Architectural Considerations for a Secure Enterprise

This post is co-authored with my peer and friend from across the pond, John Bambenek - a security and threat research expert. This blog is an effort to help readers of all experience levels across the IT, Cloud, and Cybersecurity spectrum.

Security is on the top agenda for CTOs, CIOs and CISOs alike. Cyberattacks are on the rise when the world is grappling with risks that come with data storing, processing, and sharing. Threat actors are getting more sophisticated with their attack vectors. The real cost of a breach can not always be quantified in economic terms - A data leak is simply unacceptable. In the dynamic and interconnected world of digital business, ensuring the security of enterprise architecture is paramount. A robust and comprehensive security strategy requires meticulous attention to architectural considerations.?

For architects, it’s imperative to understand the risks and controls at play when designing robust architecture, tailored to the unique requirements of each organisation. A resilient and all-encompassing security strategy demands scrutiny of architectural considerations, especially as our dependence on technology continues to intensify. AI adds another layer of complexity. Enterprise architects should bring modern technology in the overall design of an enterprise seamlessly to harness it’s full potential. This article delves into security considerations we architects make underpin the creation of a secure enterprise, covering network design, identity and access management, encryption, and more.

1. Technology / Infrastructure Layer:

The IT infrastructure required to support the deployment of applications and IT services including hardware, middleware, networks, platforms etc. Organisations need to embrace Next-Gen Network Security Infrastructure to stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive.

Implementing Zero trust architecture, no entry whether internal or external to the network should be trusted by default in a world where cyber threats can come from internal and external sources. Three key focus points to consider are Verify explicitly for every single session to every single resource, providing the Least Privilege to reduce the attack surface, and always Assume Breach and collect signals such as logging and traffic, all this together gives us enough context about what's happening in the network, which shows the number of risks and based on those risks take control to provide conditional access.

Network Security

• Every flow on the network must be proven, it could be a public network or a corporate network but we can not inherently trust it. Design end-to-end encryption from endpoint to resource Like TLS, and IPsec. Always think of defence in depth having layers or tiers of different types of service for the critical workload. Implement micro-segmentation depending on where you are in the network. Implement perimeter defences, such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and VPNs, to monitor and control traffic entering and leaving the network.?
• The future of network security is in the cloud, and security vendors must evolve to effectively secure customers anywhere and everywhere. Next-gen networking technologies such as Cisco FTD, SDN and NFV enable organisations to create more scalable and dynamic networks, while IoT, edge computing, and AI-powered automation tools are transforming the way businesses operate.?

Endpoint Security

With endpoint devices like IOT devices, corporate devices, phones and pieces of equipment at the Data Center. Getting to a modern operating system from moving legacy systems is always a challenge and there are times you cannot upgrade the operating systems of some expensive equipment, that's when we have to work around it. That is when things like Micro-Segmentation of networks come in.

Network-Segmentation

• The ability to restrict the flow to different parts of the network through different types of devices. We need to isolate that piece of equipment so that it can only talk to a few things that it has to operate, this way we are mitigating the risk that's introduced by having that legacy operating system running. When designing with all these different types of endpoints and equipment, think about knowledge and confidence in that device or equipment.
• Use software-defined networking (SDN) to implement micro-segmentation, dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments.
• NFV enables the virtualisation of network functions such as firewalls and load balancers, reducing the need for physical hardware. SDN and NFV together enable organisations to create more agile and scalable networks that can adapt to changing business needs.
• ZTNA also known as SDP is focused primarily on end-user access to internal and cloud-based resources and is usually delivered as a cloud service model. It provides access to explicitly authorised applications and resources.

Firewall Configurations

• Firewalls act as the first line of defence by monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. They can be implemented at the perimeter of the network, between network segments, or on individual devices to enforce security policies and prevent unauthorised access.
• Next-gen firewall is designed to help organisations protect their networks, data, and applications from evolving cyber threats while maintaining high performance and operational efficiency.?

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

IDS and IPS solutions monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and known attack patterns. IDS detects potential security breaches and alerts administrators, while IPS can automatically block or mitigate threats in real-time to prevent network compromise.

