What is Defense-in-Depth? (Process, Significance, Use Cases, Security Products Used)


What is Defense-in-Depth?

The act of deploying several security methods to defend the integrity of information is known as defense in Depth. For the entirety of a system's life cycle, this strategy addresses weaknesses in technology, humans, and operations.

The employment of several layers of defense throughout an information system is what this is all about. The outermost levels of a multi-layered defense system are the first line of protection and function well against the tiniest and most common attacks. More powerful and unorthodox attacks will get beyond the first few layers, but the deeper, more focused layers will stop them. The National Security Agency (NSA) developed the notion as a comprehensive approach to information and electronic security.

How Does Defense-in-Depth Work?

A tiered approach to security can help all layers of IT systems. Whether it's a single laptop accessing the internet from a coffee shop or a fifty thousand user enterprise WAN, Defense in Depth may dramatically improve your security profile.

A single layer of security will never be enough to keep a company safe. Where one door may be closed, others will remain wide open, allowing hackers to quickly exploit these loopholes. You may successfully close the holes that are relying on a single security solution causes by combining a number of techniques, such as firewalls, malware scanners, intrusion detection systems, data encryption, and integrity auditing solutions.

What Security Products Are Used in a DiD Scenario?

While defense-in-depth strategies differ based on an organization's objectives and resources, they usually include one or more of the following products −

Physical security measures protect IT systems, corporate buildings, data centers, and other physical assets from threats such as theft, tampering, and illegal access. Security cameras, ID card scanners, alarm systems, and biometric security are examples of numerous sorts of access control and surveillance solutions (e.g., facial recognition systems, fingerprint readers, etc.).

Technical security controls include the hardware and software required to protect networks and applications from data breaches, DDoS assaults, and other threats.

Firewalls, secure web gateways (SWG), intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), browser isolation technologies, endpoint detection, and response (EDR) software, web application firewalls (WAF), data loss prevention software (DLP), and anti-malware software are some of the most prevalent security products at this layer.

The policies defined by system administrators and security teams that control access to internal systems, corporate resources, and other sensitive data and applications are known as administrative security controls. It may also involve security awareness training to ensure that users maintain good security hygiene, keep data secure, and avoid putting systems, devices, and applications at risk.

To limit the risk to their networks and resources, businesses must establish robust security practices in addition to security solutions and policies. It's possible to contain one or more of the following −

  • The notion of least privilege access allows people to access just the systems and resources they require for their job. If a user's credentials are compromised and an unauthorized user attempts to carry out an attack or access sensitive data, this helps to reduce the risk to the rest of the network.

  • As the name implies, multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires various kinds of authentication to authenticate a user's or device's identity before granting access to a network or application.

  • MFA often entails implementing rigorous device controls, maintaining strong password hygiene (i.e., passwords that are complex, difficult to guess, and updated frequently), and validating identification via external devices and tools (e.g., entering a verification code from a mobile device). Encryption keeps sensitive information from falling into the hands of unauthorized or harmful individuals. Plaintext (information that can be read by humans) is converted to ciphertext (information that cannot be read by humans) (randomly generated combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols).

  • Vendors, contractors, and other outside users are kept out of internal systems and data thanks to network segmentation. Setting up distinct wireless networks for internal and external users, for example, allows businesses to better safeguard critical data from illegal access.

Difference between Layered Security and Defense-in-Depth?

Defense-in-depth refers to a more comprehensive or multi-faceted strategic approach to cybersecurity that aims to reduce risks. Layered security, on the other hand, is a component of DiD that entails the use of numerous defensive technologies to identify and prevent an instant attack.

From incident through response to the resolution, defense-in-depth assumes a greater area of defense. This entails preparing for speedy notice and response in the event of an attack, as well as ensuring business continuity and disaster recovery.

Significance of Defense-in-Depth in Terms of Information Security

Prior to the rise of cloud computing, cybersecurity techniques were frequently based on perimeter defense principles, which involved securing the network's perimeter with data stored behind a perimeter wall. This strategy has inherent weaknesses that have grown increasingly apparent in the cloud era as employees and third-party users have become more comfortable with remote access.

A defense-in-depth strategy broadens the view of how enterprises must manage risks by taking a more holistic look at how diverse cybersecurity solutions might work together to mitigate the impact of escalating dangers from both within and without the company.

Use Cases for Defense-in-Depth Information Assurance

User protection scenarios and network security scenarios are the two broad categories of defense-in-depth use cases.

Website Security

To stop threats and secure sensitive data, defense-in-depth user protection combines security offerings (e.g., WAF, antivirus, antispam software, etc.) with training.

A company selling software to protect end-users from cyberattacks can bundle multiple security measures into one solution, for example, combining antivirus, firewall, antispam, and privacy controls. As a result, malware and web application attacks are prevented on the user's network.

Network Security

An organization installs a firewall and encrypts network traffic as well as data in transit. Even if an attacker succeeds in breaching the firewall and obtaining data, the data is encrypted.

An organization installs a firewall, employs skilled security operators to manage an Intrusion Protection System, and deploys an antivirus program. This provides three layers of security: attackers can be recognized and prevented by the IPS even if they get past the firewall. If they get to a user's computer and try to install malware, the antivirus software will detect it and destroy it.

Updated on: 02-Jun-2022

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