Take the time to learn about your assets. You’ll be able to layer in multiple prevention and detection solutions and have a highly effective security architecture.

Security Architecture: Building a line of defence

The Internet is constantly growing, giving birth to an age of network interconnection unlike anything we have ever known. Devices such as refrigerators, security cameras, and baby dolls have joined the ranks of Internet of Things (IOT) devices. These devices are made to be cheap and indispensable, resulting in insecure configurations and settings. The result: mass compromise and misuse for evil at a scale not been seen before.

To be specific, the attack surface is larger than ever due to the IoT. But this also is due to the lack of surface reduction within any given network. Routine patching, security hardening, and defensive network designs exist but are not in effect.

Organisations flock to purchase the latest “next-generation” security technology but meanwhile ignore the basic tenants of security. A mature, secure architecture design does not require the most expensive best-of-breed solutions. However, it does involve taking time to think about one’s environment and to design a secure architecture accordingly.

The concept of taking the time to do things right is much akin to the financial problems we face today. One large solution to a financial problem is taking the time to implement a budget and then sticking with it. And yet, many individuals have never taken the time to do this. Which feels more impactful — spending the last of your £200 in cash based on your grocery budget or swiping a credit card? The same holds true in network security.

Security is not an accident. Similar to a credit or debit card, hoping money is in the bank is not enough; that is a failed approach. Security should be intentional and the result of careful planning.