The Layered Approach to Cybersecurity
For businesses across the US, cybersecurity is more crucial than ever. That said, at least 27 percent of executives [1] fear their company is unprepared to handle emerging security threats. Moreover, 78 percent of business leaders [2] can only imagine how a breach might impact their organization.
Do these concerns sound familiar? If so, don’t worry. There’s no one magic tool you need to solve your cybersecurity problems – what actually works best is a layered approach.
Why you need cybersecurity layers
A layered approach means you’re not relying solely on one defensive tool – such as a firewall or endpoint protection – to safeguard your business. Instead, you’re using multiple techniques to shield your network from malicious actors.
Do you really need so many levels of protection? Consider it this way. No single cybersecurity tool is infallible. But if an attacker breaks through your defenses, a layered approach means you have another weapon or two at your disposal to drive them out.
How do you get started with layered cybersecurity, though? Well, one technique you might use is the idea of the “castle model.”
The castle model
Think of your IT network as your castle. Your fortress. If you patrol your borders thoroughly and keep the drawbridge up, no one from the outside can access what’s inside your castle, i.e., your data.
But hackers, just like invaders, are crafty. They could approach your castle when you’re not looking. Maybe they’ll distract your border guards or find a weakness in your perimeter. And if you don’t have soldiers and weapons behind the wall, waiting to protect your assets, they’ll walk in without a fight.
With that in mind, here’s how you might protect your all-important assets at every stage using the castle model.
Watch towers
The best way to protect your castle? Spot the invaders before they test your cybersecurity defenses in the first place. Ensure your employees know how to spot common scams, and remind everyone to change passwords frequently.
Perimeter guards
Did an invader make it past your watch tower? Keep them out with solid perimeter and moat defenses such as up-to-date antivirus, anti-malware software, and firewalls.
Outer wall
Okay, so hackers reached the outer wall. There’s still no cause for panic, though, if you have security monitoring tools to identify threats, log concerning incidents, and respond to issues. Tools you might use include a security operations center (SOC) or security information and event management platform (SIEM).
Drawbridge
The drawbridge secures your entry points – end-user devices like laptops, tablets, and mobile phones – from infiltration. Having a reliable endpoint protection tool available to you can hold those invaders at bay.
Inner wall
Want to keep those inner layers of your castle safe? Assume a zero-trust environment and adopt device and user authentication techniques (multi-factor authentication).
The last stand
This is where the cybersecurity battle ends. Even the strongest castle can fall, but if you have a disaster recovery solution or business continuity plan in place, you can get up and running again with minimal disruption.
The tiered approach to cybersecurity
You might not win the cybersecurity battle with just one weapon at your disposal, but with a layered approach, you’ll give your business the best chance of standing strong.
Ready to build your cybersecurity castle? At CTSI, we know how to devise innovative security solutions to protect your assets. Contact us now to learn more.
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