The Basics: A Brutalist Security Program Stripped to the Essentials

Here’s the most minimal and essential Security Brutalist program you can use. It serves as a tool to evaluate your current security posture, identify any missing fundamentals, simplify an overly complex security setup, or build a strong foundation from scratch.

1. Minimize Attack Surface

• Keep a full asset inventory.
• Remove anything unnecessary.
• Harden what remains.

Why? The less there is to attack, the less you have to defend.

2. Strong Identity and Access Management

• Default to no access.
• Grant access only when needed, only as much as needed.
• Lock down admin accounts.
• Enforce zero trust and network segmentation.

Why? Trust nothing. Least privilege = least damage.

3. Data Security

• Classify, encrypt, and control access to sensitive data.
• Backups must be tested, protected, and restorable.

Why? Data is the target. Protect it like it matters, because it does.

4. Patch and Vulnerability Management

• Scan constantly. Patch fast.
• Eliminate unsupported software.

Why? Known bugs are easy wins for attackers. Don’t give them that.

5. Incident Response

• Have a simple, practiced plan.
• Know how to detect, contain, and recover.

Why? You will be attacked. Prepared beats panic.

6. Continuous Assessment

• Regularly scan, test, clean up, and re-check.
• Adapt. Remove what’s no longer needed. Continuous improvement always.

Why? Security is a process, not a product.

7. Cloud Security

• Know what’s running and where.
• Use least privilege and identity boundaries.
• Encrypt data at rest and in transit.
• Log everything. Alert on what matters.

Why? The cloud is just someone else’s computer, secure it like it's yours.

8. Email Security

• Harden with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
• Train to spot phish. Don’t trust links or attachments.
• Use filters and quarantine risky content.

Why? Most breaches start in your inbox. Kill the gateway.

9. Security Education and Awareness

• Make training simple, frequent, and real-world.
• Simulate threats. Share lessons without blame.
• Keep security visible, not optional.

Why? Tools fail. People make choices. Train them to choose well.

Summary

Strip it down. Lock it down. Test it often. Trust nothing. That’s the Brutalist approach to security: simple, strong, and survivable.