IT Necessities for a Distributed World

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. 1. The Modern Business Landscape
   1. How the Pandemic Changed Work as We Know It
   2. Implications for IT Teams
      1. The IT/End-User Relationship
      2. Infrastructure and Technology
      3. Emerging Solutions
   3. Remote Work Permanence
3. 2. The Building Blocks of a Modern IT Infrastructure
   1. Guiding Principles for a Distributed Infrastructure
      1. 1. Approach Your Distributed Environment Strategically
      2. 2. Put Security First
      3. 3. Prioritize Resource Access
      4. 4. Maintain Full Visibility
      5. 5. Future-Proof with Flexibility and Scalability
4. 3. The Directory
   1. Directory Protocols and APIs
   2. Recommended Directory Functionality for Distributed Environments
      1. Identity Management
      2. Device Management
      3. Network/VPN Management
      4. MFA
      5. SSO
      6. Reporting
      7. Automation
   3. Directory Options
      1. Open-Source, Self-Managed Directory
      2. On-Premises Directory
      3. Cloud Directory
   4. Factors to Consider
      1. 1. Flexibility and Scalability
      2. 2. OS Support
      3. 3. Centralization
5. 4. Security Best Practices
   1. Zero Trust Security
   2. Establishing Zero Trust in a Distributed Environment
      1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
      2. Single Sign-On
      3. Principle of Least Privilege
   3. Segmentation
   4. Encryption
   5. Testing
   6. Redundancy
   7. Reporting and Review
   8. Employee Training
      1. Security Awareness and Behavior Training
      2. Tool Usage
6. 5. Implementing Solutions
   1. Optimizing Budget and Resources
      1. Automation
      2. Self-Service Technology
      3. Strategic Staffing
      4. Look for Long-Term Wins
      5. Always Factor in Flexibility and Scalability
   2. Making the Case to Leadership
      1. C-level Priorities
   3. Closing Thoughts
7. About the Authors