What technical information security includes, which solutions work, and how to protect data and IT infrastructure.
67% of CIS companies have faced information security incidents at least once. Most losses are tied not to the human factor, but to the lack of technical protection measures - from firewalls to data leak control. Here is what "technical information security" includes, which solutions actually work, and how to build a reliable protection system.
Technical information security is a set of measures designed to protect a company's data and IT infrastructure from cyberthreats. Unlike general security measures, technical solutions include hardware and software components, which actively counter threats.
For business, this means not just protecting data, but ensuring process continuity, preserving reputation, and avoiding financial losses.
Technical protection is mandatory for government information systems, personal data systems, and critical information infrastructure facilities.
Commercial organizations also implement technical information security to protect trade secrets, know-how, financial data, and analytics.
A security system works only when there are no gaps in it.
Simple principles help make this possible - from day one. - Confidentiality - restrict access to data.
An employee sees only what they need for their tasks. - Integrity- protect data from alteration.
- Availability - only authorized people get access to information, and only when it is truly needed. - Comprehensiveness- everything must be protected: the server, email, and small utilities alike.
A vulnerability in one component is a risk to the entire system. - Continuity- protection must work 24/7.
Threats can arise at any time, so monitoring must be continuous. - Flexibility- if the team goes remote or new services are added, protection must adapt quickly and without disruption. - Standards compliance- compliance with GOST R 50922-2006 and ISO 27001 helps apply proven information protection methods. According to Gartner, companies that apply these principles in practice face attacks less often - 37% fewer incidents.
Threats to an enterprise come from both inside and outside. External threats are created by hackers, fraudsters, and competitors - they can carry out targeted attacks or cyberespionage. Internal threats more often come from employees. This can be the deliberate transfer of data to competitors or simple negligence that leads to information leaks. Let's look at specific examples of the threats companies face today:
| Threat | Targets | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ransomware | Servers, workstations | It exploits Windows vulnerabilities for which updates have not been installed. It encrypts information across the entire network. Decryption requires unique keys that only the attackers have - forcing companies to pay ransom to criminals. |
| Phishing | Users, mail systems | Employees receive emails impersonating official institutions and disclose their credentials. These can also be messages from colleagues: attackers pose as employees and demand urgent action, for example, a money transfer. |
| DDoS attacks | Network resources, web services | Criminals send a huge volume of fake requests to servers - the site goes down, the business stops, and customers lose trust. |
| Malware | Third-party software | Hackers hide a virus in updates and gain full access to the network. Such attacks lead to a complete compromise of the infrastructure and leaks of critical business data. |
| Data leaks | Databases, file storage | Employees or hackers steal confidential files. Such incidents lead to multimillion-dollar regulatory fines, lawsuits, and irreparable loss of customer trust. |
| Credential compromise | Servers, IoT devices | Criminals use default IoT device passwords to break into the network. This disrupts operations and leads to direct financial losses due to downtime. |
According to RBC, the most common threats in CIS are ransomware attacks against the public sector and phishing against financial services. In 2024, 38% of incidents were targeted phishing via messengers and email, and attacks on IoT infrastructure rose by 22% because of industrial digitalization.
The reasons are as follows: - Rapid shift to remote work formats without adapting security policies. - Skills shortage for monitoring advanced threats 24/7. - Outdated software in critical infrastructure. Few people know that the first cyberattack in history happened evenin 1834 - 160 years before the internet. Fraudsters hacked the French telegraph network to intercept stock exchange data and carry out financial fraud.
In other words, information protection problems have always existed. But while criminals once needed physical access to systems, cyberthreats today are sophisticated campaigns using AI, social engineering, and entire networks of infected devices.
According to studies, by 2026, 70% of organizations will move to multilayer protection combining hardware and software solutions.
They help block attacks before they cause damage and reduce the risk of financial loss.
Let's take a closer look at the solutions that form the foundation of an enterprise's technical information security. - Antivirus software with EDR functionality.
Analyzes software behavior in real time, identifying unknown threats with machine learning. EDR detects even threats that antivirus misses - an attack can be stopped before the business suffers losses. - Next-generation firewalls (NGFW).
Analyze traffic at all levels - from network to application.
They block not only unauthorized connections but also prevent confidential data from being sent outside. For example, modern firewalls can recognize specific applications, such as Zoom or Telegram, and traffic types even when encryption is used.
This is very important for the secure work of remote employees and the protection of cloud environments. - DLP systems.
If someone tries to send a confidential file by email, messenger, or USB drive, the system stops it.
In other words, it recognizes what matters and prevents a file with critical information from leaving the company. - SIEM systems.Show where and when the attack began.
If an attacker tries to carry out an attack through phishing, then lateral movement across the network and data theft, the system automatically links the separate events into a single chain.
You can see how an attack develops, from an infected email to database theft, and stop it in progress.
Alongside SIEM, companies use AI monitoring based on artificial intelligence for automatic anomaly detection and reducing incident response time. - Data encryption.
Protects data both at rest (on disks) and in transit (network traffic). For example, full-disk encryption protects information on employees' laptops even if they are lost.
