World News – USA – Implementing Security on All Edges

Weaving automated, comprehensive and powerful security into a seamless security structure is the foundation for securing digital business.

Hybrid networks, multi-cloud, Internet of Things, remote work and digital innovations ensure distributed networks and a much more expansive attack surface. The network scope that used to be so clearly defined now spans a spectrum of corporate facilities, branch offices, homes, other remote locations, and multiple clouds. The reality is that security has to reside on the LAN, WAN and cloud fringes. All edges must now be secured, but how do you actually do that?

Today’s networks are distributed and diverse and usually extend over several environments, each with its own requirements and standards. Securing each of these network environments is challenging, especially when the end goal is centralized visibility, consistent policy enforcement, and unified orchestration and response. In addition to securing and managing hardware-defined and software-defined perimeters, organizations must ensure security as these network edges continually adapt, expand, and adjust to meet changing business needs.

In addition, these different edges must not be in safety silos in which they are only individually protected. Instead, they need to be secured with an integrated, holistic approach. Security must be consistent and holistic across the corporate infrastructure from branch offices and data centers to multiple public clouds. Everything else has gaps in visibility and control that threat actors are targeting.

If security is not built in, misconfigured devices will not be detected, vulnerabilities will not be patched, and malicious behavior will not be detected. Many applications and workflows now encompass multiple environments in a single transaction, and security must be applied end-to-end – from your WAN edge infrastructure such as SD-WAN to your LAN connections to your hybrid cloud environments. Ad-hoc connections between the data center and a cloud or dynamic connections between branch offices create more edges and increase complexity.

Bad actors are well aware of these vulnerabilities and know that for far too many organizations, a comprehensive security strategy often falls short of network expansion. However, organizations don’t have to sacrifice security to maximize agility and improve performance between these interconnected edges – both can and should be achieved.

Edge computing is often deployed without considering the security implications. This must be taken into account from the start. As the processing and storage elements are brought closer to where they will be used at the edge, organizations need to ensure that their security strategy is geared to ensure security across all edges. This really requires a broad, integrated and automated approach characterized by partner integration and AI-powered operations. Unfortunately, most companies use a collection of various multi-vendor products that are not integrated. What’s worse is that many of these devices are no longer properly configured or patched.

Edge computing adds a lot of complexity – and it has to be done quickly – so manual operations alone don’t work. You need support, e.g.. B.. automated playbooks powered by AI. You need to ensure that your security architecture can leverage the dynamics of edge computing to secure the edge.

Edge Compute is all about taking quick, proactive, and predictive action. This means that you cannot approach this type of operating environment with a traditional security strategy. The same elements that make Edge-Based so compelling are the underlying requirements for backup: it has to be fast and it has to be integrated.

Security-driven network is an approach that brings together network and security in the connected environment – from the core to the branch and remote workers to the cloud. It enables organizations to effectively see and defend today’s highly dynamic environments while ensuring a great user experience for employees and customers to keep them relevant, competitive and resilient.

Networks can easily be expanded and adapted to digital innovations when security is embedded at their core. You can do this at levels that the next generation of computers – including 5G, multi-cloud, hyperscale, and other rapidly emerging trends – will require. The convergence of network and security enables a security strategy that is highly flexible and adaptable and supports operations anywhere. It does this by providing the ability to improve the overall experience while reducing WAN costs. Management of external and internal risks for users on the network; and provide flexible, cloud-ready security for users outside the network.

Today’s network scale is so extensive and complex that threat actors can easily find undetected misconfigurations, unpatched vulnerabilities, or unprofessional users to exploit. There are many network edges now, but you cannot think of these different edges in isolation. You need to break down the technological, operational and cultural silos. For the best business results and end-user experience, network, security, and computers are required so everyone can work together. Results and experiences can only be delivered if all three elements work together. Bringing security and network together, with security embedded at the core, closes the gaps in visibility, automation, and control. And that ultimately ensures that all of your edges are secure.

Learn how Fortinet’s security-driven networking strategy tightly integrates an organization’s network infrastructure and security architecture so that the network can be scaled and changed without compromising security.

Computer Security, Fortinet, Computer, Cloud Computing