[Trae Johnson]

Organizations can implement different types of controls that function in combination with one another to secure data, systems, and users. The three broad categories are administrative, technical, and physical controls.

Administrative controls are policies, procedures, and training that govern how employees use and protect company assets. They include security awareness training, access control policies, and incident response plans. By educating employees to recognize phishing attempts and having robust password and access management policies, organizations reduce the human threats that are most often the cause of breaches.

Technical controls protect systems and networks by using technology. A few of them include firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), antivirus software, and encryption. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and network segmentation are also critical, ensuring that even if a section is compromised, the rest of the network is protected.

Physical controls protect the company’s hardware and infrastructure. They consist of locked computer rooms, security cameras, and access badges to prevent unauthorized physical access to important equipment. When combined together through company policies, secure technology, and physical security, these controls create a layered defense strategy known as defense in depth that greatly improves a company’s overall security posture.