Wild Garlic, which covers a woodland floor in Scunthorpe, England, has grown in popularity among cooks who use it in various dishes, including soups, pastes and stir fries. Today's columnist, Asmae Mhassni of Intel, says the same way nature adapts and grows and human beings benefit so can security teams adapt, grow and benefit as computing environments change. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Cybersecurity runs over a complex, adaptive system, and the problems and challenges the industry faces when it comes to effectively protecting computing technologies require creative, adaptive, multifaceted solutions. For the industry to build the best and most secure products and solutions amid the complex dynamics that exist in cyber, we must all think beyond the algorithms, processors and tech and draw inspiration and guidance from the world around us. And there’s no better example of a complex, adaptive system than nature itself.

I’d like us to explore a few parallels between the natural world and security, and in doing so, highlight the insights and best practices those similarities can teach us about building more secure computing solutions. Trees offer a compelling lens with which to view computer systems and cybersecurity. Drawing inspiration from trees, here are three goals security teams can set to improve security:

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