Remote work, initially a temporary response to global circumstances, has become a permanent fixture for many enterprises and the clients we serve. This shift magnified the need for fast, secure access to critical applications from any location, pushing businesses to rethink traditional security strategies.

With the growing adoption of cloud services and hybrid work models, the attack surface has inevitably expanded, rendering traditional security measures insufficient. To address these evolving threats, businesses must leverage modern security solutions that provide secure, resilient access to applications across diverse locations, devices, and networks.

While SD-WAN, zero trust, and SASE are already well-known for their ability to enhance network performance and security, their importance has become even more pronounced in today’s rapidly changing threat landscape. In this article, we revisit how these network security solutions and technologies can help businesses improve their security and network performance.

Listen: The Next Big Thing In Networking

The Role Of SD-WAN In Modern Networking

At the core of many modern network strategies is SD-WAN, which simplifies the management of wide-area networks by decoupling network hardware from the control mechanisms. This allows businesses to build a more agile WAN infrastructure at a lower cost. SD-WAN also optimizes traffic using a mix of legacy multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and broadband internet, improving performance, especially for remote workers.

According to the 2023 research by Ponemon Institute, 44% percent of organizations have deployed or will deploy SD-WAN and cloud-delivered security in the next 12 months. From a security standpoint, SD-WAN uses encryption and VPNs to secure data as it travels between branch offices, data centers, and the cloud. This makes it particularly beneficial for enterprises with a distributed workforce.

The Rise Of Zero Trust

Traditional network models trust devices within the perimeter by default. In contrast, zero trust assumes that no entity can be trusted by default, regardless of location. Every user and device must be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated before accessing critical resources.

Zero trust is both a security philosophy and an architectural approach to network security. Enterprises are increasingly adopting this strategy, with 15% of high-performing organizations indicating to adopt and implement Zero Trust within the next year. Zero trust is especially crucial in businesses that rely on multiple clouds and SaaS platforms. By implementing zero trust, enterprises can better protect against threats like unauthorized access and data breaches while with various regulatory requirements.

A Unified Approach To Networking And Security

As hybrid work models grow in popularity, SASE becomes a preferred solution by converging WAN capabilities and cloud-delivered security services. This comprehensive approach to networking and security addresses the growing complexity of modern IT environments by simplifying network management and secure, seamless connectivity for a distributed workforce.

According to Ponemon Institute, 49% of enterprises have already deployed or plan to deploy SASE. However, its adoption is expected to rise as companies recognize the trending benefits of unifying networking and security. The good thing about SASE is that it delivers both SD-WAN and security services as a cloud-based solution directly to the source of the connection, whether a remote employee, a branch office, or an IoT device.

Unified SASE: The Future Of Network Security

As the demand for integrated network security solutions grows, many businesses are looking to consolidate their SASE components into a single platform. By doing so, enterprises can simplify their branch infrastructure, reduce costs, and provide a better user experience.

One of the significant advancements in the evolution of SASE is the introduction of unified SASE. This approach is especially attractive because it combines security and networking into a single, cohesive solution, thus enabling businesses to manage these critical functions through an integrated platform. According to Gartner’s 2022 Market Guide for Single-Vendor SASE, 65% of enterprises will consolidate individual SASE components into one or two explicitly partnered vendors over the next two years. This trend highlights the growing demand for streamlined, efficient solutions in today’s complex IT environments.

A unified SASE solution offers several key benefits:

• Simplified branch and network management: Organizations can eliminate the need for multiple hardware appliances by integrating SD-WAN and security into a single platform. This integration enhances operational efficiency and simplifies management.
• Enhanced security: The solution extends zero trust controls to all users and devices, regardless of their location, whether they are at a branch office, working from home, or traveling. This comprehensive approach ensures consistent security across all access points.
• Cost savings: Combining security and networking functions into one platform allows organizations to streamline their infrastructure. This consolidation leads to reduced operational costs and more efficient use of resources.
• Superior user experience: Users can enjoy a seamless experience by optimizing application performance and ensuring secure, reliable access from any location.

A prime example of unified SASE is HPE Aruba Networking’s approach. Combining their award-winning Security Service Edge (SSE) with industry-leading SD-WAN into a cohesive solution, the unified platform simplifies the deployment process by offering a single vendor solution. This process ensures seamless management and eliminates the complexity associated with multiple vendors.

The solution is also built upon HPE Aruba Networking SD-WAN, which includes:

• EdgeConnect SD-WAN, which features a built-in next-gen firewall that lets users safely remove physical firewalls and routers in their branch offices. For small edge or branch sites, the new EC-10104 Model offers a cost-effective solution to manage and streamline operations efficiently.
• EdgeConnect SD-Branch
• EdgeConnect Microbranch

Moreover, HPE Aruba Networking’s edge-to-cloud SASE solution leverages zero trust network access (ZTNA) to provide least-privilege access to all people and devices. It also offers comprehensive protection against data security threats and malicious web traffic through:

• Secure web gateway (SWG)
• Cloud access security broker (CASB)
• Digital experience monitoring (DEM)

HPE Aruba Networking’s unified SASE solution stands out by offering flexible licensing options to fit a wide range of budgets and requirements. This ensures that businesses can tailor their solution to meet current needs while allowing the freedom to scale and adapt as those needs evolve over time.

Final Thoughts

As businesses continue to adopt hybrid work models and expand their cloud presence, securing remote and distributed environments through SD-WAN, zero trust, and SASE is essential. However, as enterprises look for more streamlined network security solutions, is emerging as a key player in simplifying IT infrastructure, reducing costs, and strengthening security, all while delivering an exceptional user experience.

WEI’s cloud security experts are ready to help secure your cloud environment. With personalized security assessments and custom-built SASE solutions featuring advanced technologies like HPE Aruba Networking, we provide the expertise you need to confidently drive digital transformation and protect your critical assets. Contact us today to get started.

Next Steps: Traditional data centers are struggling to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology. As organizations shift towards distributed, edge-cloud-centric models, the need for a modern, agile, and secure data center has never been more critical.

WEI, in partnership with HPE Aruba Networking, is excited to present a comprehensive tech brief that explores how you can revolutionize your data center with cutting-edge automated solutions. This tech brief is your gateway to understanding how automated data center solutions can transform your business. Whether you’re looking to modernize your existing infrastructure or plan for future growth, this guide offers the insights you need to make informed decisions.

The post Transforming Enterprise Security: The Role Of Various Network Security Solutions appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Today’s interconnected world means cybersecurity is no longer a concern that is confined to just the realm of IT departments and tech companies. It has become a critical aspect of global geopolitics, influencing international relations, national security, and economic stability. For IT security leaders at medium and large enterprises, understanding the geopolitical implications of cybersecurity is an important component to developing a resilient cyber strategy.

Echoing thoughts that were shared at WEI’s recent Cyber Warfare & Beyond event, let’s explore the intersection of cybersecurity and geopolitics, highlighting best practices for IT security leaders to navigate this complicated environment. Panelists that joined WEI for this powerful roundtable discussion were former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Chief Technology Officer, Michael Sikorski, and N2K Chief Security Officer and Chief Analyst at The CyberWire, Rick Howard.

The Geopolitical Impact on Cybersecurity

As recent history has demonstrated, geopolitical tensions significantly impact cybersecurity, and vice versa. Nation-states often engage in cyber warfare, targeting each other’s critical infrastructure, government agencies, and private companies. As we’ve seen, such attacks are not just about data theft as they are also designed to disrupt essential services, causing widespread economic and social disruption. While cyberattacks have occurred for decades, their appearances in mainstream media are much more prevalent as events are growing in severity and frequency.

For instance, the increasing rivalry between major powers like the United States, China, North Korea, and Russia has led to a surge in state-sponsored cyberattacks. These attacks are often sophisticated, leveraging advanced persistent threats (APTs) to infiltrate networks, gather intelligence, and sabotage operations. Such activities underscore the need for IT security leaders to be in their cybersecurity efforts.

Photo: Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and cyber thought leader Michael Sikorski share a thought during WEI’s Cyber Warfare & Beyond roundtable discussion on June 20, 2024.

“We’re in a world that is changing with lots of threats out there, and everyone in the cyber community is very well aware of those threats that are coming from criminal actors as well as (nation-state adversaries),” Ambassador Yovanovitch remarked at the WEI Cyber Warfare & Beyond roundtable discussion. “The actions that we take now are going to determine the kind of world we’re living in in the future.”

The Rise of State-Sponsored Cyberattacks

State-sponsored cyberattacks are typically aimed at achieving strategic objectives, such as gaining a competitive economic advantage, undermining political stability, or demonstrating technological prowess.

For example, the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack originating out of North Korea, compromised over 200,000 computers across 150 countries, causing billions of dollars in damage. Similarly, the SolarWinds hack in 2020, believed to be orchestrated by Russian intelligence, compromised multiple U.S. government agencies and numerous private companies, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of such breaches.

WEI roundtable panelist Michael Sikorski, a renowned cyber thought leader, was part of the incident response team to both the SolarWinds and Colonial Pipeline hacks. Sikorski emphasized that the serious degree of these infrastructure hacks is what prompted President Joe Biden to issue an executive order to enhance American cybersecurity defenses. This included efforts to improve collaboration between public and private sectors and to establish more robust security protocols across critical infrastructure.