Encryption

Encrypting sensitive data and communications helps protect against eavesdropping, data interception, and unauthorised access. Encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS secure web traffic, while technologies like IPsec encrypt network traffic between devices and endpoints.

VPN Encryption

• VPNs are going on the way out soon. Historically VPN is one of the most popular ways to attack a network or to break into and if we look at the latest cyber trends VPN is going cold.
• Utilise strong encryption protocols for Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections, ensuring secure communication over public networks. Remember it's not a default pattern, it's not the solution unless done with end-to-end encryption and very explicit, it should be a selective set of traffic from the client that only sends it to the VPN if the target is in that network.
• VPN with MFA acts as an extra layer of security to the authenticating process by requiring users to provide multiple verification forms before gaining access to the VPN.

Endpoint Security Posture enforcement

Endpoint security posture enforcement ensures that devices attempting to connect to the VPN meet certain security standards before being granted access. This includes factors such as having up-to-date anti-virus software, operating system patches and firewall configurations. Devices that fail to meet these requirements will be denied access. This way organisations can mitigate the risk of unauthorised access and protect sensitive data from potential threats originating from remote endpoints.

DNS Response Policy Zones (RPZ)

• DNS RPZ is used to block access to known malicious or undesirable websites by manipulating DNS response. It works by intercepting DNS queries and comparing them against a predefined set of rules or policies.
• When a DNS query matches a rule in the RPZ, the DNS resolves can respond with a custom DNS response, such as blocking the response entirely or redirecting the user to a safe landing page.
• RPZ can integrated with threat intelligence feeds and databases that continuously update lists of known malicious domains and IP addresses.
• RPZ provides flexibility for organisations to define their policies and rules based on their specific security requirements and risk tolerance.
• RPZ can be implemented at the DNS resolver level, making it a scalable solution that can be deployed across large networks. It can help reduce the attack surface and enhance overall network security.?

Access Control Lists (ACLs)

ACLs are used to control traffic flow within the network by defining rules that permit or deny access based on source and destination IP addresses, protocols, and ports.

Antivirus and Anti-Malware

Deploy advanced antivirus and anti-malware solutions with real-time scanning and heuristic analysis.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Implement EDR solutions to detect and respond to advanced threats on endpoints.

Patch Management

Employ automated patch management systems to ensure all endpoints are up-to-date with the latest security patches. Regularly updating network devices, operating systems, and software applications with the latest security patches, firmware and updates helps remediate vulnerabilities and protect against known exploits.

Continuous Monitoring

• Continuous monitoring of network traffic and logs helps detect anomalies, identify security incidents, and investigate potential threats. Network monitoring tools capture and analyse traffic patterns, behaviour, and events to provide visibility into the network's security posture.
• Logging of NetFlow data involves the collection and storage of network traffic information using Netflow technology. NetFlow-enabled devices, such as routers, switches or firewalls, generate NetFlow records that contain information about the devices.
• NetFlow records are exported from the network devices to a central collector for storage, analysis and monitoring. Netflow logging also facilitates capacity planning and traffic engineering activities by providing insights into traffic trends, peak usage periods and applications.

A web proxy with MITM (Man-in-the-Middle)

• All outbound web traffic from users within the network is routed through the proxy server. With MITM interception enabled, the web proxy intercepts and inspects encrypted HTTPS traffic by decrypting and re-encrypting it before forwarding it to its destination.
• The web proxy issues its own SSL certificates to users within the network and the user's web browsers are configured to trust the proxy's SSL certificate authority, allowing the proxy to decrypt and inspect HTTPS traffic.
• The web proxy can apply content filtering policies to outbound web traffic based on predefined rules or criteria. Additionally, the proxy server logs details of all web traffic, including URLs visited, timestamps, and user identities, for auditing, compliance, and forensic purposes.
• User authentication also enables accountability and auditing of internet usage within the organisation. The web proxy can implement bandwidth management policies to prioritise or limit internet bandwidth usage for different user groups or applications.
• In addition to content filtering, the web proxy can integrate with security solutions such as antivirus scanners, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and data loss prevention (DLP) tools to detect and prevent malware infections, intrusions, and data exfiltration attempts originating from web traffic.

