Building a Unified Cybersecurity Protection System for Headquarters and Branch Offices

Li Da, Fan Jingsong
CNKI Digital Publishing Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100192, China

Abstract

[Objective] Against the backdrop of digital transformation, enterprise cybersecurity faces unprecedented challenges. This paper aims to explore the construction of a unified, efficient, and reliable cybersecurity protection system that can adapt to the evolving network environment and meet the collaborative needs between headquarters and branch offices. [Method] By analyzing the key factors influencing enterprise cybersecurity, this paper proposes a comprehensive solution encompassing unified identity authentication and access control, distributed threat detection and response, centralized management and monitoring, and end-to-end encryption and data protection. [Result] Through the implementation of these strategies, enterprises can build a more robust and responsive security protection system that effectively counters cyber threats and safeguards data and assets. [Conclusion] Constructing a unified cybersecurity protection system for headquarters and branch offices requires not only technological innovation and application but also corresponding adjustments and optimizations at the management level to address continuously evolving cyber threats.

Keywords: Enterprise cybersecurity; Cybersecurity system; Data protection; Organizational collaboration; Network threats
Classification Number: G202
Document Code: A
Article ID: 1671-0134(2025)03-132-05
DOI: 10.19483/j.cnki.11-4653/n.2025.03.029
Citation Format: Li Da, Fan Jingsong. Building a Unified Cybersecurity Protection System for Headquarters and Branch Offices [J]. China Media Technology, 2025, 32(3): 132-136.

In today's digital era, enterprises are experiencing rapid development in information technology, which has greatly enhanced operational efficiency and market competitiveness. However, as network technology continues to advance and business models innovate, the enterprise network environment has become increasingly complex, and cybersecurity issues have become more prominent. Enterprises must not only protect critical data from external attacks but also ensure the security and compliance of internal data flows [1-2]. Particularly for large enterprises with multiple branch offices, achieving efficient collaboration between headquarters and branches while ensuring data security has become an urgent problem to solve. The core of cybersecurity lies in protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, which directly affects the stability and continuity of business operations. Once cybersecurity defenses are breached, it can lead not only to the leakage of sensitive data but also to business disruption, reputational damage, and even legal liability. Therefore, establishing a unified cybersecurity protection system is crucial for maintaining overall enterprise cybersecurity. This system must be able to adapt to the constantly changing network environment while meeting the needs of data sharing and business collaboration between headquarters and branch offices [3-4].

In recent years, research in the cybersecurity field has been increasing, with scholars exploring enterprise cybersecurity issues from different perspectives. At the macro level of enterprise cybersecurity, Duan Junyi et al. (2024) analyzed the challenges faced by enterprise cybersecurity in the context of large-scale application of commercial software, emphasizing the importance of building a unified cybersecurity strategy. They pointed out that as enterprises expand and business becomes standardized, cybersecurity is no longer a problem for a single entity but a complex issue requiring cross-regional and cross-organizational collaboration [11]. At the technical level, Fan Haibin explored the application strategies of zero-trust architecture in enterprise archival data protection, including identity verification and access control, data protection and encryption, and continuous monitoring and threat detection. By analyzing the advantages and challenges of these technologies, he proposed practical implementation plans [12]. Xiao Liyang et al. proposed an AAA system based on zero-trust architecture that integrates account management, authentication, and auditing to address the common problems of user account management and security protection in current enterprise information systems [13]. Shu Yufeng introduced the concept and essence of zero trust from the perspective of traditional security boundary protection and existing cybersecurity situational awareness, proposing an enterprise security architecture based on zero-trust principles to address cybersecurity protection in the era of borderless networks [14]. Tong Weihua proposed a distributed intrusion detection system based on artificial intelligence technology to address the low detection accuracy and high false positive rates of traditional centralized intrusion detection systems. This system can not only adaptively learn and identify anomalous behavior in networks, improving detection efficiency, but also achieves higher detection accuracy and stronger robustness, enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response for large-scale networks [15]. Li Chang utilized distributed storage systems and stream computing models to quickly detect malware through the analysis and processing of traffic data, providing users with more accurate and timely malware detection services, thereby improving the overall security of the system [16]. In terms of data protection, Wang Xianxuan discussed common encryption technologies and methods, such as link encryption, node encryption, and end-to-end encryption, and explored how to better apply encryption technology in network communication applications [17]. Luo Yongjian delved into the key elements of end-to-end encryption strategies for 5G communication technology in the Internet of Things, discussing the requirements for end-to-end encryption technology, including data security, performance efficiency, and adaptability and compatibility needs, based on an analysis of the development background of IoT and 5G communication technology [18].

