There’s been a lot of talk across the security industry about the ways in which companies are leveraging all of the data being collected from various systems. The challenge that stems from this is how this data can be collected, analyzed, and used to make better decisions. In our latest webinar, leaders from HiveWatch, Ontic, and Chipotle outlined how security teams can address this challenge: building a truly connected security ecosystem.
HiveWatch Co-Founder & CEO Ryan Schonfeld led an insightful discussion with Chipotle Head of Global Security & Risk Resilience Josh Phillips, and Ontic VP of Product Marketing Ankur Aurora about breaking down operational silos and leveraging technology to transform to create a truly connected security ecosystem.
The full webinar is available on-demand, but here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion:
The webinar kicked off with a crucial distinction. While the industry loves talking about shifting from reactive to proactive security, Ryan emphasized something more important: moving from proactive to strategic. “That's how security earns a seat at the executive table; not by running around shouting about risks, but by becoming a genuine business partner,” he said
Josh agreed, sharing how his team evolved beyond being just the "in-house 911 team" to become strategic problem solvers. They're not just protecting people and assets anymore; they're safeguarding the supply chain, preventing turnover crises, and yes, ensuring there's always guac on the line (a metric Ryan, as a self-proclaimed Chipotle superfan, particularly appreciated).
During the discussion, Ankur dropped a sobering statistic: security teams are spending 30% to 50% of their time just wrangling data. Half of your security team's valuable time is consumed chasing context and validation across different systems instead of actually protecting the organization.
The panelists agreed that the problem isn't a lack of data – because most organizations are drowning in it. The real issue is that data lives in silos:
Ankur highlighted how these silos manifest in three main ways:
Josh shared compelling examples of what's possible when you break down these silos. In one example, Chipotle discovered their HR case management system wasn't connected to their security incident data. Once they integrated these systems, they could identify "hotspot markets" where workplace violence incidents were trending upward.
The result? They could intervene before these became full-blown turnover crises. As Josh explained, "We were able to more quickly identify these hotspot markets and get in and intervene before they became a larger issue and ultimately prevented it from becoming a systemic turnover crisis."
Another powerful example involved Chipotle's supply chain visibility. By connecting security monitoring tools with supply chain operations, the company can provide advance notice about protests, natural disasters, or other disruptions that might affect deliveries or service operations.
Both Ankur and Josh emphasized a measured approach to building connected ecosystems using a familiar phrase: “You can't boil the ocean.” Instead, the security leaders suggest starting with high-impact, low-effort integrations. Pick one business problem, solve it well, prove the value, then expand.
Josh's advice on securing buy-in was particularly valuable: "If I go to the business leader and say, ‘I want to help you improve turnover in this market, I want to help you improve the employee experience…’ then now I've got their attention because I led with a business problem."
The key is framing technology discussions around business outcomes, not security metrics.
When asked about the ideal security ecosystem, Josh painted a clear picture:
This vision isn't about having the fanciest tech stack. It's about creating genuine business value through connected operations.
No 2025 security conversation would be complete without addressing AI. Ryan advocated for a measured approach: "Being very measured about how you roll that out... I would challenge people to think less about the false positive rate and more about the false negative rate."
The consensus was clear: AI should enhance your team's capabilities, not replace human judgment. Let AI handle the data correlation and pattern recognition so analysts can focus on strategic security decisions.
The webinar concluded with exciting news about the deepened partnership between HiveWatch and Ontic. Ryan described HiveWatch as "an operating system for security operations centers," while Ontic focuses on "bridging silos using data, intelligently connecting operations."
Together, these complementary solutions help organizations finally achieve that elusive connected ecosystem. The partnership announcement coincided with Ontic's Series C funding news, signaling strong market momentum for connected security solutions.
Building a connected security ecosystem isn't a destination – it's a journey. The panelists recommended this roadmap:
This webinar reinforced a crucial truth: the future of security isn't about more cameras or fancier badges. It's about intelligent, connected operations that drive real business value.
As Josh Phillips demonstrated through Chipotle's success stories, when security teams break down silos and connect their data, they transform from cost centers into strategic business partners. That transformation starts with understanding that, as Ankur put it, "security today is in the data business."
Ready to transform your security operations? The webinar recording is available on demand. To learn more about building a connected security ecosystem with HiveWatch and Ontic, schedule a demo of our platform.