I think of a network like a slope, each layer of code a snowpack. First, identify the base risk: the operating system and firmware, like the bedrock. Next, layer the applications—those are the first snow layer, thin but vulnerable. Above that, the user credentials and session tokens, the second layer, thicker but still mobile. The topmost is the data traffic, the wind‑blown surface that can melt everything below. I tag each layer with a risk score, track changes, and run scans like temperature checks. If a layer shows an anomaly, I treat it as a weak spot, like a melt‑zone, and reinforce it with patches or isolation before the next “season” hits. This way I keep the whole “mountain” stable and predictable.