By 2026, Gartner forecasts that 30% of enterprises will view identity verification and authentication solutions as unreliable when used alone, citing the threat posed by AI-generated deep fakes.

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

This is a critical component of the modern cybersecurity framework. It encompasses policies, technologies and processes that manage and govern digital identities and their access to resources within an organisation's IT infrastructure. As businesses increasingly rely on digital technologies and cloud-based services, IAM becomes even more crucial for safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining the integrity of the organisational assets.

Legal services businesses can use IAM methods like SSO, MFA, RBAC and least privilege to meet the GDPR and HIPPA mandate. Enforcement of segmentation of duties policies is one of the many ways that IAM tools and systems can help financial businesses adhere to SOX requirements.?

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Implement RBAC to assign permissions based on job roles, ensuring the principle of least privilege. Use RBAC not just for the Data Plane but also for the Control Plane.
• Single Sign-On (SSO)By deploying SSO solutions to streamline user access, we can now focus on that intelligence to learn the normal behaviour and assess risks across the entire landscape. By getting all the signals in one place, it makes it easier to detect those anomalies. We can now add strong risk-based authentication.
• Privileged Access Management (PAM) Utilise PAM solutions to monitor and control privileged accounts, reducing the risk of unauthorised access. By providing ‘Just in time and Just enough’ access.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)Integrate MFA mechanisms, such as biometrics, smart cards, or one-time passcodes, for enhanced user authentication. A better option is to have Authentication applications. As soon as we introduce MFA into an organisation, phishing attacks go to almost zero. Configure Passwordless access giving a better end-user experience and easier to diagnose suspicious activity when asked for the password.Disable Legacy authentication protocol this is one of the biggest attack surfaces. They are used in about 90% of these times of attack.
• User Lifecycle ManagementManaging the entire lifecycle of user identities, including provisioning, de-provisioning, and modification based on changes in the role or employment status.?

Secure Cloud Architecture

• As the applications are moving from corporate data centres to the cloud - both SaaS and public cloud. Cloud computing will play a dual role, not just as a means of delivering applications, but also as the primary catalyst for driving business innovation. In today's digital landscape, organisations rely on technology to maintain competitive operations and enhance customer experiences.
• Gartner’s forecast - Looking ahead to 2027, Cloud Computing is poised to evolve from a technological tool to a driver of business innovation. Hybrid infrastructure is a preferred model for many organisations, as it combines on-premises resources with public and private cloud environments, offering the best of both worlds. It enables organisations to leverage the benefits of cloud computing while retaining control over sensitive data and critical applications.
• Implementing containerisation in your cloud infrastructure can yield numerous security and operational advantages. However, it's crucial to consider the extent to which you can delegate responsibility to your cloud provider for achieving these security goals.
• Cloud providers offer built-in network security features, such as virtual private clouds (VPCs), network access control lists (NACLs), and network security groups (NSG), to control inbound and outbound traffic and isolate cloud resources from external threats. Organisations can configure network security policies to restrict access to cloud environments based on IP addresses, protocols, and ports. More on Cloud security.

Azure Offerings

Azure offers an extensive array of security tools and capabilities, which are outlined within the context of security in the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure. Cloud technology stands at the forefront of numerous recent and emerging technological advancements, including Artificial intelligence, Event-driven architectures, Internet of Things (IoT) services, Next-generation user interfaces, Edge computing, Quantum computing, Real-time situational awareness and many more.

GCP Offerings

Navigating the complexities of securing your applications and workloads in public clouds presents ongoing challenges. Explore "The Definitive Guide to Constructing Network Security Architecture in GCP" for invaluable insights.

AWS Offerings

Security executives, architects, and engineers can utilise this guide that shows the design considerations for deploying the complete range of AWS Security Reference Architecture (SRA) within a multi-account environment managed through Amazon to enhance their understanding of AWS security services and features.

