Security Architecture is one component of a products/systems overall architecture and is developed to provide guidance during the design of the product/system.
Security Architecture is the design artifacts that describe how the security controls (= security countermeasures) are positioned and how they relate to the overall systems architecture. These controls serve the purpose to maintain the system’s quality attributes such as confidentiality, integrity and availability.
1. Access Restriction
The assessment of the so-called “network topology” is a part of every security architect’s job. This is a reference to the network’s design. It specifies how various nodes or systems are linked and communicate with one another. While ensuring that security rules and mechanisms are in place, security architects must know where and how users can access the resources they need to execute jobs. When developing the network topology, they must answer the following questions: What are the requirements for users to gain access to systems? Which users can you rely on? Which files do you need to have access to as a privileged user? To regulate who can access what, security architects should segregate the network by dividing it into zones.
2. Use VLANs
Virtual local area networks (VLANs) make it simple to separate users on a network. In a computer network, a VLAN is a separate broadcast domain. Any organisation can adopt security policies and measures more easily if they do so by zone. Users can be grouped based on their access rights and assigned to a certain VLAN by security architects. That manner, depending on the confidentiality of data held in a VLAN, they can tighten or loosen security in individual network portions. Threats can be contained in affected zones via user segregation, making incident response easier.
3. Enable System Lockdown
After security architects have a thorough understanding of the business requirements, who the users are, and what systems are needed, they can start determining which security solutions, rules, and protocols to implement. They can mandate multi-factor authentication (MFA) for PCs or servers that store privileged-access data, in addition to employing username-password combinations to access systems. To give access, MFA requires the usage of a second device (usually a cell phone). In the event that any devices are compromised, administrators should be able to lock them down. In the event of a breach, this would prevent the entire network from being shut down.
1. A well-designed security architecture reduces the number of security breaches.
For the protection of their most valuable information assets, modern enterprises require a solid security architectural foundation. You may dramatically minimise the likelihood of an attacker successfully infiltrating your systems by upgrading your security architecture to close common vulnerabilities.
One of the most important advantages of security architecture is its ability to transform each organization’s specific objectives into actionable strategies for developing a risk-free environment that is aligned with business demands and the newest security standards at all levels of the organisation.
Additionally, by using these procedures, businesses can demonstrate their credibility to potential partners, potentially putting them ahead of competition.
This will result in an architecture that will benefit the company in the long run.
2. Proactive measures protect funds
Detecting and repairing security flaws is a costly endeavour. It halts production, necessitates an extensive investigation, and can result in costly product recalls or humiliating news conferences.
As a result, the later in the product development cycle an error is discovered, the more money it might cost – not to mention the possibility of damaging a company’s brand.
To put it another way, identifying an error during the coding phase of development can cost up to 500% more than detecting the same issue afterwards, in the production or post-release phases, can cost up to 3,000% more.
Integrating security into each stage of product development can help to lessen the chances of a mistake occurring.
3. It may reduce the severity of disciplinary actions in the event of a breach.
While laws regarding the implications of a cyber security breach vary from country to country, one general theme is that the more a company works to decrease risk and eliminate vulnerabilities, the more beneficial the outcome in the event of an attack may be. In general, regulators have demonstrated that they respect enterprises that try their hardest and penalise those that simply pretend to try or do not try at all.
