Enterprise security: Definition and guide

January 8, 2024

Enterprise security, also referred to as organizational or corporate security, is a comprehensive set of strategies, plans, policies, and technologies used to protect information, assets, employees, and operations. Regardless of the type of organization, enterprise security should be an evolving effort with continuous evaluation and optimization to take advantage of new solutions and address the ever-changing risk and threat landscapes. 

The objective of enterprise security is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (the CIA triad) of critical resources, as well as the resiliency of cyber and physical environments. The many components of enterprise security include: 

  • Application security 
  • Business continuity and disaster recovery 
  • Cloud security 
  • Compliance and governance 
  • Data loss prevention (DLP) 
  • Endpoint security 
  • Identity and access management (IAM) 
  • Incident response and management 
  • Information security 
  • Network security 
  • Physical security 
  • Security awareness and training 
  • Security monitoring and analytics 
  • Security policies and procedures 
  • Vulnerability management 

Why is enterprise security important?

Enterprise security is of vital importance to all organizations, because it provides holistic protection against physical, human, and cyber threats. Key benefits of enterprise security include: 

  • Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance  
  • Maintaining customer trust 
  • Minimizing the impact of insider threats  
  • Preventing financial loss  
  • Protecting sensitive data  
  • Responding to evolving threats 
  • Safeguarding intellectual property  
  • Supporting business continuity programs 

Enterprise security architecture

An enterprise security architecture (ESA) refers to the overall structure and design of an organization’s security posture. It encompasses the enterprise security controls, policies, processes, services, and technologies used to protect data, assets, and operations.  

A well-developed enterprise security architecture provides an integrated framework that allows security teams to meet requirements with streamlined systems and processes, as well as ensures resiliency in the event of a malicious incident, accident, or natural disaster.  

Key components required to implement and maintain an effective ESA include the following. 

Cloud security

Enterprise security encompasses protections for cloud services and environments to ensure parity with internal systems. In most cases, cloud security is a shared responsibility between providers and enterprise security teams. 

Data security

Data security encompasses a comprehensive set of practices and technologies used to protect sensitive digital information at rest and in transit. The many solutions that comprise this part of an enterprise security architecture include: 

Endpoint security

Endpoint security protects end-user devices (e.g., computers, laptops, mobile devices, and servers) from cybersecurity threats. This is an important part of enterprise security because endpoints are commonly targeted areas where attackers gain entry to systems and networks. Endpoint security is delivered through a mesh of policies, practices, and technology, such as antivirus software, endpoint detection and response solutions (EDR), and encryption (e.g., file and disk). 

Enterprise security policies

Enterprise security policies define the organization’s expectations for enterprise security, acceptable use, and regulatory compliance requirements. Security measures used to detect, prevent, and mitigate the impact of threats and vulnerabilities are outlined. In addition, it includes policies for data access, usage, sharing, and destruction. 

Incident response and management

Despite best efforts, organizations are affected by cyber incidents. To mitigate the impact of these and expedite recovery, enterprise security includes incident response plans that include detection, analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery processes. 

Identity and access management (IAM)

IAM is a key part of an enterprise security architecture, restricting access to resources (e.g., applications, data, and systems) to only authorized and validated users. These are used to manage and monitor user identities, access permissions, and authentication mechanisms. This ensures that only authorized individuals have access to specific resources. 

Network security

Network designs are a core part of an enterprise security architecture. This includes the strategic deployment and configuration of firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IPS/IDS), and virtual private networks (VPNs) to protect against unauthorized access and attacks. 

Physical security

While the bulk of enterprise security is focused on digital controls, it also includes physical security. This includes physical access controls (e.g., keycards or biometric scanners for entry), surveillance systems, and environmental controls to protect IT systems. 

Risk management

Risk management processes are included to identify, assess, and prioritize security risks. This component of the enterprise security architecture includes defining acceptable risk levels along with implementing systems and processes to analyze, monitor, and mitigate identified risks. 

