SECURITY BRUTALISM

Security Brutalism Implementation Guide

Note: The program page was recently updated for clarity and to make the program more actionable. If you are looking for the original program page, it can be found here.

Core Philosophy

Security Brutalism prioritizes function over form, simplicity over complexity, and resilience over convenience. Like brutalist architecture, it's unadorned, direct, and built to endure attacks. The approach accepts short-term inconvenience to eliminate long-term chaos and risk.

Foundation Principles

  1. Access is earned, never assumed - Zero trust by default.
  2. Everything is auditable - No hidden assumptions or black boxes.
  3. Systems fail securely - Default to deny, not permit.
  4. Security is infrastructure - Built-in, not bolted-on.
  5. Simplicity enables security - Fewer components, fewer failure points.

Implementation Framework

Phase 1: Foundation

Objective: Establish baseline security posture.

Phase 2: Core Controls

Objective: Implement non-negotiable security fundamentals.

Identity & Access Management

Infrastructure Security

Application Security

Monitoring & Response

Phase 3: Hardening

Objective: Eliminate security gaps and strengthen defenses.

Operational Rhythm

Daily Operations

Weekly Cadence

Monthly Reviews

Quarterly Assessments

Key Performance Metrics

Track these metrics to measure program effectiveness:

Governance Structure

Security Leadership

Engineering Teams

Executive Oversight

Common Implementation Challenges

  1. User Experience Friction: Accept that strong security may reduce convenience.
  2. Legacy System Integration: Prioritize critical systems, plan migration paths.
  3. Cultural Resistance: Emphasize that security enables sustainable growth.
  4. Resource Constraints: Focus on fundamentals before advanced capabilities.
  5. Compliance Requirements: Ensure brutalist approach meets regulatory standards.

Success Indicators

A mature Security Brutalism program demonstrates:

Getting Started Checklist

Secure executive sponsorship and resources.
Assemble cross-functional implementation team.
Complete asset inventory and risk assessment.
Define security requirements and standards.
Begin MFA deployment across all systems.
Implement centralized logging infrastructure.
Establish security metrics and reporting cadence.
Plan first incident response exercise.

Final Notes

Security Brutalism focuses on implementing fundamental controls exceptionally well and not trying to implement every possible control. The goal is a security program that is simple to understand, difficult to circumvent, and resilient under pressure. It prioritizes substance over appearance, creating a security foundation that can withstand both known and unknown threats.

Key takeaways from the guide:

Where to go from here:

Start with The Basics, the minimal brutalist security program for evaluating your posture, identifying missing fundamentals, or building from scratch. Use the Security Brutalist Tools to audit these controls and assess gaps. Finally, review the Basic Security Hygiene Guide to ensure you're executing the hard, simple things correctly.