I’ve spent countless nights awake, worrying about cyber threats to businesses. Countless hours in front of a computer screen, trying to stay one step ahead of hackers. In my line of work it’s clear that internal and external security controls are crucial to keep your data safe. But what exactly are internal vs external security controls? And why do they matter? In this article, I’ll be sharing insights from my experience, so you can better understand how they work and how they could protect your business. Let’s dive in.

What are internal vs external security controls?

As technology and communication are becoming more advanced, securing data and communications within a system is crucial. Internal and external security controls are two methods of achieving this goal. Internal security controls refer to the measures that a system takes to safeguard its own data and internal communications, while external security controls relate to the measures taken to protect external communications. Let’s explore each approach in detail.

Internal Security Controls: Definition and Importance

Internal security controls are essential to a company’s security strategy. They are designed to protect the system’s infrastructure and resources from unauthorized access, modification, or destruction. Internal security controls include a range of policies, procedures, and technologies, which safeguard an organization’s data and communication channels.

One of the primary reasons for having internal security controls is to protect against insider threats. A company’s employees have unique access to sensitive information and can cause significant damage if they misuse or steal data. Internal security controls help prevent these risks by regulating and limiting access.

Proper internal security controls ensure that the organization’s data is secured against unauthorized access or modification. Confidential data, including financial records, customer data, trade secrets, and intellectual property, are protected by these measures. By implementing internal security controls, companies can safeguard their data and communications.

Examples of Internal Security Controls

There are numerous examples of internal security controls an organization can implement. Here are a few commonly used controls:

Access Control: This control restricts access to the system, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access data and resources. This is done through physical means, such as security badges, and digital permissions, like passwords and encryption.

Data Encryption: Encryption is a method of encoding data so that it cannot be read by unauthorized parties. It is a potent method of protecting information, stored both locally and remotely.

Network Segregation: Network segregation separates the system into various virtual networks, each with its own security parameters. This approach helps prevent the spread of digital contamination and malware and ensures no unauthorized access occurs.

Common Threats to Internal Security Controls

Internal security controls are not foolproof. There are several ways that an attack can occur, including:

Insider Threats: Insiders, typically, employees or contractors with access to sensitive information, may be driven to misuse or steal data for financial gain or vendetta. These individuals pose a high risk to the organization, as they have access to many data points.

Malicious Software: One of the most significant threats to internal security is malware, which can enter an organization’s system through various means. Once installed, it can cause irreparable harm, including data breaches and data destruction.

Social Engineering: Social engineering involves the exploitation of human vulnerabilities and manipulation. Social engineers can trick employees into divulging sensitive information, compromising internal security controls.

External Security Controls: Definition and Importance

External security controls are designed to protect data and communication that flows in and out of an organization’s system. External control measures aim to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access, modification, or destruction of data, both during transit and at rest.

In today’s digitally connected world, external communication is a key component of business success. However, it introduces numerous risks that an organization must manage. Protecting data against unauthorized access, modification and destruction, as well as intercepting and tampering are crucial issues that external security controls can help address.

Examples of External Security Controls

There are several examples of external security controls that organizations can implement. Here are a few commonly used controls:

Firewalls: Firewalls are software or hardware applications that monitor network traffic between an organization and external networks. They act as a gatekeeper and block unauthorized access while enabling legitimate communication.

Virtual Private Network: A virtual private network, or VPN, is a service that enables secure communication with remote users over the internet. VPN’s connect users directly to the organization’s network, where they can access necessary resources and communicate without exposing their data to any risks.

Email Security: Email security solutions are a series of measures designed to safeguard email communication. These include spam filters, antivirus protection, and encryption technologies.

Common Threats to External Security Controls

External security controls have several vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit, including:

Phishing: Phishing attacks are designed to trick users into giving away sensitive information by impersonating legitimate sources. Organizations must educate and train users to recognize signs of phishing attacks.

Distributed Denial of Service: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks flood an organization’s network with illegitimate traffic, resulting in network failure. These attacks can be crippling and render external security controls useless.

Man-in-the-middle: A Man-in-the-middle attack involves attackers intercepting communication between two parties, allowing them to alter messages or steal data. This vulnerability can be prevented using encryption technologies, only one example of external security controls.

Differences Between Internal and External Security Controls

Internal and external security controls differ primarily in the areas they secure. Internal controls focus on protecting data and communication within the organization, while external controls protect traffic that flows to and from an organization’s network. Internal security controls usually concentrate on risks presented by internal individuals and processes, while external security controls may included nation-state actors.

While both internal and external security controls are essential for an organization’s security strategy, the priority of each will depend on organizational requirements and the nature of the threats posed. Therefore, organizations should tailor their security strategies to meet their unique needs.