Winter is coming – and so are cyber threats.

‍If the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros existed in the digital age, Jon Snow certainly wouldn’t be the only one who “knows nothing” about cybersecurity.

Westeros’ digital map: seven kingdoms, one security strategy

Imagine each business function as a separate kingdom in Westeros.
Finance is the land of the wealthy Lannisters, HR belongs to the diplomatic House Tyrell, while manufacturing mirrors the harsh northern realm of the Starks.

Protecting the kingdoms

• The North (IT infrastructure): Winterfell as the central data center
• King’s Landing (Headquarters): the seat of centralized control
• Dorne (Remote work): isolated yet business-critical remote locations
• The Iron Islands (Cloud services): independent but tightly connected systems

Although each “kingdom” protects different assets, they all require a unified cybersecurity strategy that covers the entire organization.

The Wall: why a strong perimeter is no longer enough

“The Wall stretches four hundred miles along the northern border of Westeros” – much like traditional IT security once relied on a single, strong perimeter.

But what happens when the Wall falls?

Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch quickly learned that static defense alone is not enough:

• Zero Trust model: trust no one by default
• Layered defense: not just the Wall, but patrols, watchtowers, and surveillance
• Continuous monitoring: the Night’s Watch never sleeps

Modern IT security cannot stop at firewalls. Every user, device, and transaction must be verified.

White Walkers vs. Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)

The White Walkers are the perfect metaphor for APT attacks.

Shared characteristics

• Slow but relentless advance
• The ability to “reanimate” compromised systems
• Coordinated, network-based operations
• Remaining hidden for long periods

“Winter is coming” works just like a threat intelligence alert:
those who detect it in time survive.

The Night’s Watch: a model modern SOC

Roles in an effective SOC team

Jon Snow – SOC Manager

• Leadership under crisis conditions
• Accountability on the front line

Samwell Tarly – Threat Intelligence Analyst

• Research, analysis, and pattern recognition
• Interpreting historical precedents

Arya Stark – Incident Response Specialist

• Fast, precise, targeted intervention
• Neutralizing hidden threats

Tyrion Lannister – Security Architect

• Strategic thinking
• Creative, unconventional solutions

Dragons: AI-powered security tools

Daenerys’ dragons are not just weapons – they are intelligent assets.
The same applies to AI-powered cybersecurity solutions:

• Machine learning–based detection: identifying new, unknown threats
• Automated response: fast and precise intervention
• Proactive threat hunting: uncovering hidden attacks

As the series shows, even the most powerful tools can become dangerous in the wrong hands.

“You know nothing, Jon Snow” – the role of security awareness

Ygritte’s famous line perfectly describes the lack of user awareness.
Even the best technology is ineffective if people are not prepared.

Core security awareness topics

• Recognizing phishing attempts
• Password management best practices
• Social engineering attacks
• Timely incident reporting

The Three-Eyed Raven: a SIEM that sees everything

Bran Stark’s abilities are a perfect analogy for modern SIEM systems:

• Analysis of historical events
• Real-time monitoring
• Predictive analytics
• Identifying complex attack chains

Faceless Men: insider threats

“A man has no face” perfectly illustrates how dangerous insider threats can be.

Defense principles

• Access and privilege management
• User behavior analytics
• Separation of duties
• Regular access reviews

The Red Wedding: when trust leads to disaster

The Red Wedding offers a lesson that applies just as well to IT security:

• Never trust, always verify
• Continuous monitoring
• A predefined incident response plan
• Reliable backup and recovery

The Iron Bank of Braavos: compliance and audits

Compliance is not negotiable – just like the Iron Bank never forgets.

• GDPR
• ISO 27001
• Regular audits
• Detailed documentation

Winter is here: next steps

Threats always return in new forms.
Cybersecurity is not a project – it is an ongoing operation.

Practical next steps

• Security assessment
• SOC and monitoring development
• User training programs
• Integrating AI-based defense
• Testing incident response plans

Closing thoughts: Valar Morghulis

Just like in Westeros, only those who think ahead survive in the world of IT security.

Are you ready to defend your digital kingdom?
Gloster Cloud’s SOC experts help you build your own Night’s Watch. When the cyber winter arrives, it’s better to know exactly what you’re doing.