Security is Simplicity
1. Minimizing the Attack Surface
This is the most direct and widely accepted technical principle related to simplicity.
The Idea: The Attack Surface is the sum of all the different points where an unauthorized user can try to enter or extract data from a system.
The Simplicity Tie: By simplifying a system (reducing code, features, network ports, interfaces), you physically reduce the number of potential "ways in" that an attacker can exploit. If there is less code, there are fewer places for a vulnerability (like a buffer overflow) to hide.
2. The KISS Principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
While often cited for general design and maintenance, it has profound implications for security.
The Idea: Simpler systems are easier to understand, test, and manage.
The Simplicity Tie: In security, if you can't easily understand how the whole system works, you can't confidently secure it. Complexity introduces hidden interactions and unintended consequences—the very things attackers seek. Simplicity makes the logic transparent and auditable.
3. Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)
A long-standing security principle.
The Idea: Every user, process, or program should operate using the least set of privileges necessary to complete its job, and no more.
The Simplicity Tie: PoLP is a form of simplicity in authority. It limits what any given component can do, which simplifies the possible pathways of a malicious action. If a compromised component (like a buffer overflow exploit) has minimal privileges, the damage it can cause is greatly constrained, making the overall system easier to secure and contain.
4. Refuting "Security through Obscurity"
The simplicity position is the direct opposite of a less reputable and often-criticized approach.
Security through Obscurity relies on the idea that if an attacker doesn't know how the system works, they can't break it. This is a fatal flaw, as secrets rarely stay secret.
Security as Simplicity says the system should be simple enough that it can be publically reviewed, yet structurally sound enough (like the NICS memory handling) that it remains resilient. This is the difference between hiding a vulnerability and engineering it out of existence.
"Security is Simplicity" is a succinct and powerful statement that synthesizes best practices from vulnerability reduction, architecture, and core security principles.
