Cyberattacks are not going away. In fact, they’re growing in volume, sophistication, and impact. As a result, global cybercrime costs are expected to grow by 15 percent per year over the next three years, reaching $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.
To combat rising threats, cybersecurity protection must also grow in volume, sophistication, and impact. That means employing a layered or “defense in depth” approach. Best practices prescribe implementing seven layers of protection, each securing a critical vulnerability or attack vector, such as data, applications, endpoints, and even users. Let’s review the seven layers of cybersecurity.
The 7 Layers of Cybersecurity
It may be helpful to think of the seven layers of cybersecurity not as a stack but as concentric rings with your vital data in the center, surrounded and protected by all other layers. Below are the solutions and tools used to secure each layer.
1. Data Security – Data is your organization’s most critical asset, so you must ensure its availability, integrity, and confidentiality in transit and at rest. Sample solutions include data encryption, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) that stops unwanted copying or deletion, and data backup and recovery.
2. Application Security – Securing connected or cloud-based applications is critical to protecting your environment. Measures include user Identity and Access Management (IAM), Web Application Firewalls (WAF), browser security, and more.
3. Endpoint Security – Endpoint security refers to securing connected devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and workstations, which are gateways to the corporate network. Tools include Next-generation Antivirus (NGAV), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Mobile Device Management (MDM).
4. Network Security – This focuses on ensuring data integrity and Security within a network. Sample tools include next-generation firewalls (NGFW), remote access VPNs, network access control (NAC), and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS).
5. Perimeter Security – This layer protects the boundary between your locally managed network and the public Internet. Example solutions include Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), and Unified Threat Management (UTM) systems.
6. Physical Security – The physical layer is sometimes overlooked because it’s not part of the cyberworld. Locking down access to critical infrastructure (e.g., servers or storage) and keeping track of equipment, including replacement mobile devices, is imperative for complete protection.
7. Human/User Security – Users are often considered the weakest link, but you can help them improve cyber hygiene with Security Awareness Training. Developing and practicing incident response and recovery processes with your team can improve your organization’s response to a cybersecurity breach and speed recovery.
The Extra Layer: Managed Security
Deploying seven layers of cybersecurity may seem like a big lift, but it can be made easier ironically by adding another layer – managed security. By outsourcing to an experienced managed security services provider (MSSP) like Cox Business, you can implement these protective measures as a service.
Cyber Risk Means Business Risk
Cyberattacks are considered the No. 1 concern among 40 percent of U.S. executives, according to a 2022 study from PwC that polled C-suite leaders and boards. Investing in cyber resilience – layers of prevention, detection, and recovery solutions – is the best defense.
