Which control focuses on monitoring and defending against internal and external security threats?

The focus of network monitoring and defense is primarily on identifying, assessing, and mitigating security threats that arise from both internal and external sources. This control encompasses a variety of activities, including continuous surveillance of network traffic, analyzing data logs, and implementing advanced technologies such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS).

By actively monitoring networks, organizations can quickly detect suspicious behaviors or attacks, enabling prompt responses to potential breaches. This proactive approach helps to safeguard sensitive information, maintain system integrity, and ensure business continuity.

While incident response management pertains to how an organization reacts to security incidents after they occur, network monitoring and defense emphasizes the ongoing preventive measures to thwart threats before they escalate. Similarly, service provider management focuses on overseeing third-party vendors and their security practices, while application software security concentrates on securing software applications rather than the overall network infrastructure. Thus, network monitoring and defense effectively encapsulate the comprehensive strategy required to combat internal and external security threats.