OCI Offerings

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) security is built upon the foundation of core pillars, each bolstered by multiple solutions to optimise the security and compliance of the cloud platform.

Integration SSO and MFA

Integration with Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) offers organisations a powerful authentication solution that balances security and usability, allowing users to access multiple applications and services with ease while maintaining a high level of security and protection against unauthorised access.

SIEM

• Bringing local logs to a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system involves aggregating, analysing, and correlating log data from various sources within an organisation's network to detect and respond to security incidents effectively.
• Many SIEM platforms integrate with external threat intelligence feeds and databases to enrich log data with contextual information about known threats, vulnerabilities, and malicious actors.

SOAR

SOAR aims to ease the burden on IT teams by integrating automated responses across various events. Tailored to an organisation’s requirements, a SOAR system empowers teams to determine how it achieves overarching goals, such as time-saving, reducing IT personnel and enabling staff to focus on innovative endeavours. SOAR offers comprehensive threat management.?

XDR

• XDR solutions gather and assess security information originating from endpoints, networks, and cloud environments. Similar to SOAR platforms, XDRs possess the ability to automatically address security incidents.
• XDR serves purposes like real-time threat identification, incident prioritisation and automated threat investigation.?

The least privilege of Accounts

Least privilege is a fundamental security principle that advocates granting users and systems the minimum level of access or permissions required to perform their tasks or functions. Some of the key aspects of implementing least privilege for accounts in the cloud as RBAC, Granular Permission, Just-In-Time (JIT) Access, Conditional access policies, Privileged Identity Management (PIM) and Continues monitoring and Auditing.

Serverless running an Agent

• Serverless architecture removed the burden from organisations to manage their own physical or virtual servers, as well as any of the other platform components required for the application to run. Running an agent in a serverless environment to detect unauthorised or unexpected code involves implementing a lightweight, event-driven mechanism to monitor and analyse code execution within the cloud environment.
• This agent is designed to capture and analyse, and is configured to listen for specific event triggers to detect, analyse, monitor and mitigate the risk of a security breach. It typically works as the agent, which is a piece of monitoring software, is deployed within a serverless environment, such as AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, Oracle Functions or Google Cloud Functions.

Secrets management

• Secrets management in the cloud refers to the secure storage, access, and rotation of sensitive information such as passwords, API keys, tokens, and cryptographic keys within cloud environments. Secrets management solutions offer APIs and SDKs that allow developers to programmatically access and manage secrets within their applications.

Software libraries and updates

• This process ensures that software dependencies are up-to-date, compatible, and secure.
• Software projects often rely on external libraries and modules to provide additional functionality. Package managers like pip for Python and npm for Node.js facilitate the installation and management of these dependencies. Developers specify the required dependencies and their versions in a configuration file (e.g., requirements.txt for Python or package.json for Node.js).
• When a developer initiates the installation of dependencies using the package manager, it resolves the dependencies recursively, fetching the required packages from the package repository and installing them locally in the project environment.
• Package managers enforce versioning conventions to manage software dependencies effectively. Semantic versioning (SemVer) is commonly used, where each version consists of three parts: major, minor, and patch.
• Regularly updating dependencies is crucial to incorporate bug fixes, security patches, and new features provided by upstream maintainers.
• Package managers generate lock files (e.g., pip's requirements.txt.lock or npm's package-lock.json) to record the exact versions of dependencies installed in the project environment. Lock files prevent unexpected changes in dependencies between different installations or environments, ensuring consistency and reproducibility.
• Package managers often integrate with vulnerability databases and security scanning tools to identify known vulnerabilities in installed dependencies.
• Dependency resolution algorithms ensure that the installed dependencies satisfy all version constraints while minimising conflicts and maximising compatibility.

2. Application Layer:

Redirecting attention towards application layer security. This being the closest layer to end users, it provides threat actors with the largest threat area. It's important to implement a security policy at every service. It involves integrating security controls, best practices, and principles into the design, development, deployment, and operation of applications to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and services.

