Back in the day, installing a firewall and antivirus software was enough to keep cyberthreats at bay. However, over the years, cyberattacks have grown in complexity and prevalence. This is why the total annual cost of cybercrime is expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015.
To stay protected, modern businesses must adopt a multilayered approach to IT security.
What is multilayered IT security?
Also known as defense in depth (DiD), multilayered IT security involves implementing multiple security controls to protect company data and networks. It combines technology, people, and operations capabilities by using three types of controls:
- Technical controls – use security hardware and/or software to filter users who are trying to access the company network and the resources and assets within it (e.g., antivirus software, firewall, encryption, multifactor authentication)
- Physical controls – block or flag unauthorized physical access to IT systems (e.g., security guard, CCTV camera, fences, access cards)
- Administrative controls – include policies, procedures, and guidelines for meeting the organization's IT security goals (e.g., security awareness training, bring your own device policy)
The different DiD security controls can also be grouped based on their use:
- Preventive controls – prevent attacks from happening (e.g., firewall, access controls, network segmentation)
- Detective controls – detect and respond to ongoing attacks (e.g., intrusion detection system)
- Corrective controls – mitigate the consequences of any attack and help companies swiftly go back to regular operations (e.g., data backup and disaster recovery plan)
What are the advantages of multilayered IT security?
There are many benefits that come with having a multilayered cybersecurity strategy.
More effective preventive measures
With multiple preventive measures in place, cybercriminals will have a harder time penetrating company systems. This is because if one measure fails, there's another measure to block the attack. For instance, if a cybercriminal manages to breach the network firewall, they will still need to contend with the antivirus solution installed on company computers. If they are able to get hold of a user's password, they still have to provide another proof of their identity before they can access the account.
Faster threat detection and response
Using DiD's detective controls, companies gain better visibility into what’s happening in their networks. This enables them to detect and respond to malicious activity more quickly and efficiently. For example, if the intrusion detection system (IDS) identifies a suspicious activity, the IDS will alert the security team, which will assess if that activity is a false positive or an actual attack. If it's the latter, they can immediately take steps to contain and mitigate the damage.
Improved cyberattack mitigation
Multilayered IT security allows businesses to reduce the impacts of a cyberattack. For instance, if a cybercriminal manages to steal company data, that data would be encrypted, hence unreadable. Or if they are able to get hold of a user's account, they can access only the IT resources available to that user. This means they won't be able to move laterally across the network to wreak more havoc.
Enhanced resilience
In the event of a security breach, DiD allows companies to quickly identify the source of the breach and take the appropriate steps to contain it. This reduces downtime and disruption, enabling them to resume operations immediately.
Improved compliance
By having multilayered IT security, businesses can better comply with relevant data security laws, regulations, and standards, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. This helps them avoid costly penalties and other consequences related to noncompliance.
How can companies implement multilayered IT security?
For proper implementation of DiD, it’s best to seek the help of the IT experts from Safebit . We have designed a five-layer approach to cybersecurity:
- User knowledge – involves educating users and creating relevant company policies
- Network application and content filtering – scans applications and files for malware and other cyberthreats before these enter the company network
- Endpoint protection – bolsters the defenses of endpoint devices like servers, desktops, and mobile devices
- Reporting – collects logs and provides reports on failed login attempts, blocked cyberattack attempts, suspicious web activities, and other relevant security events
- Auditing – conducts regular technical assessments of systems and/or applications
To learn more about our five-layered approach to cybersecurity, get in touch with us today.
