Nprotecting

Nprotecting is a security and resilience framework that emphasizes restricting access and capabilities by default, rather than granting them. The approach relies on deny-by-default policies, explicit allow-lists, micro-segmentation, and continuous monitoring to reduce exposure. The "N" in Nprotecting is commonly interpreted as negative controls or a negative posture, designating protective measures that prevent harmful actions before they can occur.

Practically, Nprotecting is implemented across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments through threat modeling, policy engineering, defensive configurations, testing, and incident response. It aims to minimize attack surface, improve containment, and simplify regulatory compliance by reducing permissible actions to a tightly controlled set.

Critics argue that heavy denial can hamper legitimate workflows and create administrative overhead or misconfigurations. Proponents contend that the resilience gains from restricting by default outweigh these drawbacks, especially in sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government.

Origins of the concept appeared in security literature and industry discussions from the 2010s onward, as organizations grappled with complex architectures and evolving threat landscapes. Nprotecting is often discussed alongside concepts like zero trust, least privilege, defense in depth, and micro-segmentation. See also: zero trust, least privilege, defense in depth, micro-segmentation.