What is Defense in Depth | Benefits of Layered Security | Imperva?

Defense in depth is a strategy that leverages multiple security measures to protect an organization's assets . The thinking is that if one line of defense is compromised, additional layers exist as a backup to ensure that threats are stopped along the way.

What is defense-in-depth layered security?

Defense in depth refers to a cyber security strategy in which multiple products and practices are used to safeguard a network.

What are the benefits of layered defense?

By investing in a layered security strategy, you'll minimize the gaps across your network, and have a better chance at identifying and neutralizing cyberthreats before they can cause any damage .

What are the benefits of defense-in-depth?

Defense in depth is a cybersecurity approach that uses layered defensive mechanisms to protect systems and data. With layering, if one defense fails, another is there to block an attack. This intentional redundancy creates greater security and can protect against a wider variety of attacks .

Why is defense in layers important?

By layering a series of different defenses, such as firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection, port scanning, secure gateways, and more, businesses are able to fill gaps and close loopholes that would otherwise exist if the network relied on only one layer of security .

Is layered security the same as defense-in-depth?

Security in Depth would be closer to a multifaceted strategic plan where layered security would be one aspect of defense . Defense in Depth is concerned with more than just the immediate intrusion but also assumes a broader and more variable source of defense.

What is an example of layered defense?

The first layer of security might be the locked doors and windows on the building's exterior , while the second layer would be intrusion detection systems, such as the alarms on all of the doors and windows, which detect if someone manages to unlock the doors and get past that first layer.

What is the benefit of a defense-in-depth approach Cisco?

With a defense-in-depth approach, you have many security measures that can detect threats . As well as alert you to these potential dangers. Some systems used to detect suspicious activities and anomalies in real-time are: Intrusion detection systems.

What are the 3 elements of layered security?

A multi-layered security approach contains three crucial elements: perimeter defense, proactive monitoring, and security training .

What are the advantages of layered structure?

Each layer is independent and you can understand it on its own without the other layers . Complexity can be abstracted away in a layered application, allowing us to deal with more complex problems. Dependencies between layers can be minimized in a layered architecture, which further reduces complexity.

What advantages do the layers provide?

Layers are the key to building a nondestructive workflow because they enable you to isolate important image components so that you can edit each independently of the rest of the image . Because the use of layers is central to many of the following chapters, this is one of the most important chapters in this book.

What is Defense in Depth | Benefits of Layered Security

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What is Defense-in-depth

Defense-in-depth is an information assurance strategy that provides multiple, redundant defensive measures in case a security control fails or a vulnerability is exploited. It originates from a military strategy by the same name, which seeks to delay the advance of an attack, rather than defeating it with one strong line of defense.

Defense-in-depth cybersecurity use cases include end-user security, product design and network security.

An opposing principle to defense in depth is known as simplicity-in-security, which operates under the assumption that too many security measures might introduce problems or gaps that attackers can leverage.

Defense-in-depth architecture: Layered security

Defense-in-depth security architecture is based on controls that are designed to protect the physical, technical and administrative aspects of your network.

Defense in depth, layered security architecture

Physical controls– These controls include security measures that prevent physical access to IT systems, such as security guards or locked doors.
Technical controls– Technical controls include security measures that protect network systems or resources using specialized hardware or software, such as a firewall appliance or antivirus program.
Administrative controls– Administrative controls are security measures consisting of policies or procedures directed at an organization’s employees, e.g., instructing users to label sensitive information as “confidential”.

Additionally, the following security layers help protect individual facets of your network:

Access measures– Access measures include authentication controls, biometrics, timed access and VPN.
Workstation defenses– Workstation defense measures include antivirus and anti-spam software.
Data protection–Data protection methodsinclude data at rest encryption, hashing, secure data transmission and encrypted backups.
Perimeter defenses– Network perimeter defenses include firewalls,intrusion detection systems and intrusion prevention systems.
Monitoring and prevention– The monitoring and prevention of network attacks involves logging and auditing network activity,vulnerability scanners, sandboxing and security awareness training.

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Defense-in-depth information assurance: Use cases

Broadly speaking, defense-in-depth use cases can be broken down into user protection scenarios and network security scenarios.

Website protection

Defense-in-depth user protection involves a combination of security offerings (e.g.,WAF, antivirus, antispam software, etc.) and training to block threats and protect critical data.

A vendor providing software to protect end-users from cyberattacks can bundle multiple security offerings in the same product. For example, packaging together antivirus, firewall, anti-spam and privacy controls.

As a result, the user’s network is secured againstmalware, web application attacks (e.g.,XSS,CSRF).

Network security

An organization sets up a firewall, and in addition, encrypts data flowing through the network, and encrypts data at rest. Even if attackers get past the firewall and steal data, the data is encrypted.
An organization sets up a firewall, runs an Intrusion Protection System with trained security operators, and deploys an antivirus program. This provides three layers of security – even if attackers get past the firewall, they can be detected and stopped by the IPS. And if they reach an end-user computer and try to install malware, it can be detected and removed by the antivirus.

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Imperva defense-in-depth solutions

Imperva offers a complete suite of defense in depth security solutions, providing multiple lines of defense to secure your data and network.

Our data security solutions includedatabase monitoring,data maskingand vulnerability detection. Meanwhile, our web facing solutions, i.e.,WAFandDDoS protection, ensure that your network is protected against all application layer attacks as well as smoke-screen DDoS assaults.

Defense-in-Depth Strategy

Origin and Philosophy:

Definition: It's a strategy employing redundant defensive measures to counteract potential security control failures or exploits.
Origin: Derived from a military strategy aiming to delay an attack's advance instead of relying on a single line of defense.

Use Cases in Cybersecurity:

End-User Security: Protecting individual users through security measures like antivirus, firewalls, and user training.
Product Design: Implementing security measures within products or applications to thwart attacks.
Network Security: Safeguarding networks via controls targeting physical, technical, and administrative aspects.

Principles and Counterpart:

Opposing Principle: "Simplicity-in-Security," advocating against excessive security measures that might introduce vulnerabilities.

Defense-in-Depth Architecture

Layers of Security:

Physical Controls: Measures preventing physical access, like security guards and locked doors.
Technical Controls: Specialized hardware or software safeguarding network systems, e.g., firewalls or antivirus programs.
Administrative Controls: Policies or procedures for employees, such as labeling sensitive information.

Additional Security Layers:

Access Measures: Authentication controls, biometrics, timed access, VPNs.
Workstation Defenses: Antivirus, anti-spam software.
Data Protection Methods: Encryption (data at rest), hashing, secure data transmission, encrypted backups.
Perimeter Defenses: Firewalls, intrusion detection, and prevention systems.
Monitoring and Prevention: Logging, auditing, vulnerability scanners, sandboxing, security awareness training.

Defense-in-Depth Use Cases

User Protection Scenarios:

Website Protection: Combining security offerings (WAF, antivirus, anti-spam) and training to block threats and protect data.

Network Security Scenarios:

Firewall Deployment: Encrypting data flow and data at rest to secure against attacks.
Multiple Layers of Security: Using a firewall, intrusion protection system (IPS), and antivirus for enhanced protection against different attack vectors.

Imperva's Defense-in-Depth Solutions

Data Security Solutions: Database monitoring, data masking, vulnerability detection.
Web-Facing Solutions: WAF (Web Application Firewall), DDoS protection against application layer attacks and DDoS assaults.

This comprehensive strategy aims to create a fortified defense, ensuring robust protection against diverse cyber threats across networks, systems, and individual user endpoints.

What is Defense in Depth | Benefits of Layered Security | Imperva (2024)