Defense in Depth (DiD): Think Like a Hacker
Cybersecurity threats are continually evolving, and cybercriminals are always seeking new ways to circumvent security measures. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt a hacker’s mentality and stay ahead of them. Defense in Depth (DiD) is a cybersecurity strategy that involves layering multiple defense mechanisms to protect a business. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), DiD is “the application of multiple countermeasures in a layered or stepwise manner to achieve security objectives. The methodology involves layering heterogeneous security technologies in the common attack vectors to ensure that attacks missed by one technology are caught by another.”
DiD is effective because no single security measure can protect against all cybersecurity threats and attacks. To implement a DiD approach, businesses must stay informed about the changing threat landscape.
Here are some of the most common threats that businesses should be aware of:
Ransomware – A type of malware that threatens to disclose sensitive data or block access to files/systems by encrypting it until the victim pays a ransom.
Phishing/Business email compromise (BEC) – Hackers impersonate genuine individuals/organizations primarily through emails or other channels like SMS to extract login credentials or install malware.
Cloud jacking – Exploiting cloud vulnerabilities to steal an account holder’s information and gain server access.
Insider threats – Originate from within a business and may happen due to current or former employees, vendors, or other business partners who have access to sensitive data.
Denial-of-Service/Distributed Denial-of-Service (DoS and DDoS) – Hackers flood the targeted system with multiple data requests, causing it to slow down or crash.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) hacks – Hackers use AI and ML to develop an in-depth understanding of how businesses guard against cyberattacks.
Internet of Things (IoT) risks and targeted attacks – IoT devices are an easy target for cybercriminals due to inadequate legislation and data sharing without human intervention.
Web application vulnerabilities – Give hackers direct access to databases containing sensitive data like PII and banking details. Business databases are a common target due to the valuable data they contain.
Deepfakes – A deepfake is a cyberthreat that manipulates or generates audio/video content using artificial intelligence. Deepfakes can deceive end-users into believing something untrue.
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Let ASG Information Technologies keep you safe from hackers
In order to effectively protect against advanced cyber threats, it is necessary to have a strong defense-in-depth (DiD) strategy. This strategy should involve incorporating multiple defensive methods such as firewalls, intrusion prevention and detection systems, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and more, to create a secure system that is difficult to penetrate.
Implementing a DiD strategy requires significant time and effort. Therefore, partnering with a company like ASG Information Technologies, who can manage and maintain your DiD strategy while you focus on your business, is highly beneficial. Contact us at 203-440-4413 to discover how we can assist you and your business.