“We need to think about how we are going to train up our students, our young generation to provide that capability,” said Sikorski. “The cyber war is only getting closer and closer as it creeps up, especially as we see (our nation-state adversaries) hacking the critical infrastructure.”

Watch: WEI Cyber Warfare & Beyond Roundtable Discussion

The Role of International Collaboration

According to the panelists, international collaboration is crucial in combating cyber threats that transcend national borders. Organizations like the United Nations and NATO are increasingly focusing on cybersecurity, promoting norms and best practices for responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Meanwhile, IT security leaders should stay informed about these international efforts and participate in information-sharing initiatives to enhance their cyber defenses.

“I’m glad we are having these conversations here in government circles and industry circles,” Ambassador Yovanovitch said. “We are being tested and we need to be thinking hard about what we are going to do when one-too-many buttons have been pushed and when that magical threshold gets crossed.”

Watch: Harnessing A Diverse Talent Pipeline For Cybersecurity Personnel

Best Practices for a Resilient Cyber Strategy

As digital operating models advance and threat actors become more sophisticated, the need for a modern security operations center (SOC) is clear. SOC analysts are recognizing the benefits of integrating automation and analytics into their systems, as potential threats can be detected sooner and swiftly responded to for minimal impact. This “Left of Bang” approach, something WEI has documented and preached to our network in the past, helps organizations strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture and prevent costly incidents before they occur.

Given the geopolitical landscape, IT security leaders must adopt a multi-faceted approach to cybersecurity. Here are some best practices that were discussed at the roundtable to help an enterprise build a proactive and resilient cyber strategy:

1. Comprehensive Risk Assessment
   

Conducting a comprehensive risk assessment is the first step towards developing a proactive cyber strategy. This involves identifying what the attack surface is of your entire IT environment, identifying critical assets, assessing potential threats, and evaluating known vulnerabilities.

2. Implementing Multi-Layered Defense
   

A multi-layered defense strategy, often referred to as defense in depth, is essential to protect against sophisticated cyber threats. This concept includes:

• Perimeter Defense: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to protect against external threats.
• Internal Security: Network segmentation, access controls, and encryption to safeguard sensitive data within the organization.
• Endpoint Protection: Anti-malware solutions, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and regular patching to secure devices.
• Behavioral Monitoring: Continuous monitoring and anomaly detection to identify and respond to suspicious activities.

3. Advanced Threat Detection and Response
   

Investing in advanced threat detection and response capabilities is crucial to mitigate the impact of cyberattacks. SOCs equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can enhance the ability to detect and respond to threats in real-time. AI-driven tools can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate a cyberattack.

4. Supply Chain Security
   

Supply chain attacks, where cybercriminals target third-party vendors to infiltrate an organization, are on the rise. IT security leaders should implement stringent supply chain security measures, including:

• Vendor Risk Assessments: Evaluating the security posture of third-party vendors and requiring them to adhere to the organization’s security standards.
• Continuous Monitoring: Regularly monitoring the supply chain for vulnerabilities and suspicious activities.
• Secure Procurement Practices: Ensuring that all hardware and software procured meet stringent security requirements.

5. Employee Training and Awareness
   

An organization’s cyber posture is only as strong as its weakest link. And to no surprise, human error remains one of the weakest links in an enterprise’s overall cybersecurity posture. Regular training and awareness programs can help employees recognize and respond to potential cyber threats. Topics should include phishing awareness, safe internet practices, and the importance of strong, unique passwords.

6. Incident Response Planning
   

An effective incident response plan is critical to minimize the damage caused by cyberattacks. This plan should outline the steps to be taken in the event of a security breach, including communication protocols, roles and responsibilities, and procedures for containment, eradication, and recovery.

7. Regular Security Audits and Assessments
   

Regular security audits and assessments help identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. These assessments should include penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and compliance checks to ensure that the organization’s security measures are up to date and effective.

Building a Culture of Security

Creating a culture of security involves more than just implementing technical controls. It requires buy-in from the entire organization, from top management to frontline employees. This can be achieved through:

• Executive Support: Gaining commitment from top executives to prioritize cybersecurity and allocate necessary resources.
• Clear Policies and Procedures: Establishing clear and enforceable cybersecurity policies and procedures.
• Continuous Education: Providing ongoing education and training to keep employees informed about the latest threats and best practices.
• Encouraging Reporting: Encouraging employees to report suspicious activities and potential security incidents without fear of repercussions.

Staying Ahead of Emerging Threats

The cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving, with new threats emerging regularly. IT security leaders must stay ahead of these threats by:

• Threat Intelligence: Leveraging threat intelligence to stay informed about the latest attack vectors and tactics used by cybercriminals.
• Research and Development: Investing in research and development to explore new security technologies and methodologies.
• Industry Collaboration: Participating in industry groups and forums to share knowledge and best practices.

Conclusion

IT security leaders must recognize the importance of holistic asset management and Zero Trust principles as foundational elements of their cyber strategy. If there was anything to take away from WEI’s powerful Cyber Warfare & Beyond event, it’s that IT leaders must realize that without a clear understanding of their systems, endpoints, users, and applications, establishing an effective security program is impossible.

Zero Trust has been a core principle at WEI for 35 years, demonstrating its efficacy in creating secure networks. Additionally, SOC modernization is highlighted as a vital area for reducing detection and resolution times, with WEI’s expertise ensuring that security operations are agile and responsive. By adopting a proactive approach to cloud security through practices like “shift left and shield right,” IT security leaders can better protect their organizations.

“We are at a hinge moment in history,” said Ambassador Yovanovitch. “There are a lot of threats out there. There are a lot of challenges, and we need to be on top of it. We need to figure out how to go forward so that our interests and our values are taken into account. There’s no roadmap for how to do this whether it is on the cyber front or the diplomatic front or the military front. But the other part of this is there are a lot of opportunities as well, so it really matters that we get this right. And I think we can.”

Next Steps: Following a cyber incident, cybersecurity teams often resort to their data sources to identify how the incident transpired. While analyzing these data sources, a critical question must be asked what prevented cyber personnel from stopping the cyberattack in real time? 

In this data-driven era, cybersecurity practices have increasingly focused on the prevention phase, made possible by leveraging the data already present in a cybersecurity environment. Prevention is your first line of defense, it is time to leverage its power and potential.

to learn more about this cloud-based, integrated SOC platform that includes best-in-class functions including EDR, XDR, SOAR, ASM, UEBA, TIP, and SIEM.

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This is the final installment of a two-part series dissecting the Left of Bang strategy and mindset and how it applies to modern cybersecurity practices. Click here to read part one. Left of bang is a proactive cybersecurity approach that strengthens incident detection and response by identifying and addressing threats before they impact the organization.

The risk of a cyberattack is a growing concern for organizations, and with an event occurring every 39 seconds, chief information security officers (CISOs) are taking it seriously. Left-of-bang technologies help organizations proactively identify cyber threats to prevent attacks and better manage risk. With the organization’s operational integrity, financial stability and brand at stake, cyber leaders are prioritizing cybersecurity, making it an essential part of their business strategies, rather than a nice-to-have, add-on service.

However, moving cybersecurity left of bang can be difficult for organizations that lack the on-staff expertise to recognize cybersecurity vulnerabilities. A knowledgeable value-added reseller like WEI can help organizations move cybersecurity left of bang and integrate the technologies that address their cybersecurity weaknesses and industry- and business-specific needs.

The Value of Left of Bang Technologies

These solutions are designed to help minimize risk and exposure to prevent attacks before they impact the organization. The analytics and automation built into these tools can help organizations speed threat detection and response, better manage their internal resources and address the constantly changing threat landscape.

Improving Mitigation Speed

Armed with powerful analytics, left-of-bang technologies constantly scan the IT environment for threats, using automated responses to quickly remediate issues. These advanced capabilities help organizations lower the mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) to an attack. Organizations use these metrics to measure their cybersecurity progress.

Easing the IT Skills Shortage

Analytics and automation also minimize the strain of the IT skills shortage. Many organizations are bringing their outsourced managed detection and response (MDR) initiatives back in house, putting greater expectations on their internal teams. By automating detection and response, such technologies allow organizations to better utilize their IT resources.

Keeping Pace with Evolving Threats

Bad actors continuously evolve their attack tactics, and organizations need to keep up. Solutions focused on left-of-bang combine analytics and the latest threat intelligence to detect new threats and network anomalies that may indicate an attack. User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) technology help organizations recognize behavioral anomalies, such as individuals accessing systems or data outside their normal scope of work or downloading data to an external device, to address a potential issue early.

A Technologies that Assess the IT Environment

An effective cyber strategy begins with situational awareness. This is achieved through asset management, vulnerability management, and penetration testing or red teaming.

Asset Management. Asset management technologies provide visibility into an organization’s IT environment, including all endpoint devices, users, software and cloud services. By inventorying all cyber-enabled assets, organizations have a clear picture of what needs to be monitored and protected. The environment is continually reviewed as new assets are introduced and existing assets are changed and decommissioned.

Vulnerability Management. Vulnerability management technology helps organizations identify, assess and address security weaknesses and prioritize remediation efforts to better secure IT assets.

