Cybersecurity Best Practices for Modern Enterprises
Comprehensive security requires addressing technology, processes, and people.
Foundation
Governance: Executive sponsorship, steering committee, defined roles, board reporting Policies: Acceptable use, access control, data classification, incident response Risk Management: Regular assessments, threat modeling, vulnerability management
Identity & Access
Authentication: MFA for all accounts, strong passwords (12+ chars), password managers Authorization: Least privilege, RBAC, time-limited elevated access, separation of duties Privileged Access: Separate admin accounts, just-in-time elevation, session recording, credential vaults
Network Security
Perimeter: Firewalls (deny by default), intrusion prevention, regular rule reviews Internal: Network segmentation, VLANs, micro-segmentation, DMZ for internet-facing services Remote Access: VPN with strong encryption, ZTNA, MFA required, device posture checking
Endpoint Protection
EPP/EDR, application whitelisting, device encryption Mobile device management, remote wipe capability Automated patching, priority for critical vulnerabilities
Data Protection
Classification: Public, internal, confidential, restricted—access based on classification Encryption: Full disk for laptops, database encryption, TLS for transit DLP: Monitor sensitive data, email/web filtering, USB control, CASB
Application Security
Secure development lifecycle, security requirements, threat modeling Vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, bug bounty program API security: Authentication, input validation, rate limiting, logging
Email Security
Anti-phishing: Gateway with threat protection, link sandboxing, DMARC/SPF/DKIM User awareness: Regular training, simulated phishing, clear reporting
Cloud Security
Continuous configuration monitoring, automated compliance checking SSO for cloud apps, federated identity, conditional access Container security, serverless protection, secrets management
Monitoring & Response
SIEM: Centralized log aggregation, correlation rules, automated alerting SOC: 24/7 monitoring, escalation procedures, playbooks, metrics Incident Response: Plan, team, tools, tabletop exercises
Third-Party Risk
Vendor assessments: Security questionnaires, audits, contractual requirements Supply chain: Software composition analysis, vendor code review, continuous monitoring
Compliance
GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, industry-specific regulations Internal audits, control testing, gap remediation
Security Culture
New hire orientation, annual training, role-specific training Phishing simulations with immediate feedback and tracking
Key Metrics
Time to detect/respond, vulnerability patching time, phishing click rates Risk dashboard, incident trends, compliance status, ROI
Best Practices
- Defense in depth—layer controls
- Least privilege—minimize access
- Patch promptly
- Encrypt everything
- Monitor continuously
- Train users
- Plan for incidents
- Test regularly
Bottom Line
Security is an ongoing program. Address technology, processes, and people while adapting to evolving threats.