In summary, existing literature provides a rich theoretical foundation and practical guidance for building a unified cybersecurity protection system for headquarters and branch offices. However, as the network environment continues to evolve and technology develops rapidly, the construction and optimization of enterprise cybersecurity protection systems still require continuous exploration and innovation [9-10]. Building on existing research, this paper further explores the key factors influencing enterprise cybersecurity and proposes strategies and measures for constructing a unified cybersecurity protection system, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for enterprises.

2. Factors Influencing Collaborative Cybersecurity Systems

In today's digital age, the importance of enterprise cybersecurity has become increasingly prominent. Organizational cybersecurity is not only related to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of enterprise data but also directly affects operational efficiency and market competitiveness. Enterprise cybersecurity maintenance is a complex systematic project involving multiple interacting factors that collectively influence the stability and reliability of enterprise cybersecurity. This section explores the key factors influencing enterprise cybersecurity and analyzes how different factors affect the coordination between headquarters and branch offices.

Operating systems, as core components supporting enterprise IT infrastructure, are directly related to the stability of the entire enterprise network and data security. Security vulnerabilities in operating systems can become entry points for intrusion attacks, posing serious threats to the cybersecurity of both headquarters and branch offices. These vulnerabilities may allow unauthorized access and privilege escalation, enabling attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, access sensitive data, or perform malicious operations on systems. Additionally, operating system vulnerabilities can lead to denial-of-service attacks, affecting normal network operations and causing business disruption and economic losses. Furthermore, these vulnerabilities can be exploited to install malware such as viruses, trojans, and ransomware, further expanding the scope of attacks and threatening the security of the entire enterprise network. For headquarters, operating system vulnerabilities may lead to the compromise of critical business systems and data centers. Once exploited by attackers, this could leak core business secrets, damage corporate reputation, and result in legal liability and economic losses. For branch offices, security vulnerabilities in operating systems may cause communication interruptions with headquarters, affecting daily operations and data synchronization, while also increasing the risk of branches becoming attack jump points that threaten the security of the entire enterprise network.

In addition to operating systems, application service systems, which support core business processes and handle large amounts of sensitive data in real-time in today's enterprise operating environment, are also critical components that cannot be ignored. If these systems lack necessary security considerations during design and deployment, they may become weak links in enterprise cybersecurity, posing serious threats to the network security of both headquarters and branch offices. Insufficient security consideration in application service systems can lead to data leakage and misuse. Without effective access control and authentication mechanisms, unauthorized users may access sensitive data, resulting in the leakage of business secrets and customer information. Application service systems lacking security considerations may also suffer from malware attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting attacks, which can cause system crashes, data corruption or tampering, and affect enterprise network coordination and normal operations.

While maintaining hardware security, internal management practices and security training are also important factors affecting cybersecurity. On the one hand, employee security awareness and behavior are closely related to enterprise cybersecurity. In daily work, employees may violate security policies, such as using weak passwords, clicking on unknown links, and downloading unsafe files, all of which are potential risks to enterprise cybersecurity. Therefore, enterprises need to strengthen employee security training, raise security awareness, and standardize network behavior to reduce security incidents caused by human factors. On the other hand, inadequate enterprise cybersecurity management cannot be ignored. In the coordination between headquarters and branch offices, the lack of effective cybersecurity management mechanisms may lead to difficulties in implementing security policies and delayed response and handling of security incidents. Enterprises need to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity management system, including developing clear security policies, implementing regular security audits, and establishing emergency response mechanisms to ensure continuous and stable cybersecurity.