Penetration Testing and Red Teaming. Penetration testing and red teaming both stage an ethical attack on an IT environment to identify gaps that provide access to bad actors; however, their approaches are different. Red teaming more closely simulates a real-world attack. The exercise is executed over several weeks without the organization’s knowledge. During this time, the red team looks for weaknesses, attempting to penetrate as far into the network as possible. With penetration testing, the organization is aware that an attack with a pre-determined scope will occur during an agreed-upon timeframe.

Technologies that Prevent an Attack

The goal here is to stop an attack from occurring. Two of the most common prevention technologies are next-generation firewalls (NFGW) and endpoint security.

NGFW. Traditional firewalls block potential threats by monitoring and filtering network traffic according to predefined parameters. NGFWs introduce additional capabilities to improve decision-making on traffic flow and defend against modern cyber threats.

Endpoint Security. Every endpoint device provides a potential access point for an attack. To block potential threats, endpoint security technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess incoming data against an ever-expanding database of threats.

Proper Deployment of Cyber Solutions. Simply installing left-of-bang technology is not enough. Organizations need to ensure the technology utilizes the right settings to fortify their environments. This may include having proper policies configured and set to block, or up to date versions of products that introduce the latest prevention capabilities.

Integrating Right-of-bang Solutions for a Comprehensive Strategy

While left of bang is ideal to prevent attacks, every organization should have a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes right-of-bang technologies as well. These technologies support event detection and response as well as recovery efforts to restore the IT environment and any lost data. By addressing threats across all five cyber domains, assessment, prevention, detection, response and recovery, organizations align their strategies with the (NIST) cybersecurity framework for a powerful cyber defense solution.

Building a dynamic cybersecurity strategy that prioritizes left of bang while integrating right of bang can be challenging, especially for organizations without the necessary resources. WEI’s experienced cybersecurity engineers can help organizations shift their cybersecurity strategy left of bang and deliver additional value including:

Demonstrating ROI

While CISOs understand the value of left-of-bang solutions, business leaders may not recognize the benefits until it is too late. WEI guides CISOs to build the business case for a left-of-bang strategy to help achieve executive buy-in.

Offering Experience in the Latest Cybersecurity Solutions

The cyber landscape is complex and continually evolving, making it difficult for organizations to keep up. Every year, WEI helps organizations establish and continually evolve a cybersecurity plan that:

• Identifies cybersecurity weaknesses.
• Moves cybersecurity left of bang for better visibility of the threat landscape.
• Manages the ever-changing and increasingly sophisticated cyberattack landscape.
• Integrates tools to simplify and speed cyber threat management.

Ensuring Cybersecurity Products Work Together Seamlessly

An effective cybersecurity strategy integrates multiple products to address threats across the full attack continuum. Ensuring these products work together effectively can be complex, especially when organizations add new solutions over time. WEI can help ensure cybersecurity technologies are properly deployed and follow best practices to effectively protect the IT environment and business operations.

Meeting Specific Cybersecurity Requirements

Every company’s cybersecurity philosophy, risk tolerance, budget and journey are different. WEI guides companies to recognize and address their business- and industry-specific risks by assessing the criticality of confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA). For example, financial services and healthcare organizations place a heightened focus on data confidentiality and integrity because they handle highly sensitive data and have strict compliance requirements around data security. Availability is also critical to these organizations as downtime can negatively impact earnings and patient care. Other industries are better suited to tolerate data loss, making confidentiality and integrity less critical.

Embracing Left of Bang for a More Secure Future

A left-of-bang approach is a powerful investment in a company’s cyber posture and operational integrity. WEI can help your organization adopt this proactive approach to head off an attack before it impacts the business. Ready to improve your cyber defenses? WEI is here to help. Contact us here.

The post Focus On Cyberattack Prevention With Left-of-bang Cybersecurity Tools appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

To stay updated in the evolving IT environment, organizations are consistently navigating multi-cloud transitions and embracing hybrid work models. The increasing dispersion of users and applications across platforms heightens the difficulty of ensuring a functioning, resilient, and consistent user experience.

For this reason, IT teams must rethink their networking strategy as the conventional application model shifts from data-center-centric to internet-enabled cloud-centric. In this article, we’ll tackle the challenges brought on by current trends and discuss how IT teams can navigate them.

Solving Hybrid Workspace Challenges

Hybrid work models pose significant challenges for IT teams striving to ensure a secure and smooth user experience. According to a recent survey, find it harder to secure remote workers, and 51% face difficulties connecting off-site workers to company resources. As users and applications move off-premises, the risk of intentional attacks or data exposure increases.

Cloud-based security solutions offer a centralized control point; however, effective security requires staying up to date with the latest guidelines, best practices, and solutions. Adopting a secure access service edge (SASE) strategy is the answer most IT professionals are turning to.

Built on zero-trust principles, SASE provides a reliable and seamless connection to applications in any environment. Benefits include:

• Unifying networking and security functions into a cloud-native solution.
• Decentralizing security policies and enforcement to accommodate the distributed nature of end users and applications.
• Eliminating the need to consistently route data back to a centralized data center.

These benefits solidify SASE’s position as a top priority for organizations seeking integrated, cloud-based SD-WAN management.

Investing In SASE

In the era of remote work and hybrid cloud usage, a SASE strategy is essential for secure user and app connectivity across any network. Unlike traditional security approaches, it combines networking and security into a cloud-native solution. By deploying security policies closer to users and applications, it embraces a zero-trust model and eliminates the need for constant data backhauling to a central center.

This lightens network loads and improves the overall user experience, ensuring reliable access from edge to edge. As a dynamic architecture, SASE streamlines IT functions to provide secure connection to applications from any location or device.

Navigating Your SASE Journey

Regardless of deployment and consumption methods, a robust SASE strategy is vital for aligning with long-term organizational objectives and operational needs. The goal is to seamlessly blend essential elements from SD-WAN and cloud security. Here are five reasons we’ve identified to invest in and smoothly navigate your SASE journey:

1. Elevates Your WAN With Cloud-Scale Architecture: This is achieved through the delivery of secure connections, facilitated by integrated multi-cloud access, simplified management processes, and the provision of actionable insights.
2. Streamlines Cloud Security: Begin your security strategy at the DNS layer where you can establish a strong foundation. Alternatively, enhance your existing setup by incorporating additional functionality through an open security platform and seamless integrations. By consolidating security processes and multiple functions into a user-friendly, cloud-native service, you create a holistic solution with built-in security rather than merely tacking it on.
3. Simplifies Secure Network Access With Zero Trust: For a comprehensive Zero Trust approach, it is essential to implement identity controls consistently across both branch and remote workers. This involves enabling policy-based controls for every access attempt, regardless of the hosting location.
4. Platform Simplicity: As SASE should be seen as an architectural framework, consider choosing a single vendor to provide both networking and security components. Opting for a platform approach simplifies the architecture and improves performance and cost-effectiveness. We advise selecting a partner such as WEI with extensive expertise to assist your team in addressing challenges across various environments.
5. Customizable SASE Architecture: Embracing your SASE transition means recognizing each organization’s cloud journey. At this point, it is significant to choose a provider that meets your current requirements while anticipating and accommodating your evolving needs both in the present and the future.

As an alternative to traditional security stacks, SASE improves the user experience by offering secure access across the entire network, including the data center, remote offices, roaming users, and beyond.

Final Thoughts

Many companies are embracing SASE, with . How they invest in the tool depends on their current setup, what they’re focusing on operationally, and their overall business objectives.

For a smoother transition, IT teams should take a strategic planning approach, gradually shifting towards a full SASE architecture. Our reliable partner, , has a versatile SASE solution that provides the agility needed for consistent user experiences. With different deployment and consumption options, you can pick what works best for you and let our team of experts assist you in your SASE journey.

Next Steps: You can learn more about how Cisco can transform your network into an intention-based unified fabric that not only furthers the scalability, agility, and performance of your network, but your business objectives as well. Take a closer look at this stunning tool in our white paper, .

The post Strengthen Security And Networking: Five Reasons To Invest In SASE For Hybrid Work appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

There used to be a single test to determine the effectiveness of your data backup strategy. It centered around successfully restoring your data from a backup, and you would rest easy knowing that you would, in theory, recover from a data loss event. It was really that simple.

The simplicity of these dated digital environments has given way to today’s complex and time-sensitive landscape. With digital transformation accelerating, data now spans from data centers to the computing edge, supporting mission-critical applications built on intricate layers. Business processes today crucially rely on IT, making any disruption not just inconvenient, but costly. As the highlights, business interruption costs form the bulk of losses in ransomware attacks.

The New Reality Of Ransomware Costs And A Heightened Focus On Prevention

Reflecting this reality, the manufacturing sector often shows a greater willingness to pay ransoms compared to other industries, primarily due to the high costs associated with downtime. Ransomware ganges capitalize on this and frequently demand exorbitant ransoms, sometimes exceeding $1 million from these targets. These perpetrators truly understand the critical impact of operational disruptions in this sector.

