The Second Layer of Security Many Teams Miss

We have said that the second layer of protection is important, and the first is not enough. To understand this better, we should first understand what the first layer is.

1. Access and authentication controls

Companies follow policies for password setting, role-based access and multifactor authentication to keep safety. Using these practices, they prevent logins in the system which are unauthorised, but these are not able to stop the use of stolen credentials or misuse by an insider.

2. Monitoring

All organisations use simple monitoring and audit logs, which is good to check if there is compliance at all levels. These are good for monitoring only, but cannot detect any misuse or real-time irregularity in the system.

3. Boundary Defences

VPNs, firewalls, etc., are defence mechanisms that organisations set, but these help in controlling traffic; anyone who has entry in the system can misuse it, as it will not detect suspicious behaviour.

If you want to know in very simple words, the first layer is a level of protection for the foundation only, as it functions on the premise that any user who has access to the system is safe. The world has moved, and so have the cyber attackers and this layer will not detect or prevent insider risks, credential thefts and misconfiguration bypass.

All firms need security beyond the foundation level, as access control at the surface level is not enough. While taking cyber insurance helps cover losses, the security levels have to be in place and in today’s day and age, all companies need protection against anomaly detection, cloud security monitoring and proactive response. Let us talk about each of these in detail to get a better understanding:

1. Anomaly Detection

This uses machine learning or artificial intelligence to analyse the regular patterns in the behaviour of the users of the system. This can detect any suspicious activity, like a user logging in from a different location, attempting to use or transferring sensitive information which they do not regularly use or trying to access the data at unusual hours. With anomaly detection, activities that are irregular are detected, and the red flags are noticed before the situation gets out of hand.

2. Layered security and data protection

Systems monitor the logins, but there is a need to move beyond that; it is required that we check the manner in which the data is accessed and shared. Downloads which could be risky need to be flagged, and so do connections from any third-party applications. A layered security ensures that even if the first basic one is bypassed, the other will avoid misuse.

3. Threat response best practices

This practice ensures that there is an alert which automatically triggers when anomalies happen. This creates a workflow which is predefined workflow which enables the team to investigate and respond. When the team responds in a timely manner, the attackers in the system get less time to work, and this has repeatedly been shown to reduce major breaches.

4. Security practices and governing

There are compliance needs that must be met to ensure safety. Some of these are HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, etc. When these security controls are regularly reviewed, there is a high possibility of adapting to the ever-evolving threats. This needs to be an ongoing process and not one time, as this is the need of the hour today.

If the first level takes care of the foundation and the security, the second layer is like a door with motion sensors and security cameras, as this will help detect irregular activity and intrusions and secure the house.

Many people think that the best way to add a second layer of security is to buy more tools and place them in the system. This is a wrong notion, and what is really needed is to have a layered protection strategy and build a system of threat awareness. Some best ways to do the same are:

1. Advanced Monitoring

Behavioural analytics and anomaly detection are two things that all organisations should focus on. SalesForce or any other cloud service should be integrated with the Security Information and Event Management to ensure unified visibility.

2. Automate Threat Response

Policies which are automatic and well-known should be set for common issues that can be faced by the teams. When there are automation setups, the chances of human errors and delays are reduced, and the matter is controlled sooner.

3. Define Risks

A definition of risk should be well-written and explained across the board. This way, a bigger risk will be detected sooner and minute issues will not be focused on without wasting time.

4. Strong Security Planning

In times of new risks, the security systems of any organisation should be reviewed every quarter as than annually. This way, it can be updated as per business changes and, most importantly, threats.

5. Cyber Insurance

Most insurance companies today, when giving a cyber insurance policy, check the level of security before they give coverage. Showing them the layered security with incident response, anomaly detection, and layered protection ensures you can get better coverage without paying exorbitant premiums.