The factors influencing enterprise cybersecurity are multifaceted, including operating system vulnerabilities, insufficient security considerations in application service systems, employee security awareness and behavior, network viruses and malware intrusion, and inadequate cybersecurity management. These factors are interrelated and collectively constitute a complex system of enterprise cybersecurity. Enterprises must adopt comprehensive security strategies, build collaborative cybersecurity networks for headquarters and branches, strengthen the application of security technologies, improve employee security awareness, and perfect security management mechanisms to ensure enterprise cybersecurity and protect enterprise data and assets.

3. Unified Cybersecurity Protection System Architecture for Headquarters and Branches

3.1 Unified Identity Authentication and Access Control

In modern enterprise network environments, unified identity authentication and access control are key components for ensuring network security and coordination between headquarters and branches. As enterprises expand and remote work becomes more prevalent, traditional security measures are no longer adequate for current needs. Therefore, implementing unified identity authentication and access control has become central to enterprise cybersecurity strategy.

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has become a key strategy for implementing unified identity authentication and access control. The fundamental concept of this architecture is to trust no user or device by default, requiring verification for both headquarters and branch users. This section explores the implementation details of unified identity authentication and access control, including the introduction of zero-trust architecture, deployment of multi-factor authentication, implementation of role-based access control, and continuous monitoring and auditing.

When introducing a zero-trust framework, enterprises must clearly define identity verification and authorization policies. This process involves identifying users and devices that can access network resources and specifying the exact resources accessible to headquarters and branch departments. To effectively manage user identity verification and authorization, centralized identity providers (IdP) such as Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) or OAuth 2.0 services should be deployed. Before users and devices can request access to network resources, they must undergo identity verification using multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that only verified legitimate users and devices obtain corresponding access permissions. Additionally, the network should be divided into multiple small, isolated segments, each with its own security policies and access control lists (ACLs) to limit lateral movement and potential attack surfaces. Notably, zero-trust architecture requires continuous monitoring and evaluation of network activities to ensure the effectiveness of implemented strategies and to promptly detect and respond to anomalous behavior.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a strategy for enhancing network security that requires users to provide two or more different forms of credentials during the authentication process. These credentials may include knowledge factors (such as passwords), possession factors (such as smart cards or mobile phones), and inherent factors (such as biometric information). The key to deploying MFA lies in selecting solutions that match enterprise security needs and resources, covering different forms such as hardware tokens, software tokens, SMS verification codes, or biometric technology. During MFA implementation, appropriate education and training should be provided to all users to ensure they fully understand the importance of MFA and are familiar with the operation procedures of various authentication methods. Simultaneously, MFA deployment should adopt a gradual strategy, prioritizing implementation on high-risk applications and resources in headquarters or core branches before gradually extending to the entire enterprise network. This phased approach helps minimize disruption to users' daily workflows during deployment and allows security teams to fine-tune and optimize the system before full deployment. After MFA deployment is completed, continuous monitoring and evaluation are required, involving real-time tracking of user authentication activities and regular review of system performance and user feedback. Through continuous evaluation, problems that arise during implementation can be identified and resolved promptly, while MFA strategies can be adjusted as necessary based on actual usage to improve overall user experience and system security.

The design principle of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is to grant corresponding access permissions based on the roles users play in the enterprise organizational structure. Implementing RBAC requires precise definition of user roles and clear delineation of the scope of responsibilities and corresponding permission sets for each role, dividing functions between headquarters and branches while ensuring enterprise collaboration. The execution of this strategy involves meticulous allocation of access permissions to files, applications, and network resources, ensuring that users at different levels only obtain the minimum set of permissions necessary to perform their duties. RBAC implementation further emphasizes the importance of the principle of least privilege, which advocates limiting user permissions to the minimum required to complete tasks while ensuring smooth business processes, thereby reducing potential security risks. Additionally, given the dynamic nature of enterprise operations and organizational structures, RBAC policies require regular review and adjustment. This process helps maintain the timeliness and adaptability of policies, ensuring they continue to meet enterprise security needs and reflect the latest business processes.

Continuous monitoring and auditing encompass real-time monitoring of user activities, system logs, and anomalous behavior, as well as regular security audits. Real-time monitoring of user activities and system logs provides security teams with insights into enterprise cybersecurity posture, enabling immediate response to any anomalous behavior. Regular audits serve as a systematic review mechanism that can reveal potential weaknesses in security policies and ensure that security measures remain aligned with current business needs and security objectives. Through these continuous assessments and adjustments, enterprises can ensure the adaptability and forward-looking nature of their security strategies, thereby maintaining competitiveness in the constantly evolving threat landscape.