Today’s businesses can’t afford the downtime associated with recovery from such attacks as the cost of being offline can be astronomical. The simple need for uninterrupted operation is a vital truth in today’s digital era. Implementing a secure backup strategy is still important. In fact, our team has identified common mistakes that cybersecurity professionals continue to make with their backup systems. But IT security leaders must shift away from the reactive mindset of detect and respond, and turn their focus to full-on prevention.

Ransomware Attacks Are Performed In Stages

Infiltrating your network is only the first step of a multi-pronged ransomware attack. Attackers often spend extensive periods, ranging from weeks to months to years, covertly studying targeted systems. This period of surveillance is aimed at not only locating your data but also understanding its protective measures. As a security leader, this must be unnerving knowing there are unidentified eyeballs surveying your practice. During this hidden phase, attackers meticulously plan their strategy, which may involve compromising backups by deletion, corruption, or alteration, followed by targeting the virtual infrastructure to disable servers. Once these boxes are checked, the process of encrypting the data stores begins.

This multi-stage strategy is referred to as the cyber kill chain, a model used to describe the stages of a cyberattack, from initial reconnaissance to the final execution of the ransomware. This more calculated approach to attacks signifies the evolving sophistication of ransomware operations. Although recent ransomware reports suggest a slowdown in ransomware proliferation in 2022, this trend is misleading. The decrease partly stems from attackers becoming more selective, focusing on targets capable of yielding substantial ransoms. The shift from high-volume to more calculated, strategic ransomware campaigns mark a significant change in the tactics of modern cybercriminals.

Companies Turning To AI For Combatting Ransomware

Security leaders must consider the escalating complexity of threats as the primary challenge in thwarting ransomware attacks. Thankfully, WEI has long recognized the adoption of advanced technologies, particularly those powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL) as a top priority for evolving enterprise security strategies. The unique ability of AI to detect ransomware at each stage of the cyber kill chain is essential for protecting the expansive and complex networks of modern enterprises. WEI operates in lockstep with industry leaders to ensure customers are receiving an advanced and custom-tailored security product that is infused with AI capabilities to bolster ransomware defenses. Four key benefits to this next-gen approach include:

• Efficiently handling vast amounts of event data produced by contemporary, digital-first organizations.
• Detecting anomalous and high-risk activities that often resemble legitimate operations.
• Providing complete coverage across all cyber kill chain stages to assemble a comprehensive overview.
• Seamlessly integrating with traditional security measures in a unified cybersecurity platform, enhancing simplicity and operational speed.

The sooner cyber analysts can identify a ransomware attack, the sooner eradication measures are deployed. AI can correlate data from various sources to provide a holistic view of the security landscape, which is vital to detect multi-vector ransomware attacks. Once detected, AI-driven tools automate responses to detected threats, significantly reducing the time between detection and response. In the case of ransomware, this rapid response is crucial to prevent the spread of the attack and limit damage.

Talk To WEI About Your Ransomware Prevention Strategy

A longtime partner of the industry’s top cybersecurity leaders, the seasoned experts at WEI know firsthand that AI-driven security products stand as a formidable line of defense in the ongoing battle against ransomware. By harnessing the power of advanced AI and ML technologies, automation offers unparalleled threat detection, predictive analytics, and rapid response capabilities. WEI can effectively guide organizations with the proven tools needed to not only identify and mitigate ransomware threats swiftly, but to also adapt and stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.

Further fortify their defenses, minimize vulnerabilities, and ensure a more secure and resilient digital environment against the ever-present threat of ransomware. Contact WEI today to learn how and where to start strengthening your ransomware prevention strategy.

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This is the first installment of a two-part series dissecting the Left of Bang strategy and mindset and how it applies to modern cybersecurity practices. Click here to read part two. 

Cybersecurity threats, including ransomware, malware and phishing, continue to grow and evolve, increasing risk for businesses of all sizes and across all industries. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risks Report, cybercrimes rank among the ahead of the natural resources and debt crises, prolonged economic downturn and the use of weapons of mass destruction. With of respondents in the 2023 Global Cybersecurity Outlook study reporting that a “far-reaching, catastrophic cyber event is at least somewhat likely in the next two years,” organizations need to do more to keep pace with the diverse, ever-changing threat landscape to better manage cyber risk.

Left of bang is a compelling strategy and mindset to help enterprises go on the offensive and detect threats earlier to improve their cyber resilience. Let’s explore.

What is Left of Bang?

In a cyber context, “left of bang” is a proactive cybersecurity approach that can bolster incident detection and response by helping IT teams identify and address threats before they wreak havoc on the organization.

A Powerful Strategy with a Military Background

Left of bang has a military history, originating in 2006 during the Iraq War to better protect Marine convoys from buried improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The military viewed an incident, the bang of a detonated IED, as an event in the center of a timeline. Right of bang referred to the time and events that occurred after the explosion, while left of bang included everything prior to the incident. By training Marines to be more aware of their surroundings, recognizing subtle and explicit environmental changes, and unexpected human behaviors and other anomalies, the left-of-bang approach significantly enhanced Marine’s situational awareness, enabling them to detect threats before they occurred to improve convoy safety.

The same strategy and mindset can be applied in the cyber space to help IT teams identify cyber threats before they impact the organization.

The Value of Left-of-bang Cybersecurity

Left of bang trains security teams to recognize and address inconsistencies within the IT environment earlier on the threat continuum to strengthen their cybersecurity postures. Utilizing the right technologies, processes and practices, IT teams increase visibility into their IT environments to boost threat recognition, speed responses, and reduce the number and intensity of attacks. This is a critical differentiator that allows enterprises to prevent malicious activity, rather than deal with the fall out of a successful attack.

Proactively Detect Threats

With improved views of the IT environment and all its endpoints, IT teams achieve a better understanding of normal network behavior, allowing them to compare it against current network activity and any known exploits or indicators of threat-actor activity. This supports enterprises’ abilities to better manage their cybersecurity. Left of bang helps enterprises:

• Understand normal network behavior
• Proactively detect anomalies and potential threats
• Respond to threats quickly
• Reduce the number and intensity of attacks
• Establish a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy

Speed Recognition and Response

The ability to recognize early-warning signs of a potential attack or breach allows IT teams to react to malicious activity more rapidly to mitigate risk, limit exposure and improve outcomes. The intensified training also enables IT personnel to be more agile and purposeful in their decision making and responses to better protect the enterprise.

Enable a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy

While a left of bang approach has proven to strengthen incident detection and response capabilities, combining left-of-bang and right-of-bang technologies offers a more powerful solution. Information identified from the right of bang can feed the left of bang with critical data on new attack scenarios, including how an attack occurs, specific threat indicators and behaviors, and other lessons learned from an attack. This critical feedback can expand enterprises’ situational awareness, helping them stay abreast of constantly changing attack scenarios.

At a minimum, IT security leaders should be looking to prevent and interfere with any indicator leading up to an attack. Preventing even just one step in the attack can disrupt an entire incident’s potential. The earlier your team can detect, the earlier it can be prevented, which is always the best strategy.

WEI Roundtable Discussion: Cyber Warfare & Beyond

Partner with WEI for a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Solution

Beginning the journey toward a more proactive cybersecurity strategy can be overwhelming. WEI’s experienced security engineers can help enterprises navigate these complex waters, devising cybersecurity solutions that integrate left-of-bang and right-of-bang technologies.

To ensure the right fit, WEI works with enterprises to assess their current network states, identify hidden vulnerabilities, and understand their unique needs and risk tolerances. With experience across a broad range of cybersecurity solutions, WEI can develop a multi-layered strategy that integrates automation and intelligence tools to optimize visibility across all touch points of the IT environment to help proactively detect, alert and remediate threats without impeding authorized workflows. Serving as an extension of the organization, WEI can deliver a comprehensive incident detection and response strategy that helps future-proof organizations against the increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape.

Up Next: Stay tuned for our follow-up blog on the specific left-of-bang and right-of-bang technologies that can fortify your overall cybersecurity posture. In the meantime, contact WEI today for any questions about our next-gen cybersecurity solutions.

Free Tech Brief: Palo Alto Networks’ commitment to developing a groundbreaking solution for modern SOCs has culminated in the creation of a new security platform, Cortex XSIAM. This next-gen platform is designed to propel SOCs beyond the capabilities of traditional SIEM systems, setting a new standard in the industry.

to learn more about this cloud-based, integrated SOC platform that includes best-in-class functions including EDR, XDR, SOAR, ASM, UEBA, TIP, and SIEM.

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As the world moves towards a digital future, network security is more important than ever. In an ideal network infrastructure setting, a single firewall would be enough to protect business assets from external threats. However, as technology progresses and attackers become more advanced, these security measures need to evolve in depth and flexibility.

Imagine a medieval kingdom facing a dragon that could fly over walls and burrow deep underground. To fight it off, the king devises a new strategy: Instead of relying solely on their stationary walls, he extended their defense measures throughout the kingdom. They fortified villages, erected watchtowers, and armed every citizen. The entire realm became an extension of the fortress, where each element worked in harmony to repel threats from every direction. Today’s network security strategies must work in unison as well. As a side note, a fire-breathing dragon would make for a cool office attraction. Maybe we’ll write an article about that someday.

