Secure by Design: Building Systems That Assume Breach

For decades, government systems were designed around a simple assumption: keep attackers out and everything inside will be safe. Strong perimeters, trusted networks, and restricted access were the primary defenses.

That assumption no longer holds.

Modern government systems operate across cloud platforms, mobile devices, third-party services, and interagency integrations. Users connect from anywhere. Data moves constantly. In this environment, compromise is not a question of if, but when.

Secure by design starts from this reality. Instead of trying to prevent every breach, systems are built to remain safe even when parts fail.

What it means to assume breach

Assuming breach does not mean giving up on security. It means designing systems that expect components to be compromised and limiting the damage when that happens.

This mindset changes how systems are built. Trust is not implicit. Access is not permanent. Sensitive data is protected even from systems that appear legitimate.

When breach is assumed, security becomes a continuous property of the system rather than a single control at the edge.

Encryption as a baseline, not a feature

Encryption is one of the most fundamental tools in an assume breach model.

Data must be encrypted in transit so it cannot be intercepted or altered as it moves between systems. It must also be encrypted at rest so that a compromised database or storage service does not immediately expose sensitive information.

Crucially, encryption should be applied consistently and automatically. It should not depend on individual teams remembering to enable it or on special handling for sensitive records.

When encryption is treated as a baseline, breaches become containment events rather than catastrophic failures.

Least privilege limits blast radius

Assume breach design recognizes that credentials will be stolen, accounts will be misused, and systems will behave unexpectedly.

Least privilege access limits what an attacker can do when that happens.

Each user, service, and application is granted only the permissions required to perform its specific function. Access is scoped narrowly and reviewed regularly. Temporary access is preferred over permanent entitlements.

This approach reduces blast radius. A compromised account cannot access unrelated systems. A misconfigured service cannot read more data than necessary. Investigations are easier because access patterns are clearer.

Least privilege is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk without impacting usability when implemented thoughtfully.

Device trust and context matter

In modern systems, identity alone is not enough. Context matters.

Assume breach architectures consider the device and environment from which a request is made. Is the device managed or unmanaged. Is it running current security updates. Is the access pattern consistent with normal behavior.

By incorporating device trust and contextual signals, systems can adapt dynamically. High-risk requests can trigger additional verification. Low-risk interactions can proceed smoothly.

This reduces reliance on static rules and makes systems more resilient to evolving threats.

Designing for failure, not perfection

Failures will happen. Networks will drop. Services will misbehave. Credentials will be compromised. Secure by design systems are built to degrade safely.

This means isolating components so failures do not cascade. It means validating inputs even from internal systems. It means logging and monitoring activity so anomalies are detected quickly.

Rather than assuming every component behaves correctly, systems verify continuously and recover gracefully.

Why this matters for government services

Government systems support critical functions and handle highly sensitive data. The impact of breaches extends beyond financial loss to public trust and safety.

Assume breach design aligns directly with established federal security models, including Zero Trust architectures defined in NIST SP 800-207, identity assurance frameworks in NIST SP 800-63, and system control requirements in NIST SP 800-53. Together, these frameworks emphasize continuous verification, least privilege, and explicit trust boundaries rather than perimeter-based security.

For government systems, this approach prioritizes resilience and accountability over superficial controls.

Security that supports, not blocks, delivery

One fear agencies often have is that stronger security will slow services down. In practice, secure-by-design systems often enable faster delivery.

When trust decisions are automated and embedded into the architecture, users are not repeatedly interrupted. Staff are not forced into manual checks for routine actions. Systems can integrate more easily because trust boundaries are explicit.

Security becomes an enabler rather than an obstacle.

Building confidence through resilience

Public trust depends not just on preventing incidents, but on how systems behave when things go wrong.

Systems that assume breach protect data even under stress. They fail in predictable ways. They recover quickly. They provide clear audit trails and accountability.

This resilience builds confidence among users, staff, and leaders alike.

Secure by design as a long-term strategy

Secure by design is not a checklist. It is a philosophy that guides decisions across architecture, development, and operations.

By assuming breach and designing accordingly, government agencies can build systems that are safer, more adaptable, and better aligned with how digital services actually operate today.

In a world where compromise is inevitable, resilience is what makes modern government systems trustworthy.

About SpruceID: SpruceID builds digital trust infrastructure for government. We help states and cities modernize identity, security, and service delivery — from digital wallets and SSO to fraud prevention and workflow optimization. Our standards-based technology and public-sector expertise ensure every project advances a more secure, interoperable, and citizen-centric digital future.