Security awareness and training

Because users represent the weakest link in enterprise security, ESAs include security training and awareness programs. These are designed to educate users about security risks, their role in enterprise security, the organization’s security policies, and best practices to protect the organization from threats. 

Third-party and vendor security

Enterprise security assesses and monitors third-party and vendor security to ensure alignment with the organization’s standards. This includes establishing and enforcing security criteria to ensure that third-party or vendor vulnerabilities are not used as a point of entry to the organization.   

Enterprise security best practices 

The following are several commonly cited enterprise security best practices that most organizations can use to improve and optimize cybersecurity. 

Access controls

  • Create new groups and assign data owners to manage the groups.  
  • Implement least-privilege access.  
  • Limit and control which people have access to sites, facilities, and materials. 
  • Remediate over-permissive access. 

Authentication

Require secure and authenticated access to all resources by: 

  • Auditing access and group memberships on a regular basis 
  • Creating micro-perimeters around data 
  • Enforcing strong authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), one-time codes, and biometrics  
  • Utilizing a least-privilege access model 

Data backups

  • Regularly back up critical data.  
  • Ensure that backup and recovery processes are tested regularly.   
  • Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule (i.e., at least three copies of data—the primary data and two backups on two different media types, stored on at least two different types of devices, and located in at least one off-site location). 

Develop an enterprise security policy

A comprehensive enterprise security policy should outline security objectives, acceptable use, and consequences for policy violations as well as detail: 

  • The business continuity plan and policies 
  • Issue-specific policies 
  • Physical security policies 
  • Program policies 
  • System-specific policies 

Encryption

Protect data, both at rest and while in transit, to protect it from unauthorized access using:  

  • File level encryption 
  • Full disk encryption  
  • Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption 
  • Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) 
  • Secure Shell Protocol (SSH) 
  • Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption 

Identify and catalog sensitive data

  • Discover where sensitive data resides. 
  • Identify where that data is exposed.   
  • Create a data inventory that includes metadata.   

Physical security

Implement physical security measures to protect sensitive information and systems (e.g., hardware, software, and networks) located at facilities using:  

  • Access controls 
  • Environmental controls 
  • Surveillance 

Secure configuration

  • Configure systems and devices according to enterprise security policies.  
  • Apply the principle of least privilege.  
  • Disable unnecessary services and features.  
  • Manage and monitor the configurations.  
  • Test configurations regularly.   

Security governance

Create a security governance plan that includes:  

  • Compliance monitoring 
  • Regular risk and vulnerability assessments 
  • Regular security audits 
  • A plan for continuous improvement   

Third-party security

  • Establish baselines for measuring third-party enterprise security controls. 
  • Assess third-party vendors and partners’ security posture. 
  • Require third parties to adhere to established enterprise security standards and extend them to fourth parties. 
  • Maintain inventory with details about all connected third parties.  
  • Track third-party onboarding and offboarding workflows. 

Updates and upgrades

Update all software, including operating systems, applications, and security software as well as install all available security patches. 

Implement zero trust

Follow the key principles of zero trust, including: 

  • Continuous verification 
  • Least privilege access 
  • Microsegmentation  
  • Protect data using granular context-based policies 
  • Lower risk by reducing the attack surface 
  • Terminate every connection

Utilize enterprise security frameworks

Enterprise security challenges

The challenges facing enterprise security are numerous, dynamic, and evolving. However complex, understanding these challenges helps organizations overcome them. Examples of the many enterprise security challenges that organizations must contend with include the following. 

Advanced persistent threats (APTs)

APTs pose several challenges. For one, they are constantly evolving, which makes it difficult for signature-based security solutions to detect them. They are also executed over a long period, hiding in the background, evading detection until the attack is launched.  

Additionally, APTs are developed and executed by well-resourced adversaries who have the time and technical know-how to develop highly sophisticated, complex attacks. 

Cyber-physical system vulnerabilities

The convergence of cyber and physical systems has created a number of known and unknown vulnerabilities. Prime examples of this are the Internet of Things and industrial control systems. Both are fraught with security gaps and present enterprise security teams with a rapidly expanding and evolving attack surface.   