By integrating AI and automation-driven self-defence mechanisms within the application layer, coupled with data encryption at rest and the adoption of three- or four-factor authentication, organisations can establish a robust security framework. This comprehensive approach acts as a protective shield, ensuring the safety of all digital networks and assets.

Secure Development Lifecycle

• From my observations, a significant number of software developers tend to overlook the importance of thorough coding and unit testing, often leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed at the software application layer. Even seasoned and skilled developers frequently encounter challenges during the initial round of penetration testing, with SQL injection vulnerabilities being a common occurrence.
• Implement secure coding practices to cover input validation, output encoding, authentication, password management, session management, communication security, and cryptography. Software engineers must rigorously test for these elements during the initial unit testing phase before proceeding to the QA stage.

The integration of AI and automation

Creating and integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation functionalities, such as software robots, directly within the software application, customised to match the criticality of the application or the sensitivity of operational data. These capabilities enable the detection, prediction, and gathering of sufficient evidence to prosecute any malicious entities.

Penetration Testing

• Conduct regular security assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration tests to identify security weaknesses, assess risk exposure, and prioritise remediation efforts to strengthen the security posture of applications.
• Perform static code analysis and dynamic application security testing (DAST) to identify and remediate security vulnerabilities, such as code injection, insecure dependencies, and broken authentication mechanisms.

Secure APIs

• Implement secure API design principles, such as authentication tokens and rate limiting, to protect against unauthorised access and misuse of APIs.
• Store session tokens securely using secure cookies or local storage mechanisms and validate session tokens on the server side to prevent unauthorised access and session tampering.

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

• Deploy WAFs to filter and monitor HTTP traffic between web applications and the internet, mitigating web-based attacks.
• Network-based WAFs are deployed at the network perimeter, usually between the internet and the web servers. Network-based WAFs inspect incoming traffic before it reaches the web servers, providing a centralised point of protection for multiple web applications. They can be physical appliances or virtual appliances.
• Host-based WAFs are installed directly on the web server or within the application server environment. They provide granular protection and are highly customisable to the specific requirements of individual applications. Host-based WAFs can offer better visibility into application behaviour but may require more resources and management overhead.
• Cloud-based WAFs are delivered as a service and operate from the cloud provider's infrastructure. They are easy to deploy and scale, making them suitable for organisations with dynamic or distributed environments. Cloud-based WAFs offer centralised management, and automatic updates, and can protect web applications hosted across multiple cloud platforms or on-premises infrastructure.
• Inline WAFs actively intercept and inspect web traffic in real-time. They can block or allow traffic based on predefined security rules. Passive WAFs, on the other hand, operate in monitoring mode and do not actively block traffic. Instead, they analyse traffic patterns and generate alerts for suspicious activity. Passive WAFs are often used for initial monitoring and tuning of security policies before transitioning to inline mode.
• WAFs can be implemented as hardware appliances, where dedicated hardware devices are deployed in the network infrastructure. Alternatively, they can be implemented as software solutions running on standard server hardware or virtual machines. Hardware WAFs offer high performance and throughput but may require upfront investment and physical space. Software WAFs provide flexibility and scalability but may require more resources for deployment and management.

3. Data Layer:

Data is the ultimate in the zero trust road, as all roads lead to data. Organisations must invest in data security strategies and platforms to combat the ever-growing risk of data theft. With a proper data security policy in place, organisations can identify sensitive data, secure their databases, and protect their valuable assets from potential breaches to prevent Financial losses, Reputational damage, Legal consequences, and Loss of customer trust due to data breaches. Gartner Forecasts on Global Security and Risk Management. Deploy data-driven protection measures that ensure protection travels alongside the data. Information security relies on the location and nature of the data. Begin by discovering, inventorying, classifying, and labelling the data accordingly.

Collect all the signals to assess the data and detect anomalies and take those signals and action them automatically. Protection comes in different ways like least privilege, data masking, protection from data exfiltration, and encryption not just at rest, but also in use and transit. Every single access to data must be validated. Once done with inventory, understand the criticality and probability of exposure.

