Glossary

Defense in depth, synonymous with layered security, is a fundamental principle in cybersecurity aimed at establishing multiple lines of defense to protect against a wide range of cyber threats and attacks. By deploying diverse security controls across different layers of an organization’s IT infrastructure, defense in depth seeks to create a comprehensive security posture that mitigates the risk of successful breaches and unauthorized access.

Each layer of defense acts as a barrier or checkpoint, requiring threat actors to overcome multiple obstacles and security controls to compromise the network or system. This multi-faceted approach enhances resilience and reduces the likelihood of a single point of failure compromising the entire security posture. Moreover, defense in depth enables organizations to address both internal and external threats effectively, including malware infections, insider threats, data breaches, and advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Key components of defense in depth may include network segmentation, access controls, encryption, intrusion detection systems (IDS), endpoint protection, security awareness training, and incident response capabilities. By adopting a defense-in-depth strategy, organizations can strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture and better protect critical assets and data from evolving cyber threats, thereby minimizing the potential impact of security incidents and enhancing resilience in the face of persistent adversaries.