As businesses continue to amass vast quantities of highly sensitive information, they face the dual-edged challenge of properly safeguarding data while strictly adhering to an increasingly complex web of rules and regulations. This scenario is where in-house process automation comes into play. A carefully coordinated strategic approach leans on customized solutions to help strengthen control over their overall data management and security.
So, what exactly does "in-house process automation" mean? In this context, it refers to business applications developed internally from scratch using a business process automation or Business Process Management (BPM) platform like Bonita, rather than relying on off-the-shelf, cloud, or Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions. With in-house automation solutions, businesses can gain more precise control and visibility over data flows and tailor security measures to business needs through crafting processes that are specifically customized to their requirements, organization, regulatory environment, and technology stack.
This article will highlight five potential benefits of in-house process automation, exploring how it can enhance data security, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and even drive operational efficiency.
In-House Automation and Data Infrastructures Go Hand-in-hand
No one understands the importance of proper in-house process automation and reliable BPM platforms better than IT professionals. Without adequate solutions, entire teams are left without solutions to streamline, analyze, and simplify both individual processes and entire workflows. The only alternative is to manually chart everything.
Manual processes can’t assure data security or even efficiency in day-to-day operations. Automation is more a must-have than a like-to-have, and here are 5 ways that in-house process automation can bring value to the security teams in particular and the whole enterprise in general.
1. Enhancing Data Security Through Customization
An in-house IT team that is knowledgeable about building business processes internally can tailor security protocols, fitting them to the data being handled. This goes beyond mere encryption, as it also includes user authentication, access controls, monitoring, and more.
When you develop your own business processes, integrated with your own organization and information systems, you know the architecture intimately, allowing you to implement security measures that are specifically aligned with your organizational structure and the nature of the data you process. This can help reduce vulnerabilities and create a more robust defense against potential breaches.
The team can also go further to secure in-house work. For example, to document and share the details of in-house automation, especially those that involve data security protocols, use of tools like PDF editors with features such as encryption, access control, and digital signatures to ensure that sensitive information remains protected.
2. Regulatory Compliance and Alignment with Standards
Maintaining compliance with increasingly common regulatory standards and policies - such as GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, policies to prevent money laundering, tax evasion, terrorism financing, and the like isn’t just a matter of legal adherence; it's about protecting sensitive information and maintaining trust. In-house process automation offers a means to design systems that align precisely with your business's unique regulatory compliance situation.
Businesses must also carefully adhere to several specific regulations when dealing with financial information and payment processing. The PCI standards include requirements such as secure network architecture, data protection, vulnerability management, and regular monitoring, all of which can be aligned using in-house automation.
Rather than trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with generic solutions, in-house development ensures that all aspects of compliance are addressed according to the relevant laws and guidelines.
3. Operational Efficiency and Agility
In-house process automation doesn't just bolster security and compliance; it also brings operational efficiency. Tailored solutions using business process-based solutions can streamline workflows, automate routine tasks, and eliminate bottlenecks, saving time and resources while also reducing the risk of human error that may lead to security vulnerabilities.
Additionally, in-house solutions are inherently more agile, allowing for quicker adaptations to changes in regulations, market demands, or organizational needs.
4. Greater Interoperability and Integration
As the modern business environment continues to become increasingly interconnected, being able to readily integrate various systems simultaneously is essential to achieving greater operational efficiency and success - and for security. In-house automation allows for seamless interoperability, ensuring that different applications, databases, and tools can communicate and work together efficiently and without issue.
This overall cohesion is vital for maintaining data integrity and security, as it minimizes the potential risk of data leakage between systems. A well-integrated system developed in-house ensures that data flows are consistent, controlled, and secure, enhancing the overall data protection framework.
5. Real-time Monitoring and Response
An effective security strategy for your organization requires careful planning, solid execution, and constant vigilance.
In-house process automation allows for real-time monitoring and rapid response to any potential threats or breaches. Businesses, such as financial institutions, can better detect suspicious activities faster and take immediate action to mitigate risks by designing systems with built-in alert mechanisms.
This more proactive approach to security is possible because of the deep understanding and control over the system that in-house development affords organizations, adding an essential layer of defense, keeping data secure, and maintaining compliance.
How in-house automation is done by IT teams to ensure security and compliance
Since IT teams are largely heterogeneous, every team member can contribute to the improvement of in-house process automation. For instance, developers can handle processes such as data encryption and 2FA, whereas compliance analysts will have to pay more attention to HIPAA and GDPR compliance. Ultimately, the effectiveness of in-house process automation depends on the cohesiveness of the team, as well as each member’s freedom to have their voices be heard.
In brief: Staying Secure and Compliant with In-House Process Automation
Looking at the overall potential of in-house process automation, it's clear that this approach represents far more than a technical strategy; it's a comprehensive solution for businesses aiming to enhance data security and compliance.
It moves beyond the common one-size-fits-all solutions often found in traditional off-the-shelf or cloud-based systems, delivering tailored defenses against today's constant and ever-evolving security threats. Likewise, it requires proper and diligent implementation.
As data continues to be a vital asset for companies, the ability to create and manage security protocols internally can be the key difference in helping you maintain integrity, trust, and compliance.
In-house development can offer businesses significant advantages concerning flexibility, customization, control, and security. At Bonitasoft, we are experts in automation and can provide you with tailored solutions to meet your specific business needs. We’ve built our BPM-based business process automation platform to accelerate business process application delivery for efficiency, continuous improvement, and innovation. Bonita’s flexibility and platform extensibility equips professional developers and DevOps teams with powerful tools to develop highly customized, fully integrated business applications faster.
Here are 3 ways to learn more:
- Build highly personalized, process-based applications today, for free, with our open-source Bonita Community Edition.
- See how you can reinvent your business processes with BPM. Watch our on-demand Bonita Platform Demo.
- Interested in full project lifecycle support and services from development to operations? Try unlocking the power of Bonita Enterprise Edition. Contact us today or explore our solutions to learn more about unlocking the full potential of process automation.
Bonitasoft knows its business. This article was not created with the use of artificial language technology.