Data Protection and Privacy

Here is what Splunk has to say as an innovator in data and AI.

Data Classification

• Classify data based on its sensitivity, criticality, and regulatory requirements to determine appropriate security controls, access permissions, and protection mechanisms.
• Categorise data into different levels, such as public, internal, confidential, and top secret, and apply security policies and encryption based on the classification.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

• Implement DLP solutions to monitor and prevent the unauthorised transmission of sensitive data outside the enterprise network and enforce data protection policies.

Database Encryption

• Encrypt sensitive data stored in databases using transparent database encryption (TDE) or field-level encryption. Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit using strong cryptographic algorithms and key management practices to protect against unauthorised access and data breaches.

Data Governance and Compliance

• Establish data governance frameworks and policies to ensure the proper handling, storage, and protection of data assets in compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Conduct regular data privacy assessments, audits, and compliance reviews to evaluate adherence to data protection regulations, such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Integrate privacy considerations into the architectural design, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

Identity Federation

• Implement identity federation for seamless and secure authentication across on-premises and cloud environments. Implement granular access controls and authentication mechanisms to restrict access to sensitive data based on user roles, privileges, and least privilege principles. Secure databases with access controls, encryption, and auditing mechanisms to protect against SQL injection, unauthorised access, and data tampering.

API Security

• API security is crucial for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and resources exchanged between systems.
• Utilise API gateways and employ OAuth or API keys to secure interactions between applications and cloud services.
• Implement robust email security solutions to prevent social engineering attacks.

Data Masking and Anonymisation

• Implement data masking and anonymisation techniques to conceal sensitive information and limit exposure to unauthorised users in non-production environments.
• Safeguarding sensitive data is paramount for organisations as a data breach can expose personally identifiable information (PII) and put individuals at risk of identity theft and other malicious activities. Leading cloud data platforms like Databricks now have data clean rooms to help secure data during processing and exchange. After the EU and the UK, the US is also implementing privacy laws starting with a few states soon.

Automated Incident Detection

• Enable comprehensive logging and auditing of API activities, events, and transactions to capture detailed logs of client interactions, error messages, and security events for monitoring, analysis, and forensic investigation.
• Monitor API logs and audit trails using SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solutions to detect anomalies, security incidents, and unauthorised access attempts in real time.
• Organisations must deploy security monitoring tools, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms to detect and alert on security incidents in real time.

Forensic Tools

• Incident responders conduct forensic analysis and investigation to identify the root cause of the incident, analyse attack vectors, and gather evidence for legal and regulatory purposes.
• Digital forensics techniques, including memory analysis, disk imaging, and network packet capture, are used to reconstruct the timeline of events, trace attacker activity, and support incident response efforts. Implement forensic tools for in-depth analysis of security incidents and to support legal investigations.

Data Backup and Recovery Systems:

• Data recovery involves restoring lost, corrupted, or encrypted data from backups, archives, or redundant storage systems to minimise data loss and downtime.
• Organisations maintain regular backup and disaster recovery procedures to create and retain copies of critical data, applications, and configurations in secure and geographically diverse locations for timely restoration in the event of data loss or system failure. Establish regular backup and recovery procedures with off-site storage for critical data and systems.

4. Business Layer

The business layer focuses on defining the organisation's business strategy, objectives, processes, and functions. Implement measures to protect the strategic, operational, and technological aspects of an organisation's AI-driven initiatives.

Policies and Governance

• Configure and enforce security Policies and Governance frameworks to guide decision-making and behaviour within the organisation. Regular audits, continuous monitoring, and adherence to industry best practices are essential for maintaining the integrity and resilience of a secure enterprise in the face of an ever-changing threat landscape.
• Identify and assess potential security risks and threats to the business, including regulatory compliance requirements and industry-specific mandates.
• Implement audit trails, logging mechanisms, and accountability measures to track AI usage, monitor model performance, and demonstrate compliance with legal and ethical standards.

