we got here

The current state of fragmented cyber-security is not the result of negligence. Most organisations have been working hard to strengthen their defences in response to changing threats, regulatory pressures, and new digital initiatives. Cloud adoption, remote work, and increased reliance on third-party vendors have all played a role.

 

But rather than stepping back to redesign their entire security architectures, many organisations have added new tools in a piecemeal way. Over time, this has led to a patchwork of disconnected technologies that are difficult to manage, hard to scale, and often leave visibility gaps. When IT teams lack a consolidated view of their systems, threats are harder to detect, responses are slower, and gaps in coverage go unnoticed.

 

With faster, more automated attacks - often powered by AI - any delay in detection or incident response can be costly and in sectors that provide essential services, this is a significant concern. Poor coordination between tools or delayed response times can have wide-reaching consequences, from operational disruption to public safety risks. It may affect patients, transport networks, energy supplies, or emergency services.

 

Simplify the environment

One of the most important steps CIOs can take to reduce unnecessary complexity is to simplify the environment. Consolidating overlapping or redundant tools into an integrated platform can help improve visibility, reduce response times, and streamline decision-making.

 

Unified systems that bring together capabilities like threat detection, endpoint protection, and access control make it easier for teams to work effectively. They also reduce the risk of configuration errors and allow security policies to be applied more consistently across the organisation.

 

Operationalise security: people, process, technology

Deploying security tools and simplifying the environment is only part of the equation. To be effective, cyber-security must be fully embedded into day-to-day operations, turning static defences into dynamic, responsive systems. This requires a multi-dimensional approach:

 

1. Leverage automation to bridge the skills gap

With the ongoing shortage of skilled professionals, including a global shortfall of 4 million cyber-security workers, as reported by the World Economic Forum. Many teams cannot manage complex, multi-tool environments. Automation and orchestration can help close this gap.

 

By automating routine tasks and enabling coordinated incident response across systems, organisations can improve both speed and consistency. This also allows security teams to shift their focus from manual monitoring to higher-value activities such as threat analysis, policy development, and strategic planning.

 

2. Foster a security-aware culture

Technology isn’t enough. Security outcomes often depend on everyday decisions and behaviours, making cultural engagement a vital part of any cyber-strategy.

 

CIOs should collaborate with HR and senior leadership to embed cyber-security awareness into the broader organisational mindset. This includes regular, practical training for all staff, with clear communication on individual roles in preventing and responding to threats. In addition, penetration testing with social engineering tactics is a very high-value-adding activity. By simulating real-world tactics, businesses can assess their security posture and identify training and knowledge gaps they need to address. Building a shared sense of responsibility is key to strengthening the human layer of defence.

 

3. Strengthen resilience through continuous insight and recovery readiness

Cyber-risks are constantly evolving, driven by shifting threats, complex supply chains, and increasingly interconnected systems. In this environment, static or occasional assessments are no longer sufficient. Organisations benefit from continuous risk monitoring tools that provide visibility across operational technology (OT), third-party ecosystems, and the broader digital estate, helping reduce exposure and highlight emerging vulnerabilities before they escalate.

 

But visibility is just the first step. Building resilience also means having the ability to detect, contain, and recover from incidents effectively. As frameworks like NIS2 and DORA introduce more rigorous governance standards, maintaining clear documentation, regularly testing recovery plans, and embedding operational resilience into day-to-day practices becomes essential.

 

This shift, from reactive defence to proactive, sustained resilience, is key to navigating the current threat landscape with confidence.

 

4. Strategic partnerships

Many organisations, particularly those operating critical services, cannot address these challenges alone. Partnering with managed security providers can provide access to expertise, continuous monitoring, and advanced capabilities that may not be available in-house. This is not about outsourcing responsibility, but about enhancing capacity. The right partner can help simplify operations, improve detection and response, and ensure compliance, while freeing internal teams to focus on core business objectives.

 

As digital systems become the backbone of the UK’s critical services, the security of those systems has become central to both organisational performance and national resilience.

 

With a focused and simplified approach, CIOs can move beyond fragmented defences toward integrated, resilient systems that support long-term stability. The new cyber-security playbook isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters and doing it well. 

 

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Artur Martins is CISO and Cybersecurity Strategy Executive Advisor at Logicalis

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and gorodenkoff