What is Enterprise Security?
Enterprise security includes various technologies, strategies, techniques, and processes used in securing information and IT assets against unauthorized access and risks that may violate the confidentiality, integrity, or availability (referred to as the “CIA triad”) of these systems. Enterprise security includes the protection of data as it flows across networks, the people and policies that organizations use to secure their network infrastructure, and numerous assets such as devices and endpoints. Enterprise security is critical as potential threats from cyberattackers are constant and constantly evolving. Building strong enterprise security architecture is a key factor to protecting organizational assets. The following are best practices:
Stringent access controls. Establish stringent controls for identity and access management (IAM) following principle of least-privilege. With least-privilege, users should only have the read, write, and execute permissions that are required for them to perform functions of their job. Groups and individuals can be defined and classified so that it is clear which specific organizations, departments, teams, and/or individuals have permissions to access specific information.
Protect data during transmission and storage. Data integrity refers to the certainty that data has not been tampered with or degraded during or after its submission. An example of data integrity in data transmission is using the Transport Layer Security (TLS), which ensures that a user is transmitting to a valid entity when the data is cryptographically transmitted.
Establish device security policies. IoT devices and Bring Your Own Device policies pose security risks that can be addressed by ensuring that all devices are properly configured, updated with the latest firmware, and that users adhere to strict security protocols when accessing work assets.
Educate employees on cybersecurity measures. Ensure employees are aware of security policies, compliance regulations, potential vulnerabilities, potential threats, and the risks and consequences of security breaches.
Disaster recovery and risk mitigation. Establish a thorough plan that includes responsibilities and workflows for an organized and effective disaster recovery protocols.
Monitor network performance. Establish benchmarks to understand how your network and infrastructure operates and employ a comprehensive monitoring solution that can quickly identify and address unexpected behavior on the network.
Encryption strategies. Use a combination of encryption strategies such as file permissions, password protection, and two-factor authentication to protect data.
Involve senior management. The board and executive management should understand the legal, financial, and technological implications of enterprise security practices so that they can make informed risk management decisions.
Perform regular scans. Administrators must run regular scans on the entire system, not just workstations.