Evolving Network Security Measures

In mirroring the narrative above, the evolution of network security means traditional firewalls fall short in the digital arms race, and IT teams are coming up with strategies to fortify their defenses. Moreover, modern applications span cloud and on-premises platforms which require secure access from anywhere. The single perimeter concept from way back has now shifted to micro-perimeters that need tailored security. Now, applications serve as perimeters, and firewalls encompass physical, virtual, and cloud-native forms.

Managing this new framework poses challenges. While the goal is to deploy strong network security, ensuring steady and consistent resiliency and policy enforcement across this setup is a hurdle businesses commonly face.

Your Guide To Modern Firewall Solutions

To navigate this complex terrain, our team has identified five essential tips for choosing a firewall solution that will help transform your entire network into an extension of your security architecture:

1. Think Beyond The Edge: Firewalls once stood at network edges, but networks have changed. Now, policies are enforced universally using smart control points. This strategy deploys security controls widely, gathering context for enhanced threat visibility and meeting security needs.
2. Embrace Superior Threat Protection: Choose a firewall with excellent visibility and advanced threat defense. Detect and halt threats swiftly across users, networks, and infrastructure. Use continuous analysis and endpoint security integration to preempt potential risks.
3. Transition To The Cloud: Move away from traditional firewalls and invest in cloud-based management for hassle-free, robust security. Streamline control, visibility, and policy enforcement across diverse environments, safeguarding both traditional and cloud networks, as well as endpoints and applications.
4. Utilize An Open Security Ecosystem: Integrate your firewall with , an open security platform. Streamline policies and threat correlation across networks, endpoints, and workloads for more effective security management.
5. Choose a Reliable Partner: This tip is easier said than done, as our team frequently comes in to clean up a mess a client unknowingly got itself into. Identifying a solutions vendor that goes beyond a product and collaborates to secure your network is an obvious step, but knowing which technology partner to work with in guiding this process is another. Prioritize ongoing support, updates, and expertise. Lean on and WEI’s technical expertise and dedication to enhance your network security.

Meet The Cisco Secure Firewall Portfolio

A is more than hardware or software; it’s a strategic move toward a more resilient and adaptable security architecture. Here are the service’s key features that make it a superior choice for safeguarding your network:

1. Comprehensive Protection: Choose a firewall that offers holistic security, safeguarding your entire network, not just its perimeter. excels here, defending against a spectrum of threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
2. Scalability: As your business grows, your network security needs will too. The firewall you choose should be able to scale with your business, providing consistent protection even as your network expands.
3. Visibility And Control: The best firewalls provide thorough network visibility, enabling traffic monitoring, anomaly detection, and swift threat response. Look for a solution that provides granular control over your network’s security.
4. Ease Of Use: Avoid security risks tied to complex, challenging firewalls. Opt for an easily manageable solution like with its user-friendly interface and array of automation tools.
5. Integration Capabilities: Ensure your firewall integrates smoothly with other security solutions. This creates a unified defense architecture against sophisticated, evolving threats.

Final Thoughts

While it would be a great Netflix feature,, your organization no longer needs to manually build fortresses to defend against scaly, fire-breathing threats. provides robust hybrid network security that seamlessly integrates with tools like and . This ensures comprehensive data, application, and user protection for your business.

Offering deep visibility, modern control capabilities, and seamless integration, Cisco is the premium network security partner to fortify your digital environment. Contact one of our many WEI experts today to learn how we can help you secure your network and ensure business continuity.

Next Steps: You can learn more about how Cisco can transform your network into an intention-based unified fabric that not only furthers the scalability, agility, and performance of your network, but your business objectives as well. Take a closer look at this stunning tool in our white paper, .

The post Why Cisco Secure Firewall Is Your Best Choice For Network Security appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

First launched in October 2010, started as a photo and video sharing app. Creators of the app were among the first to realize the potential of visual content to connect with followers. Today, Instagram focuses on a high-end visual experience where hundreds of millions daily users engage with photo and video content.

Now, 13 years after entering the social media ring, Instagram is joined alongside Facebook and WhatsApp under the Meta Platforms, Inc. umbrella. Instagram has evolved over recent years to keep up with the likes of TikTok, a short form video hosting service. Generally, Instagram is better suited for more polished content while TikTok revels in the space of raw, authentic video content.

Five Steps To Keep Your Instagram Account Secure

Our experts have written plenty about the importance of cybersecurity and keeping up with the latest software rollouts. But this practice also applies to our personal lives outside of the enterprise, too. The smartphone is perhaps the single most important tool we use every single day. Whether it be used for answering work email, paying bills, or casually checking the weather, it is easy to take this technology for granted. But where comfort lies, you will also find vulnerability.

is one of the most used social media platforms. And with its popularity, many users access the app without worrying about the lack of multi-factor authentication or the worst-kept secret of machine-learned algorithms that process user behavior. So, what can be done to ensure a safe user experience? We have a few ideas worth sharing:

Step 1: Turn on two-factor authentication to provide extra security.

Step 2: Use a unique password that differs from your other social media accounts passwords. In addition, avoid applying characters from your account’s username to your account’s password.

Step 3: Change your password regularly. Instagram does have automated security checks in place, so if you receive a notification advising you to change your password, it is best to do so. Changing your password frequently will lessen the chances of your Instagram account getting hacked.

Step 4: Only connect your account to an email that is secure. It is important that the email you connect your account to is only accessed by you and not other users.

Step 5: Always log out of your account when using a device that is not private to just you. NEVER check the box saying Remember Me on a device that is not entirely yours (such as a public device). Selecting: Remember Me will allow that device and any future people who use that device to have access your account.

Join WEI On Instagram!

WEI recently launched its first Instagram page, and there is a plenty of reason for our growing audience to be excited! Our account will post a variety of content including workplace life, events, technology factoids, and so much more. While we also manage content for Twitter, and Instagram allows our creative team to flex their muscle and engage with social media users in different ways. Be sure to follow us!

Next Steps: In celebration of WEI joining Instagram, we are coordinating an Instagram giveaway! Be sure to and enter our giveaway. How to enter:

• Step 1: Follow on Instagram
• Step 2: Like our a promotion post
• Step 3: Tag 2 friends in the comments of the promotional post

The giveaway challenge takes place between March 1 – 21 and a winner will be selected on March 22, 2023. 

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Network security is an essential component of any organization’s digital transformation journey. With the increasing complexity of cyber threats, network firewalls are a critical tool for protecting distributed infrastructure from malicious attacks. Security solution services offer organizations the ability to extend and strengthen their overall security efforts from edge to core, allowing them to securely scale their digital business operations. By deploying advanced technologies such as next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) and intrusion prevention systems (IPSs), organizations can protect themselves against a wide range of internal and external threats while maintaining high levels of performance. Read on to learn about and why they are considered the best in the business when it comes to providing organizations protection against web-based network threats.

Fortinet Network Security Solutions

Fortinet is a leader in the evolution of network security and has been for over two decades. Their flagship product, FortiGate NGFW, leads the industry with cumulative units shipped around the world, representing one-third of all firewalls deployed globally.

Fortinet’s FortiGate NGFWs have also recently earned the “Highest in Ability to Execute” ranking from Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for an impressive . This is further proof that their solutions are reliable and robust when it comes to network security against malicious threats.

• Powerful security and networking convergence. Secure networking services like SD-WAN, ZTNA, and SSL decryption are included. Customers no longer need to worry about subscribing to additional licensing.
• Best price-per-performance. Fortinet’s ASIC architecture delivers the highest ROI plus hyperscale support and ultra-low latency.
• AI/ML-powered threat protection. Multiple AI/ML-powered security services are designed to stop advanced threats. IT leaders will rest assured that business disruptions are prevented if such an event occurs.

Key Functions For Effective NGFW Solutions

Network security is becoming increasingly complex and difficult to manage, as businesses adopt various solutions such as secure access service edge (SASE), solid-state wide-area network (SD-WAN), and zero touch network access (ZTNA). To effectively keep up with the ever-expanding networks of today’s world, along with adapting to multi-cloud environments and 5G, there needs to be an integrated approach that provides unified protection across all areas of the network. Luckily, a next-generation firewall approach provides the ideal solution.

It’s important to integrate three key functions – Protect, Consolidate, and Scale – to ensure secure contextually coordinated protection across an organization’s network environment whether in data centers or multi-cloud networks.

1. Protect

   
   

Network security is an essential requirement for NGFW solutions, which need to be aware of the entire application lifecycle. In addition to web filtering and advanced image recognition capabilities, the NGFW should also protect from known threats with intrusion prevention system (IPS), anti-malware, and threat intelligence feeds. To ensure complete coverage against current and emerging risks, it must integrate seamlessly with other cybersecurity measures such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), web application firewalls (WAFs), and additional defense methods.

2. Consolidate

   
   

NGFWs provide the necessary visibility to protect against sophisticated attacks hidden inside secure HTTPS channels. NGFWs also unify networking and security functions into one solution delivered on-premises or through cloud SASE services. To ensure proper access control, these firewalls need natively integrated proxy capabilities combined with multi-factor authentication for users/devices requesting network access. Finally, a consistent policy orchestration across all environments must be enforced using single-pane-of-glass management so that security follows transactions end to end.

