defenseindepth

Defense in depth, sometimes written as defenseindepth, is a security strategy that uses multiple, overlapping layers of protection to reduce the likelihood that a breach succeeds and to mitigate damage when a component is compromised. The core idea is that no single control provides complete protection; instead, a defender relies on diversity and redundancy across people, processes, and technology.

Layers typically span physical security, perimeter and network controls, host and application hardening, identity and access management, data protection (encryption and backups), monitoring and detection, incident response, and governance and training. Each layer compensates for weaknesses in others, so attackers must breach several barriers to reach critical assets.

Origin and adoption: the concept has military roots and was adapted to information security as networks grew more complex. In practice, organizations tailor the depth of defense to their risk profile, regulatory requirements, and available resources. The approach emphasizes defense alignment with business processes rather than a single technology solution.

Implementation considerations: conduct risk and asset mapping, apply the principle of least privilege, segment networks, enforce strong authentication, encrypt sensitive data, maintain logs and security analytics, and implement regular backups and tested disaster recovery. Ongoing testing, patching, and training are essential to keep layers effective and coordinated.

Benefits and limitations: benefits include reduced chances of a successful attack and greater resilience, but defense in depth can increase cost and management complexity. Gaps can appear if layers are poorly integrated, if policies conflict, or if monitoring fails to detect events.

See also: layered security, zero trust security. Defense in depth is a general principle rather than a specific product.