Defeat the Asymmetry. Apply Common Sense.

Security isn’t fair—and that’s the point. Attackers only need to be right once. Defenders have to be right every time. That’s the asymmetry. And it’s why most security programs collapse under the weight of their own overthinking.

In Brutalist Security, we don’t play by those rules—we break the asymmetry by flipping the equation. We stop trying to predict every move and start making bold, common-sense defenses that scale under stress.

• Reduce your surface. Harden what matters. Attackers win when defenders waste time guarding trivia. Don’t protect everything—protect what counts.
• Assume compromise. Act accordingly. Build systems that expect failure and limit the blast radius. Stop fantasizing about perfect defense.
• Simplify your stack. Every unnecessary tool is another weak link, another blind spot. Common sense says: If it’s not pulling its weight, cut it.

Security isn’t a puzzle for geniuses—it's a job for realists. The answer isn’t a new acronym or a complex framework. It’s in cutting the noise and making moves that actually hold up under fire.

To win, stop trying to win the hard way. Defeat the asymmetry. Apply common sense.

Proof in the Breach: Why Common Sense Beats Complexity

In security, theory dies fast. You don’t need another white paper—you need proof that simplicity and common sense actually work. Here’s how:

1. SolarWinds: Too Much Trust, Not Enough Segmentation

A supply chain attack took down half the industry because organizations trusted signed code too blindly and had sprawling internal access.
Brutalist Takeaway: Trust nothing by default. Segment aggressively. If one compromised tool can reach everything, your architecture isn’t secure—it’s just convenient for attackers.

2. Equifax: Patch the Damn Box

An unpatched Apache Struts vulnerability led to one of the largest breaches in history. The issue? A known CVE, with a fix available for months.
Brutalist Takeaway: Don’t get clever—get basic hygiene right. Vulnerability management isn’t a strategy, it’s common sense. Skipping the fundamentals is how you bleed.

3. Okta Admin Panel Breach (2022): Overlooked Entry Points

Attackers got in through a third-party contractor and pivoted to high-value targets. Once again, visibility was limited and response delayed.
Brutalist Takeaway: If someone else’s laptop can pivot into your identity backbone, you're not doing zero trust—you're doing zero foresight. Shrink the blast radius. Audit access relentlessly.

4. Uber (2022): MFA Fatigue

Attackers used social engineering and MFA fatigue to breach internal tools. A very simple tactic against a very complex stack.
Brutalist Takeaway: Even the best tools fail when humans are worn down. Common sense: don’t rely on user behavior alone. Layer your defenses. Assume users get tricked. Build for it.

To Close

Security isn’t magic. It’s not about being clever. It’s about being clear, being prepared, and not screwing up the obvious.

Brutalism means building what lasts—and proving it under pressure.