INE Security Releases Industry Benchmark Report: “Wired Together: The Case for Cross-Training in Networking and Cybersecurity”

INE Security released the Industry Benchmark Report, titled “Wired Together: The Case for Cross-Training in Networking and Cybersecurity,” on 7 October 2025, with findings drawn from nearly 1,000 IT and cybersecurity professionals worldwide. The study shows that three-quarters recognise networking and cybersecurity as integrated disciplines, yet daily operational friction persists between the teams.

It also notes a preparedness gap, with only 33% feeling well prepared to handle the networking–cybersecurity intersection, and significant collaboration variance across organisations. The report highlights that breach costs are higher by about $1.2 million in organisations with high IT and security complexity versus those with streamlined, integrated environments, and downtime costs average $5,600 per minute.

INE Security’s recommendations include a four-step cross-training implementation, enhanced threat detection, improved operational excellence, and cost optimisation to reduce friction and drive measurable efficiency gains, a view echoed by Lindsey Rinehart, CEO of INE Security. According to INE Security, cross-trained professionals can shorten incident response, prevent break-fix cycles, and help projects deploy correctly the first time.