3.2 Distributed Threat Detection and Response

Distributed Threat Detection and Response (DTDR) aims to achieve rapid identification, analysis, and response to potential threats through coordinated efforts across multiple network nodes at both headquarters and branches, thereby improving the overall defense capability against cyber attacks. This section analyzes the implementation of distributed threat detection and response based on threat intelligence collection and sharing, security monitoring deployment, construction of automated response mechanisms, and the importance of cross-organizational collaboration.

Threat intelligence forms the foundation of the DTDR system, involving the collection, analysis, and sharing of information about potential threats. Effective threat intelligence comes from multiple channels and levels, including but not limited to open-source intelligence, commercial threat intelligence, and the enterprise's own security logs and event data. Implementing threat intelligence collection first requires establishing a centralized intelligence platform that integrates intelligence from different sources and provides unified analysis and reporting functions. After obtaining threat intelligence, relevant enterprise departments need to utilize advanced analytical tools, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, to identify and understand threat patterns, helping security teams mine valuable information from large amounts of data and predict potential attack behaviors. Furthermore, sharing threat intelligence is key to improving the security level of the entire industry. By sharing intelligence with industry partners and the security community, enterprises can not only gain a broader threat perspective but also improve response speed to new threats.

Security monitoring is another important component of the DTDR system, involving the deployment of monitoring devices at key nodes in the network to capture network traffic, system logs, and user behavior data in real time. The deployed monitoring devices need to have advanced detection capabilities to identify various complex attack patterns, such as zero-day attacks, Advanced Persistent Threats (APT), and insider threats. Common monitoring devices include Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems. Proper deployment of these devices can not only provide real-time alerts and reports but also integrate with other enterprise security measures to achieve automated threat response and mitigation.

After potential threats are detected in a timely manner, rapid and effective response becomes the decisive factor in successful attack defense. The establishment of automated response mechanisms, relying on predefined playbooks and workflows, ensures that security incidents are handled quickly and orderly. This includes but is not limited to isolating infected systems, blocking malicious traffic, removing malware, and restoring damaged data. To build an efficient automated response system, enterprises must conduct detailed analysis and optimization of their existing security operation processes. This involves not only clearly defining incident response procedures but also establishing cross-departmental collaboration mechanisms and developing automated tools and scripts. Through these comprehensive measures, enterprises can significantly improve the speed and efficiency of security incident response, thereby taking the initiative in cybersecurity defense.

On the basis of improving hardware deployment for distributed threat detection and response, enterprises should also emphasize the importance of cross-organizational collaboration to achieve effective DTDR. Through cooperation with branch departments, industry partners, government agencies, and the security community, enterprises can share threat intelligence, coordinate response actions, and jointly improve the security level of the entire industry. Additionally, cross-organizational collaboration needs to be built on trust and transparency. Enterprises must establish clear communication channels and collaboration agreements with partners and ensure that all participants follow the same security standards and best practices. Finally, enterprises need to invest in personnel training and culture building to promote cross-organizational collaboration and knowledge sharing.

3.3 Centralized Management and Monitoring

In today's enterprise network environment, cybersecurity management is gradually becoming centralized to achieve a unified view and control of cybersecurity across headquarters and branches. This "single network" management model emphasizes integrated management of cross-regional networks, aiming to build a coordinated security protection system through centralized management and monitoring strategies.

The implementation of centralized management and monitoring first requires enterprises to establish a unified security policy framework that covers all branch offices and remains consistent with headquarters' security policies. On this basis, enterprises should deploy centralized management platforms, such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, to achieve centralized configuration, monitoring, and management of network-wide security devices. Such platforms can collect, correlate, and analyze logs and event data from different security devices, thereby providing comprehensive insights into potential threats. To further improve monitoring efficiency, enterprises can utilize advanced analytical technologies such as behavioral analysis, anomaly detection, and machine learning to identify and respond to complex security threats. These technologies can extract valuable security intelligence from massive amounts of data, helping security teams quickly identify attack patterns and take corresponding defensive measures.

