Protect your digital fortress: perimeter security made simple

Stop threats before they reach your data. Safeguard your digital assets by implementing a robust perimeter security strategy – the second of our seven layers of security.  

What is perimeter security? 

Perimeter security is all about protecting the outer edge of your network from unauthorised access and cyber threats. It’s important to make sure only the right people get in. 

Key areas to focus on

Access control

You decide who gets access to what. Effective user access management also involves regularly reviewing and updating your access permissions to adapt to changing roles and responsibilities within your organisation. This can include Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools, Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and physical access control such as badges and biometrics.  

By granting permissions carefully and reviewing them regularly, you’ll: 

• Minimise unauthorised access 
• Support the “least privilege” principle 
• Improve accountability and compliance with frameworks like GDPR and ISO 27001 
• Reduce insider threats 

Don't just take our word for it - organisations using mature PAM solutions have reported 48% fewer security incidents. That makes it a no-brainer, right?

Password policies

Bitwarden's annual World Password Day survey found that around 32% of their global respondents reuse passwords across 5 to 10 sites, and 44% use the same password for both personal and work accounts. Plus, over half of users rely on memory, with some studies showing 55% or more using memory to manage passwords. Another 38% of people write down passwords on paper. This is not good practice - it makes it easier for hackers to infiltrate multiple applications.

Enforcing a password strategy is a great way to help your team maintain secure passwords. Set clear rules for passwords - length, complexity, expiry, and no reusing old ones. This helps you and your team: 

• Strengthen authentication 
• Lower the risk of breaches 
• Encourage secure habits 
• Support Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 
• Respond quickly if there’s a compromise 

Password management

A password manager is a secure app or software that stores all your passwords in one encrypted place, so you only need to remember a single strong “master password”. Instead of writing passwords down or reusing the same one everywhere (which is risky), a password manager generates, saves, and auto-fills strong, unique passwords for all your accounts—making your digital life much safer and easier. This means: 

• Enhanced security and compliance 

• Fewer password-related headaches 

• Easy, secure sharing within your team 

• Full audit trails for accountability 

Compliance with regulations 

These aren’t just best practices—they’re requirements. ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS 2.0, PCI DSS, Cyber Essentials and HIPAA demand strong access and password controls. Get compliant, stay protected.   

You can find out more about these frameworks in our blog. 

Perimeter security solutions 

Looking for top-notch perimeter security solutions? Here are a few examples of the vendors we partner with that offer user access control and password management. 

• Keeper is a cybersecurity and password management platform that helps you securely store and manage login credentials, sensitive files, and confidential data.  

• ManageEngine’s Password Manager Pro gives you a powerful way to manage passwords and control user access in enterprise environments. 

• Leverage Microsoft tools like Active Directory, Entra ID, and Intune to manage identities, enforce policies, and secure devices - wherever your team works. Features like Privileged Identity Management and Conditional Access keep your data safe, while MFA and mobile management protect against remote threats. 

It’s also worth noting that Acronis, ESET and KnowBe4 offer cyber security awareness training that include password best practices.  

Secure your perimeter 

Protect your fortress with user access controls, password management and password policies.  

Curious how your defences stack up? Book a free security assessment and get a clear gap analysis—no jargon, just actionable insights. Fill out the contact form below. 

And once you've mastered perimeter security, focus on network security.