3. Scale

Today’s data centers require ever-increasing speeds to process massive amounts of data quickly, making firewalls a critical part in protecting networks from high-speed attacks. However, traditional firewalls are unable to keep up with the demands and lack hyper performance capabilities due to their reliance on off-the-shelf processors when everything runs on custom chips. Security is an increasingly difficult challenge in the digital age, with IT and security budgets stretched to their limits. To combat this issue, firewall functionality must be delivered without sacrificing performance or straining resources.

FortiGate Firewall Capabilities

Fortinet provides a broad security portfolio with their FortiGate NGFWs product line, available for a variety of deployment use cases. This includes virtual appliances and cloud-based options such as AWS, Azure, GCP, and more. Their network security solution also includes:

• FortiGuard Antivirus – This is available with all FortiGate NGFWs as an enterprise antivirus solution that utilizes proactive technologies in combination with hourly updates for maximum protection against the latest cyberattacks.
• FortiGuard IPS – Combining cutting-edge firewall capabilities with FortiGuard IPS service’s ability to detect zero-day attacks and ransomware allows companies to quickly identify and block any intrusions before damage or data loss occurs.
• FortiGuard Application Control – Available through Fortinet firewalls, this solution provides businesses with an effective way to manage application usage and meet compliance standards while improving network security. With this service’s real-time visibility into applications running on the network as well as usage trends over time, organizations rely on powerful FortiGate NGFWs for reliable protection against cyber threats.
• FortiGuard Web Filtering – This remarkable tool allows companies to block high-risk web content, ensuring no malicious downloads penetrate company devices.

Conclusion

Network security has become increasingly important for businesses. Fortinet is well-suited for this challenge, offering a highly scalable hardware solution with integrated SD-WAN and its advanced Fortinet’s FortiGate firewall technology. This combination of features makes the system easy to use while providing powerful network protection from potential threats.

If you’re ready to deploy Fortinet for your network security solutions, contact WEI today. Our experts will help you select from a range of services, such as FortiGate NGFWs, that protect your enterprise while providing maximum agility.

Next Steps: Curious about what your business can do right now to make the most of your hybrid workforce? Download our to learn more about how you can improve the efficiency of your team.

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What Is Network Segmentation?

Network segmentation is an architectural method of splitting a network into multiple segments or subnets. This allows each segment to act as its own small network. In other words, this segmentation allows network administrators such as yourself to have full control over the traffic flow between subnets that is based on your granular policies. Simply put, this technique divides a computer network into smaller physical components. The high-level purpose of splitting a network is to improve network performance and security.

Network segmentation is one of the best approaches to take against data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other types of cybersecurity threats. In a segmented network, groups of servers only have the connectivity required for business use, which limits the ability of ransomware to pivot from system to system.

Benefits Of Network Segmentation

Businesses may hesitate when it comes to setting up network segmentation because subdividing a network into functional domains may seem intimidating. However, the benefits outweigh the challenges. The of network segmentation include:

1. Improved Operational Performance

There are fewer hosts per subnetwork on a segmented network, which helps to reduce congestion. provides an excellent example by sharing that, “a hospital’s medical devices can be segmented from its visitor network so that medical devices are unaffected by web browsing.” This reduced congestion minimizes local traffic and ultimately leads to improved operational performance. And ultimately allows for improved patient-to-provider interaction as so much has already been asked of healthcare facilities across the nation.

2. Limits Cyberattack Damage

Network segmentation helps reduce the time and effort spent recovering from a cyberattack. When a segmented network is breached, the activity of the hacker is restricted to a single subnetwork. Not only does this make the attack harder to spread, but it also gives security teams time to upgrade the security controls in the other segments, making it harder for the attacker to gain access to the whole system.

3. Protects Vulnerable Devices

Not all devices in a network are built with enhanced security defenses. Network segmentation can help prevent cyberattacks on these unprotected devices by making them difficult to reach.

4. Reduces The Scope Of Compliance

Network segmentation is an excellent way to boost network security, but it can also help reduce compliance scope. In a non-segmented network, the whole network is in-scope for compliance, which drastically increases the costs and effort needed to secure the business network. Utilizing segmentation-only systems or subnets limits the number of in-scope systems, in turn reducing compliance requirements.

A Fresh Outlook On Network Segmentation

Increased network complexity from the rapid adoption of digital transformation across the globe makes it more difficult for security teams to protect enterprise data and systems. The usual security approaches can’t keep up with the growth of digitization and protect large amounts of data. Fortunately, provides a strategic and innovative approach to network segmentation. It helps organizations reduce risk, simplify their audit profile, and protect data.

Cisco’s segmentation service is customer-specific to help develop a model that will meet your business needs. By looking at an organization’s network architecture, this service can also help you apply separate controls over different systems and data with a secure management system. Additionally, it incorporates reusable design patterns that can be used as your business changes.

The objective of network segmentation is to simplify the application of security by using a centralized management point. When this process is integrated, it helps reduce complexity and doesn’t need much maintenance.

Conclusion

Whether you’re trying to reduce compliance scope or enhance security in your business, network segmentation is an essential way to prevent cyberattacks from spreading across your organization’s network, keeping your valuable files safe. If you’d like to discover more about building an effective segmentation strategy for your business, contact WEI to work with our network security professionals today.

Next Steps: To learn more about agile network security solutions and services for your enterprise, download our Tech Brief,

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Our review of 2021 IT trends reported that Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) was not only a common feature for enterprise IT teams, but that it will be sticking around for the near future, too. Much of this is attributed to shifting remote work architectures, which have made traditional perimeter security architectures essentially outdated. As organizations move away from a full-on remote workforce and into more of a hybrid model, ZTNA features remain just as important.

What’s The Future of ZTNA?

That’s an easy one: It is the future of enterprise security. About 60% of enterprises either have plans to or have phased out traditional VPNs and use a . Much of this transition has to do with the following VPN challenges:

• A VPN takes a perimeter-based approach to security
• VPNs have no insight into the content they deliver
• Networks are now highly distributed

To date, a little more than 15% of organizations have completed a transition to a zero-trust security model. It’s time to say goodbye to your VPN as we reintroduce our look at two different ZTNA models:

Client-Initiated Or Endpoint-Initiated ZTNA

The first zero-trust network access model is known as endpoint-initiated ZTNA or a client-initiated ZTNA model. This model is software-defined and based on the Cloud Security Alliance architecture which uses an agent on a device to create a secure tunnel to the enterprise network. This agent performs an assessment to determine the security risk of a user’s request to access an application using information such as their identity, device location, network, and the application being used. After building a risk profile, the agent connects back to the application over a proxy connection, and if the information meets the organization’s policy, access to the application is granted. The beauty of this model is that applications can be on-premises or cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

The Service-Initiated Or Application-Initiated ZTNA Model

The service-initiated model uses a reverse proxy architecture based on the BeyondCorp model and is also known as application-initiated ZTNA. The biggest difference from client-initiated ZTNA is that this model does not require an endpoint agent. Instead, to create a secure tunnel and perform a risk assessment profile, it uses a browser plug-in.

Three Questions For Zero Trust Network Access With Fortinet

Fortinet’s approach to zero trust access can be broken down into : who, what, and what happens after network access.

1. Who is accessing the network?
The first piece is who is accessing the network, which can include employees, supply chain partners, and customers. With a zero-trust model, users are only given access to the resources that are necessary for them. To achieve this, breach-resistant identification and authentication is mandated, with many enterprises going a step further and requiring multi-factor authentication at login.

2. What devices are accessing the network?
The second piece is the devices that are accessing the network. For a zero-trust access strategy to be effective, IT teams need a comprehensive solution to managing and monitoring the myriad of devices that require access to the network. This is especially true as internet-of-things devices continue to grow in usage and popularity. And let’s not forget that IoT devices are an attractive entry point for hackers.

3. What happens when devices leave the network?
The third piece is about endpoint security, or what happens when a device leaves the network. According to Fortinet, a comprehensive zero-trust access strategy should provide off-network hygiene control, vulnerability scanning, web filtering, and patching policies.

Fortinet FortiOS 7.2 Expands Security Fabric

In April 2021, FortiOS 7.0 was released and included several notable features, including ZTNA. As we jump to , there were some key enhancements regarding its ZTNA features we should highlight. For one, cybersecurity leaders can now better manage enforcement due to a unified policy configuration in a single GUI for each connection. As a bonus, there were also improvements made to the ZTNA service portal.

In addition to ZTNA, FortiOS 7.2 assures greater unification on the convergence of networking and security across NGFW, SD-WAN, LAN Edge, 5G.

ZTNA is available right out of the box for FortiGate customers. It also doesn’t require a software-as-a-service solution and because it’s built into FortiOS 7.2, which provides the foundation for Fortinet’s security portfolio, ZTNA is also built into Fortinet’s other solutions, including , , , and .

ZTNA With Fortinet

Fortinet offers comprehensive and holistic security solutions for the largest enterprise, service provider, and government organizations in the world. From NGFWs for microsegmentation to ZTNA, Fortinet ensures security without compromising performance. If you have questions about how Fortinet can help you improve enterprise security for your company, contact WEI today.

NEXT STEPS: Take a closer look at all the security solutions IT leaders consider essential for securing their business throughout the digital transformation journey. Our eBook, “An IT Leader’s Guide to Enterprise Security in a Digital World,” pulls it all together. Click below to start reading.