During the implementation of centralized management and monitoring, enterprises also need to focus on network traffic visualization. By deploying network traffic analysis tools to monitor data flow in real time, unauthorized access and data leakage behaviors can be identified. Additionally, remote monitoring of branch offices is equally important, requiring enterprises to establish reliable remote access and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the security status of branch offices can be promptly addressed and handled. While implementing technology, enterprises must also emphasize the role of personnel. Security teams should receive professional training to master the use of centralized management tools and be able to make accurate judgments and responses based on monitoring data. Enterprises should cultivate a security culture where all employees participate, making staff aware of their responsibilities in maintaining cybersecurity, thereby improving the entire organization's awareness of security threat prevention.

In summary, centralized management and monitoring provides a unified cybersecurity management view for headquarters and branch offices, helping enterprises build a more robust and responsive security protection system. Through the organic combination of technology, processes, and personnel, enterprises can maintain a competitive advantage in the constantly evolving network threat environment and ensure the security and integrity of their information assets.

3.4 End-to-End Encryption and Data Protection

End-to-end encryption and data protection strategies ensure data security during transmission and the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data in both static and dynamic states. The application of end-to-end encryption technology provides seamless protection for data throughout the entire transmission path from source to destination, thereby effectively resisting potential eavesdropping, tampering, and data leakage.

The implementation of end-to-end encryption requires encryption at the starting point of data transmission and decryption only after the data reaches its destination. This encryption method eliminates the need for intermediate nodes to decrypt data, thereby reducing the possibility of data being intercepted and misused during transmission. To achieve this, enterprises need to deploy strong encryption protocols such as Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and adopt advanced encryption algorithms such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

In terms of data protection, enterprises need to adopt multi-layered security measures to ensure that data is properly protected at every stage of collection, storage, use, sharing, and destruction (see Figure 1 [FIGURE:1]). This includes implementing data access control to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data; adopting data backup and recovery strategies to prevent data loss and business interruption; and employing data desensitization technology to reduce risks in case of data leakage. Additionally, enterprises need to pay attention to compliance requirements for data protection. With increasingly stringent global data protection regulations, such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), enterprises must ensure that their data protection measures comply with relevant laws and regulations. This involves not only the implementation of technical measures but also training employees on data protection regulations and establishing corresponding data protection policies and procedures.

Figure 1 Architecture of Unified Cybersecurity Protection System for Headquarters and Branches

This paper proposes a unified cybersecurity protection system for headquarters and branch offices through a comprehensive analysis of current challenges and needs in the cybersecurity field. Based on an in-depth exploration of the key factors influencing enterprise cybersecurity, it presents a comprehensive solution including unified identity authentication and access control, distributed threat detection and response, centralized management and monitoring, and end-to-end encryption and data protection.

Unified identity authentication and access control, as the foundation of cybersecurity, effectively enhances enterprise cybersecurity protection capabilities through the introduction of zero-trust architecture, multi-factor authentication, and role-based access control. Meanwhile, the distributed threat detection and response strategy improves the overall defense capability against cyber attacks through coordinated efforts across headquarters and branches, enabling rapid identification and response to potential threats. The centralized management and monitoring strategy provides a unified cybersecurity management view by establishing a unified security policy framework and deploying centralized management platforms, enabling centralized configuration, monitoring, and management of network-wide security devices. The end-to-end encryption and data protection strategy ensures data security during transmission and the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data in static and dynamic states.

In summary, constructing a unified cybersecurity protection system for headquarters and branch offices requires not only technological innovation and application but also corresponding adjustments and optimizations at the management level. By implementing the strategies proposed in this paper, enterprises can build a more robust and responsive security protection system that effectively counters continuously evolving cyber threats and safeguards enterprise data and assets. In the future, as technology continues to advance and the network environment keeps changing, the construction and optimization of enterprise cybersecurity protection systems will be an ongoing process that requires enterprises to continuously carry out technological innovation and strategic adjustments to adapt to new challenges and needs.

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Author Biographies:
Li Da (1979—), male, from Liaoning, bachelor's degree, senior engineer, research interests include networks, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.
Fan Jingsong (1977—), male, from Liaoning, associate degree, research interests include networks, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

(Executive Editor: Li Yansong)