Data privacy regulations

Because of the number of global privacy laws, almost any organization that touches personally identifiable information (PII) must ensure that appropriate protections are in place to ensure compliance. In addition to securing PII, organizations must also have systems in place to support auditing and reporting requirements.   

Mobile malware

Taking advantage of the proliferation of mobile devices, cybercriminals have unleashed mobile malware. Users, accustomed to downloading apps and clicking Quick Response (QR) codes, are susceptible to mobile malware that disguises itself as legitimate downloads.   

Ransomware

Ransomware is a top-of-mind challenge for every security professional, because its most common point of entry is every organization’s weakest link—people. Just one click on a malicious link can result in an organization being paralyzed by ransomware.   

Security skills shortage

The long-time shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals continues, making it difficult to hire and retain staff. Even with outsourcing and security services, organizations struggle to address their security needs adequately.   

Third-party vulnerabilities

Since most organizations work with third-party vendors and suppliers in some capacity, they become susceptible to external vulnerabilities. Even with third-party risk assessments, organizations find it difficult to identify all third-party vulnerabilities and are often compromised through these less secure vectors. 

Enterprise security and new technological threats

While new technologies help organizations enhance their cybersecurity postures, adversaries also leverage them. Following are several new technologies that are being weaponized by cybercriminals. 

5G technology

The adoption of 5G technology introduces new security challenges due to configuration errors and unpatched vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to move laterally across 5G network slices. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)

AI and ML are increasingly seen in emerging enterprise security threats and advanced persistent threats (APTs). Cybercriminals are using AI and ML to: 

  • Automate large-scale spear-phishing campaigns using AI algorithms to identify targets and craft personalized messages  
  • Create targeted phishing emails with detailed personalization drawn from public sources (e.g., social media) and using natural language processing (NLP)  
  • Use AI-generated deepfake voices for voice phishing (vishing)   

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) 

AR and VR technologies present a risk to user’s privacy, because AR technologies collect a lot of data about who the user is and what they are doing. Enterprise security is put at risk in a number of ways, including vulnerabilities being exploited to steal network credentials, initiate a social engineering campaign, propagate malware, or launch a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. 

Blockchain

Despite its rich security features, blockchain technology poses enterprise security risks when relied upon by organizations. Among the blockchain risks are: 

  • A malicious user taking over 51% of a blockchain  
  • Consensus algorithm issues 
  • Regulatory challenges  
  • Smart contract vulnerabilities 

Quantum computing

The power of quantum computing that is advancing cryptography could well be its undoing. Quantum computing poses an existential risk to enterprise security by threatening to compromise classical encryption protocols by breaking the codes. 

Enterprise security FAQ

What is the difference between enterprise security and cybersecurity?

Enterprise security is a broad practice that encompasses all aspects of protection for an organization, including information security, personnel security, and physical security. Cybersecurity focuses on the resources needed (e.g., people, processes, systems, and technology) to protect digital assets from unauthorized access. 

What is enterprise security risk management?

Enterprise security risk management creates partnerships between security and business stakeholders to drive security into all aspects of the organization. When this approach is used, asset owners assume responsibility for the risks and are part of the decision-making processes for how to manage them. 

Enterprise security is improved by building a bridge between the teams that understand how to protect assets and the stakeholders who know what needs to be protected and the related risks. 

This approach helps organizations be more proactive and effective in identifying and addressing risks and threats before they become incidents. 

Plan for enterprise security success

Planning is vital to meet enterprise security objectives successfully. When beginning the project, it is important to develop a plan that aligns with the organization’s strategic goals and addresses tactical concerns.  

Planning should also be built into the enterprise security maintenance program. Periodically, teams should schedule a time to review the plan and iterate to take changing requirements and evolving threats into account.  

The success of enterprise security depends on investing time in detailed planning. From holistic to very specific, all aspects of enterprise security need to be considered and accounted for in the plan. With this, organizations find numerous benefits beyond enabling better security, including increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved employee satisfaction. 

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