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As global industry evolves, digital innovation that features a hybrid, “from anywhere” business environment has become critical to modern workforces. New formats, like zero-trust access (ZTA), allow employees and external partners to utilize digital resources, no matter when or where they choose to work.

But this new approach creates complications for CISOs and other because business applications and data leave traditional corporate perimeters. Specifically, it broadens the attack surface of internal networks. Combined with evolving threats, this factor dramatically expands the risk of potential breaches.

In this article, we’ll explore how a zero-trust access approach to security featuring endpoint protection can help.

Mitigating Risk At The Edge

Conceptually, traditional security models feature “gateways” whereby permitted entry means users and devices can be trusted in perpetuity. But unpredictable and broadening access points render this traditional approach obsolete. Bad actors can steal credentials and access networks from any device, for example. This threat increases the complexity and risk of more frequent, more nuanced attacks.

ZTA is therefore critical to security as digital innovation continues. With ZTA, CISOs and other executives can ensure all users, devices, and applications are consistently authenticated, trustworthy, and managed. ZTA ensures users have only the correct frequency and depth of access as well.

What Is ZTA With Endpoint Protection?

The ZTA framework features a combination of security solutions that continuously and holistically identify, authenticate, and segment users and devices seeking network and application access. With these capabilities, security teams can:

• Establish identity through multiple authentication and certificate measures
• Enable role-based privileged access
• Ensure ongoing network control through automated orchestration and threat response
• Optimize the user experience, even with rigorous security measures

Essential Zero-Trust Access Capabilities For Modern IT Security

ZTA does more than offer superior security as enterprise attack surfaces expand. Enterprises that incorporate ZTA with endpoint protection as part of their integrated security strategy also enjoy the flexibility to support their business needs, beyond traditional security models.

Three critical capabilities ZTA features that optimize security and workflows on expanded networks include:

1. Authentication for Every Device, Every Time

Unlike traditional perimeter models, a ZTA-based security strategy assumes every user and device poses a risk. In this paradigm, ZTA authenticates every device before access is authorized. Because ZTA provides a seamless experience for users, automated security features can continuously authenticate devices every time a new or familiar device requests access, without adding friction to user workflows.

2. Role-Based Access for Every User

In this paradigm, security teams continuously monitor every user, no matter the user’s apparent risk. As part of this approach, security teams have visibility into the role-based access of every user, emphasizing a “least access policy” whereby users only access resources that are necessary for their roles.

3. Asset Protection, On and Off Network

Increased remote and mobile activity among users means that there is a greater risk they will expose their devices to bad actors. In doing so, they expose organizational resources to security threats, whether they realize a risk is present or not.

The ZTA approach improves endpoint visibility to protect against the risks associated with remote endpoint devices. Endpoint security measures share security telemetry data each time the device reconnects to the enterprise network. This provides security teams with visibility into vulnerabilities and threats, as well as into missing security patches and missing updates to role-based access, when applicable.

5 Essential Features Of Today’s Leading Zero-Trust Access Frameworks

Once CISOs and other IT executives understand the rationale behind ZTA frameworks, they must understand the ZTA market and the leading features each solution provides.

Consider the following five essential features as you review the leading solutions available today:

1. Automated Discovery Classification

Network access control discovers and identifies every device on, or seeking access to, the network. The ZTA system automatically scans those devices to ensure they are not compromised, then classifies each device by role and function.

2. Zone-of-Control Assignment

The system automatically assigns users to role-based zones of control where they can be monitored continuously, both on and off network. Network access control microsegments users in mixed environments featuring vendors, partners, contingent workers, and others in addition to employees, supporting robust capabilities even as companies expand the edge.

3. Continuous Monitoring

This feature is founded on the premise that no single user or device can be trusted, even after authentication, a device may be infected or a user’s credentials could have been compromised. ZTA frameworks continuously monitor users and devices, imposing streamlined authentication at every point of access as a result.

4. Secure Remote Access

The ZTA framework provides users with safe but flexible options for VPN connectivity, improving the user experience even as it imposes more robust security features. The framework also ensures internet-based transactions cannot backflow into each VPN connection, which would put the enterprise at risk.

5. Endpoint Access Control

The framework uses proactive visibility, defense, and control to strengthen endpoint security. Discovering, assessing, and continuously monitoring endpoint risk streamlines endpoint risk mitigation, risk exposure, and compliance. The framework supports encrypted connections across unsafe networks and continuously retrieves telemetry data to measure endpoint security statuses as well.

Consider Fortinet ZTA For A Fully Integrated Security Strategy

As an IT leader, your ultimate responsibility is not only to keep your company, resources, and users secure but also to help users innovate, improve the bottom line with new efficiencies, and generally meet the needs of the business. That’s why the experts at WEI recommend to IT and security executives who are re-thinking their approach to enterprise security as risks and business requirements evolve.

Framework includes:

1. Complete and continuous control over who is accessing applications
2. Complete and continuous control over who AND what is on the network
3. Integrated ZTA solution for Fortinet Security Fabric that works on-premises and in the cloud over LAN, WAN, and remote tunnels
4. A complete, integrated solution coming from one vendor

Featuring comprehensive visibility and control across infrastructure, users, and devices, Fortinet ZTA provides security leaders with the capabilities they need to both protect enterprise resources and enable modern workforces, no matter the location of each user or device.

Fortinet is leading the way with zero-trust for the enterprise

Fortinet offers comprehensive and holistic security solutions for the largest enterprise, service provider, and government organizations in the world. From firewalls to cloud security, Fortinet ensures security without compromising performance. Here at WEI we have expertise across all Fortinet solutions and can help you evaluate and determine the best approach to an integrated security strategy that delivers on your desired business outcomes.

Next Steps: Download our eBook highlighting the right mix of security solutions for your enterprise to help protect your business from emerging threats while keeping your users productive and happy. Click below to start reading!

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Regardless of the subject, there’s no one better to learn from than the experts. With this thought in mind, we recently held a featuring Kevin Mitnick, a famous hacker and New York Times bestselling author, James Morrison, a Distinguished Technologist and a former FBI agent, and our own Greg LaBrie, an enterprise security industry veteran and our Vice President of Technology Solutions and Services.

The webinar titled “Hack Me If You Can!” is now available for , and it shared expert insights on key cybersecurity topics including:

• Common threats and tactics used by today’s hackers
• Which new technologies can improve your cybersecurity strategy
• How to turn the tables on cyberattacks through offensive and defensive security strategies

In this article, we’ll share the top three takeaways from the webinar that you need to know to effectively combat today’s evolving cybersecurity threats.

1. Identifying Your Priorities Should Be The First Step In Your Cybersecurity Strategy

In the last year and a half, enterprises around the world have been faced with a substantial, new challenges. In terms of IT and cybersecurity, the exodus to remote working, maintaining that, and the evolution of the hybrid workspace has stretched enterprise security teams to the breaking point. Unfortunately, the bad guys know it and have no qualms about taking advantage.

According to a from INTERPOL, the rapid deployment of remote systems and networks allowed criminals to take “advantage of increased security vulnerabilities to steal data, generate profits and cause disruption.”

Even now, as some companies go back to the office and others delay in-person plans, or adopt a hybrid approach, cybercriminals are waiting for their opportunity to strike and these transitional periods are the perfect target.

In addition to the confusion and uncertainty created by the pandemic and the subsequent rise in cybercrime, companies are overwhelmed as they re-evaluate their security strategy and solutions as they begin to implement a more comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

During the cybersecurity webinar, Greg LaBrie shared how the amount of enterprise security solutions on the market and the complexity of setting up security throughout an enterprise’s digital environment is making it hard for companies to determine their security priorities. As a result, many companies end up utilizing solutions that aren’t the best fit for their needs or leave vulnerabilities by neglecting to secure certain aspects of their digital environment.

“Don’t just buy any server, but look carefully at your server. Just don’t throw any solution out there, but really look at one of these confusing acronyms like ZTNA (zero trust network access). It means you have to have endpoint protection. It means you need to have multi-factor authentication. It means you need to have network access control and identity management,” Greg shared during the webinar.

“Put those solutions in place and also have a plan B. Have a backup. Have a way that if you do get ransomware that you can recover. That you don’t need to even be concerned about paying a ransom or the threat of paying ransom.”

2. Utilize Penetration Testing To Analyze Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Once your cybersecurity strategy is in place and you’re up and running, the next step should be to test for any vulnerabilities. That’s where ethical hackers like come in.

After getting himself into some hot water utilizing his talents in not-so-legal ways, Kevin eventually began operating a cybersecurity testing company and now helps enterprises determine areas of improvement in their defense strategy.

“I think penetration testing is absolutely necessary, because how do you know what weaknesses are in your security controls? How do you know that your network services aren’t exploitable? What about your web applications?” Kevin said during the webinar.

During the course of a penetration test, teams like Kevin’s make use of strategies that today’s hackers would utilize, using their creativity and expertise to determine how a cybercriminal could gain access and then, figure out what needs to be done to remove that vulnerability.

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that give cybercriminals the keys to your digital environment.

“I can’t tell you how many times organizations we tested that have all the privileged passwords sitting there on unencrypted Excel spreadsheets on the IT drive. And that’s the first place a bad actor is going to look.”

