As we often say at Cisco, every business is a security business. That's been true ever since widespread online presence led to widespread cyber threats. It became even more applicable as those threats became more sophisticated and less detectable. And now, with the Internet of Everything (IoE), that phrase is more relevant than ever before.

Cisco estimates that by 2020, 50 billion devices will be connected, whether you know it or not. Other advances in technology, such as mobility and cloud computing, will require a new way of thinking about network security. In today's world of IoE, security must be top of mind as the number and type of attack vectors continues to increase, as does the amount of data that needs to be protected. Take a look at three key considerations for building your security program.

First, it's essential to understand what kinds of threats are coming at you, as well the motivation behind them. You cannot protect against what you cannot see. Second, you need application visibility and control; a real-time, accurate picture of devices, data, and the relationships among them that helps make sense of billions of devices, applications, and their associated information. And third, you need an adaptable, flexible security posture supported by some of today's biggest innovations and brightest minds.

The IoE is creating a host of new security challenges. A risk mitigation strategy based on these key tenets is essential to securing your information assets. Please let me know your thoughts, experiences and strategies regarding this complex issue in the comments section.