The key point is cryptographic key management: they must be stored separately from encrypted data and rotated regularly. - Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).
Detect unusual connections and sudden traffic spikes.
This is an early warning sign: someone is trying to break into the system.
Modern solutions integrate with SIEM platforms to correlate data from different sources and detect complex multi-stage attacks. For example, IDS can recognize an attacker’s attempt to move laterally within the network.
CIS laws require data protection, especially in mission-critical systems.
Protection tools must be licensed by FSTEC.
Without this, working with sensitive data is a violation.
Under FSTEC requirements, you must choose information protection tools certified by that agency.
Without it, the company risks being banned from operating during an inspection.
Certification requirements vary by industry: - For healthcare institutions - taking into account the specifics of protecting patients' personal data. - For banks and financial institutions - in accordance with requirements
- For defense industry enterprises - in accordance with special Ministry of Defense requirements. If the system is not certified -expect fines and restrictions.
According to statistics, that is exactly what happens - three times more often.
If you deploy security without a plan, costs rise and security gaps appear.
A sound strategy starts with risk assessment and requires ongoing monitoring.
Avoid off-the-shelf template solutions - they do not account for your business specifics.
We will break down practical steps that will help you implement protection without unnecessary costs or mistakes.
Make a list of all IT assets, from servers to cloud storage. Identify which information is critical to the business, such as financial reports, customer personal data, and know-how. Assess vulnerabilities, such as outdated software or weak passwords. This will help direct resources to protecting what matters most.
Create clear rules for employees: how to store passwords, what data can be shared through messengers, and how to work from home. Set out incident procedures, for example, whom to call if a leak is suspected. Approve procedures for the IT department: how to update software, configure access, and back up data. Policies should be simple and practical, otherwise they will be ignored.
Start with basic protection: antivirus with EDR, firewalls, and software updates. Add solutions tailored to your risks: DLP for the financial sector, encryption for personal data. Integrate the tools with each other - for example, so SIEM receives data from firewalls and EDR. Use modern access control systems - they help manage user permissions flexibly and prevent unauthorized access to critical data.
Train employees to recognize phishing and keep viruses out of the company through personal email. Run test phishing campaigns to check vigilance. Explain not only the rules, but also the consequences of breaking them, for example, how much recovery after an attack costs. Involve department heads - their example motivates the team.
Set up 24/7 incident monitoring through a SIEM system. Test your defenses every three months so hackers do not find what you missed. Analyze access logs for critical data - who requested it, when, and why. Check the system at least once a quarter.
To protect themselves, companies increasingly use a comprehensive approach - technology, employee training, and proactive monitoring. Let's look at how it works in practice. "Beeline"uses an AI-based fraud monitoring system. It analyzes subscriber behavior and detects suspicious transactions in real time.
For example, if a customer suddenly starts doing something unusual - activating multiple SIM cards or changing tariffs at an abnormal frequency, the system automatically blocks the operations until the situation is clarified.
The monitoring system helped cut financial losses from fraudulent schemes by 50% in just two years. "Magnit"in 2024 invested 557 million rubles in information security, focusing on import substitution and leak prevention.
The company implemented an EDR system to protect workstations, configured data encryption on employees' laptops, and enabled email content filtering to combat phishing. This helped reduce incidents by 40% and avoid downtime in store operations. "Sberbank"after a data breach incident in 2019, dramatically strengthened access control for banking systems.
The bank divided its internal network into isolated segments, blocked USB ports on all work computers, and launched a system for continuous monitoring of employee actions. These measures significantly reduced insider threat risks and prevented unauthorized data copying.
Simple technical solutions proved more effective than complex systems. What these cases have in common: - Process automation - manual operations give way to systems that reduce the human factor. - Import substitution - companies are actively moving to domestic solutions that are better adapted to local threats. - Proactive protection - instead of reacting to incidents, businesses deploy tools that stop attacks before they start.
Cyber threats have become a daily reality for business: every second company faces hacking attempts every month. Attacks cause direct damage - from production shutdowns to lost customers. Properly designed technical protection is a sound investment that helps avoid multimillion-dollar losses. Let's highlight the main conclusions: - Start with an audit- determine which data and systems are critical to the business.
Choose tools that address your specific weak points: for example, DLP for the financial sector or stronger encryption for personal data. Do not copy other companies' solutions - they may not account for the specifics of your infrastructure. - Use EDR, DLP, and SIEM together - this lets you detect threats at different levels. Integrate systems with each other so that, for example, SIEM receives data from firewalls and immediately blocks suspicious activity.
Disconnected tools create security gaps. - Conduct regular training- show people how to spot phishing or protect passwords. Test awareness with simulated phishing campaigns. Remember: even the best technology will not help if an employee accidentally opens a malicious attachment. - Comply with FSTEC and ISO requirements - to avoid fines and increase the reliability of protection. Choose certified solutions, especially if you work with personal data or state secrets.
Uncertified software may fail inspection. - Deploy proactive monitoring- configure SIEM for 24/7 event analysis. Test the system quarterly to find vulnerabilities before attacks. Responding to incidents after the fact costs more.