AI Ethics and Bias Mitigation

• Address ethical considerations and mitigate bias in AI algorithms and decision-making processes. Implement human values, accountability, and transparency principles to ensure equitable outcomes and avoid discriminatory practices.
• Conduct bias assessments, honest audits, and algorithmic impact assessments to identify and mitigate biases in AI training data and model predictions.

Threat Detection and Monitoring

• Deploy AI-driven threat detection and monitoring systems to identify anomalous activities, security incidents, and emerging threats in real time.
• Use machine learning algorithms and anomaly detection techniques to analyse patterns, behaviours, and network traffic for signs of malicious activity or unauthorised access attempts.

Disaster recovery and Incident response

• Offers a bird’s-eye view of the organisation's recovery strategy. Develop and Test an incident response plan specific to the business process to effectively mitigate and respond to security incidents. Foster a security-conscious culture by regularly conducting awareness training for employees within the organisation to encourage proactive reporting of security concerns.
• A disaster recovery (DR) plan is a business continuity plan (BCP) component that focuses on recovering IT infrastructure and systems following a catastrophic occurrence. The fundamental purpose of a disaster recovery plan is to restore data and function to avoid data loss and minimise downtime.?

Evaluate security practices of third-party vendors or partners

• A third party is a third attack surface.? Discussions regarding safeguarding cloud services inevitably gravitate towards the cloud-shared responsibility model, emphasising the joint commitment of both users and providers to prioritise security. Given the relentless nature of attackers, any vulnerabilities, whether on your end or your service provider's, could be exploited, potentially compromising your data and services.
• Assess and oversee the security protocols of third-party vendors or partners engaged in business operations, verifying their adherence to the organisation's security protocols. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) hold significant responsibility; thus, embedding security clauses and prerequisites into contracts with third parties is essential to uphold security commitments. These measures fortify the organisation's defences and safeguard critical assets.
• Establish contractual agreements, service level agreements (SLAs), and security requirements to mitigate third-party risks and ensure compliance with security standards and controls.

Conclusion

In short, the four components of an enterprise architecture are Technological Architecture, Application Architecture, Data Architecture, and Business Architecture. Using a Framework to develop an enterprise secure architecture, ask, where should the enterprise start. The problem is about controlling the complexity and cost of IT while enabling the desired change and competitiveness for the business.

Some security considerations are summarised above for secure enterprise architecture. By meticulously implementing Zero Trust principles, securing the network, managing identities effectively, and adopting a proactive stance on application and data security, organisations can fortify their defences against evolving cyber threats. Regular audits, continuous monitoring, and adherence to industry best practices are essential for maintaining the integrity and resilience of a secure enterprise in the face of an ever-changing threat landscape. It is important to know how to assess these risks and improve your defence via security by design.

Authors:

Duré Shahawar

Duré is a dynamic and accomplished Cloud and Network Solutions Architect with more than 15 years of real-world experience in architecting robust solutions to empower mid to large enterprises to get the most from their IT investments. Beyond her professional endeavours, Duré is a prolific writer and blogger. Her articles and publications explore diverse topics ranging from technology trends and best practices to personal development and leadership principles.

A dedicated mentor and coach, Duré is committed to nurturing talent, building high-performing teams, and driving process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency and productivity. Her unwavering commitment to resource optimisation and lifelong learning underscores her dedication to continuous growth and innovation.

John Bambenek

John serves as the President of Bambenek Consulting, LTD, a distinguished Cybersecurity threat intelligence firm. With over two decades of experience in security and threat research, he has provided counsel and developed threat security programs for leading global Fortune 500 companies. John’s expertise is focused on combating sophisticated criminal and nation-state threats, collaborating with global government and law enforcement agencies to pursue justice. He is credited with establishing industry-leading threat intelligence feeds utilised by top cybersecurity firms worldwide, along with crafting fundamental datasets essential for cybersecurity AI/ML models and tools. A recognised industry thought leader and speaker, John offers insights on emerging global cyber attacks. He has also contributed to corporate advisory boards and is in the final stage of completing his PhD in Cybersecurity machine learning at the University of Illinois.