Security Brutalism
Security Brutalism represents a paradigm shift in security that prioritizes clarity, fundamental strength, and purposeful design over complexity and theater. This philosophy is a direct response to the failures of over-engineered security programs that chase sophisticated solutions while attackers continue to succeed with basic tactics like phishing and exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities. Rather than adding layers of complexity, Security Brutalism strips away unnecessary elements to focus on what truly reduces risk and protects critical assets.
Drawing inspiration from brutalist architecture that exposes raw structural elements without decoration, Security Brutalism emphasizes transparency and functionality above all else. This approach requires that security mechanisms be explicitly visible and understandable rather than hidden behind abstracted layers or proprietary black-box solutions. Every control and process must serve a clear, justifiable role that can be easily explained and audited.
Start here for a quick introduction to this back-to-basics approach.
Core Principles
The philosophy centers on several foundational principles that guide decision-making and implementation. Simplicity eliminates unnecessary tools, interfaces, and settings, reducing both complexity and potential vulnerabilities. Transparency ensures every layer of protection is plainly documented and readily understandable, making weaknesses harder to hide or ignore. Durability builds protections for the long term that can withstand sustained attacks and adapt to changing risk environments. Resilience weaves redundancy and hardening throughout every layer, ensuring critical operations continue even when individual components are compromised.
The Program
The fundamental controls that form the backbone of a brutalist security program focus on attack surface minimization through the removal of unnecessary features and services. Strong identity and access management enforces least privilege by default with uncompromising authentication requirements and clear audit trails. Data security protects information assets through classification, encryption, and access controls that are simple to understand and enforce. Patch and vulnerability management operates through automated systems that reduce human error and ensure swift remediation of known weaknesses.
Incident response follows strict, pre-planned protocols executed with precision, including harsh containment measures like automatic isolation of compromised systems and immediate credential revocation. Continuous assessment maintains transparency through real-time monitoring, centralized logging, and aggressive intrusion detection with unmissable alerts rather than subtle warnings.
In short, the program is built for function, grounded in fundamentals, and intentionally free of unnecessary or unproven complexity.
For more information please check: Security Brutalism program.
Security Brutalism Implementaton
The implementation approach begins, similar to the general approach to brutalist security, with realistic assessment focused on identifying the most critical assets and probable high-impact threats, cutting through theoretical exercises to concentrate on practical realities. Organizations establish foundational controls with disciplined execution, ensuring basics function properly before pursuing advanced capabilities. Regular review and adjustment keep environments lean and focused, maintaining core defenses while adapting to evolving threats.
At the end of the day, Security Brutalism helps to create systems that are strong, durable, and straightforward to operate, with centralized doctrine guiding consistent enforcement while allowing teams to move quickly within clear boundaries. This austere but effective approach may feel unforgiving, but it provides the structural clarity and enforceable controls necessary for resilience in an uncertain and volatile threat landscape.
You can check your current security implementation using the Security Brutalist Checker Tool, a straightforward, checkbox-style assessment designed to evaluate the current state of security through the lens of Security Brutalism, with a focus on whether foundational controls are fully and effectively implemented.
The Security Brutalist Blog
You can expand your knowledge of implementing Security Brutalism and its foundational security approach through the articles and insights available in the blog.
From the Blog