3. You Don’t Have To Go It Alone

Just like any other predator, cybercriminals want their prey scared and isolated. Thankfully, as it is in the animal kingdom, there is strength in numbers when it comes to cybersecurity.

New security guidance is coming out every day and sharing information is one way we can get ahead of bad actors.

For enterprises, another method is to work with a partner like WEI on your cybersecurity strategy.

As shared by James Morrison during the webinar, security is being built into tools that never had it before and while not every solution is going to fit your enterprise, by talking to your IT solutions provider, you can better determine what your cybersecurity needs are.

“Modernization is not just about us tech companies trying to sell the new gadget. There are new security features built into a lot of the things that we do. So, let’s have that conversation. Don’t just ignore it because you think we’re trying to pump a product. If it’s ransomware that bugs you, let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about ransomware avoidance, ransomware remediation, ransomware recovery. All of these things, but we’ve got to start with having that honest conversation. Can you afford $11 million for ransomware? Because if you think your insurance is going to protect you from it, that ship is sailing.”

Ensure a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy With WEI

Having a trusted technology partner like WEI can help you build the right security foundation with secure tools like integrated with Processors, while walking you through a cyber-savvy strategy to identify vulnerabilities and take a proactive approach to risk mitigation.

NEXT STEPS: Watch the webinar for other cybersecurity pearls of wisdom as you take a closer look at strengthening your own security posture. You can also sign up for a one-on-one .

The post 3 Key Takeaways From WEI’s Cybersecurity Webinar appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

In the last six months, the fear of cyberattacks has grown significantly, largely due to several high-profile incidents that left enterprises struggling to deal with the fall out and the general public fearful of the next attack.

Today’s cybercriminals aren’t just targeting corporations or financial institutions. They’re paralyzing oil pipelines, shutting down public transportation, and holding police forces hostage. Anyone and anything can be a target and businesses need to prepare accordingly.

So, what are you doing to protect against omnipresent cyberthreats? Below we have provided five tips that can help IT leaders ensure their cybersecurity strategy is comprehensive.

1. Carefully Consider Your Cybersecurity Budget

According to , cybersecurity spending is to exceed $1 trillion over a five-year period ending in 2021. That constitutes a growth rate of 12 percent to 15 percent a year. However, that the cost of cybercrime around the world will rise to $6 trillion over that same period.

Obviously, there seems to be a disconnect. We are spending more money to protect against threats that are in turn costing an increasing amount of money. You don’t have to be a financial advisor or CFO to know that the ROI on that $1 trillion isn’t very good.

A conducted by Deloitte showed that financial institutions spend an average of 10 percent of their IT budget on cybersecurity, while a 2019 showed a mean of 15 percent.

While there is no hard answer to how much a company should spend on cybersecurity, companies should be getting some type of return on their investment, just like any other IT acquisition. Just throwing money at the problem won’t make it disappear if you don’t have a strategic plan for those funds.

2. Make Sure You’re Focusing On The Right Threats

involving approx. 1,100 cybersecurity executives showed a blaring disconnect between the security solutions their organizations spent money on and the solutions they actually needed to address their most pertinent threats.

While 30 percent of the respondents classified their organizations as “very or extremely vulnerable to data attacks,” 62 percent listed network security as their top spending priority, while 56 percent cited an endpoint solution. As it turns out, data-at-rest security solutions ranked last.

So, why does spending not match up with cybersecurity vulnerabilities? One possible explanation for this quandary is that companies continue to purchase what they are used to or what has worked in the past. However, threats are continually evolving, therefore your required solution sets must evolve as well. Another factor is that many organizations implement security measures without first assessing what their digital environment truly compasses, leading to an incomplete picture of their cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

3. Don’t Get Caught Up On Every New “Best Of Breed” Solution

If you’re involved with IT solution purchasing, you should be familiar with the term “best in breed,” which signifies a solution is the best option available. In theory, best of breed sounds wonderful and at WEI, we stand behind solutions that we can attest are the best solution available for your unique business needs.

That being said, when it comes to purchasing, cybersecurity is a bit different than other areas of IT. Cybercriminals evolve quickly and new attack strategies emerge every day. Trying to stay ahead of these developments by snapping up every new best in breed solution is an inefficient strategy and may actually create more cybersecurity risks. According to a , 40 percent of security professionals say that purchasing from a multitude of security vendors adds cost and purchasing complexity to their organization. In fact, the underscored a direct correlation between the number of security vendors a company had with the amount of downtime they experienced as a result of a security incident.

The bottom line is that more solutions create more complexity and reduce the effectiveness of your overall cybersecurity strategy. Unfortunately, adequately defending your digital environment is more complicated than just picking up the newest and hottest cybersecurity solution.

4. Avoid Cybersecurity Silos At All Costs

You’ve probably heard this a million times already. To be truly successful, enterprises need to break down IT silos. We often associate silos with management systems or data storage solutions and while companies have made great headway over the years in breaking these down, the average cybersecurity estate remains plagued with them.

Each tool works independently and forces IT professionals to perpetually bounce back and forth between tools, creating both visibility and attention gaps. It also creates a deluge of unfiltered alerts. According to the 2020 CISO Benchmark Study, 44 percent of organizations see more than 10,000 daily alerts, of which only half are addressed. The same study showed that 82 percent of CISOs acknowledged that orchestrating alerts from multiple vendor products was challenging.

5. Utilize A Cybersecurity Platform

Today’s enterprises need a security strategy that enables a more holistic and collaborative approach to combat threats, especially as the industry suffers from a lack of qualified cybersecurity professionals.

While many IT leaders are familiar with the concept of solution-based platforms, such as an endpoint protection platform or the platform of tools conglomerated in a next generation firewall appliance, portfolio-based platforms allow you to integrate the products you already use now with the products you may want to use in the future, even third-party products.

These agnostic security platforms, such as , can unify visibility across all parts of your infrastructure through a combined console that vastly increases operational efficiency. These platforms provide actionable automation when it comes to workflows in order to better hunt and remediate threats.

In particular, security platform enables better decision making through comprehensive threat detection, powerful analytics and security policy management. In addition to its security offerings, a modernized security platform provides value through greater efficiency and ROI metrics that can greatly accelerate time to value.

Achieve Comprehensive Cybersecurity With Cisco

As a leader in enterprise security, and with products ranging from to , Cisco can help any enterprise ensure comprehensive cybersecurity. With Cisco SecureX, enterprises can simplify their cybersecurity strategy and improve response efficiency without compromising data.

NEXT STEPS: Learn more about how Cisco SecureX is unifying and simplifying enterprise security in our free solution brief download below. Click below to start reading.

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In the past year and a half, securely facilitating remote working has become a priority for a majority of enterprises. It’s also become clear that remote working is going to be a longer-term or permanent working model enterprises will need to support.

In the early days of the pandemic, ensuring uninterrupted access took priority over security, but as time has gone on, enterprises have started the process to replace emergency patchwork measures with secure, long-term solutions.

Thankfully, there are a variety of strategies available to secure both off- and on-premises infrastructure. In this blog, we’ll be discussing the current state of secure access service edge (SASE), zero trust architectures, and software-defined wide-area networks (SD-WAN), as shared in a recent report by Ponemon Institute and sponsored by .

Simplifying Through SD-WAN

At its core, SD-WAN is a simplified approach to managing the wide-area network (WAN) architecture. This is achieved by decoupling the network hardware from the control mechanism, allowing enterprises to build WAN infrastructure at lower cost and with better performance.

In terms of security, architecture utilizes encryption and VPNs to secure traffic, offering significant benefit for enterprises with a remote or hybrid workforce.

In the course of their research, Ponemon found that 44% of the 598 North American IT professionals surveyed as part of the study considered themselves “familiar” with SD-WAN technology, compared to 64% who expressed familiarity with zero trust and 45% that were familiar with SASE.

In terms of implementation, 35% of respondents indicated that they had already deployed or will deploy SD-WAN within the next 12 months.

Ponemon also found that when it comes to implementation, a majority of respondents found that, “the network team has the most influence in the deployment of SD-WAN solutions with advice from the security team.”

Take Control With Zero Trust

Zero trust describes both an IT solution and a security philosophy. When utilizing zero trust as part of a networking strategy, enterprises take the approach that no device can be trusted by default and that mutual authentication provides enhanced protection compared to other methods.

As previously identified, Ponemon found that respondents were overall more familiar with zero trust strategies than SASE and SD-WAN. That also translates to implementation, with 43% of North American respondents indicating they had deployed or will deploy zero trust within the next 12 months.

It was also found that enterprises that self-reported as “highly confident” in their security architecture were more likely to have implemented at least one of these security strategies, with a majority of organizations within that group having implemented zero trust (48%) compared to SASE (43% ) and SD-WAN (33%).

Utilize The Cloud For Security With SASE

For many enterprises, architecture is an attractive networking solution because it simplifies both WAN and security by delivering both as a cloud service directly to the source of the connection. This is particularly helpful for organizations with remote or highly mobile workforces that frequently utilize cloud applications.

Of the three strategies covered by Ponemon in their study, SASE was the least utilized, with only 30% of North American respondents having already deployed or planning to deploy SASE in the next 12 months.

In terms of implementation, a majority of respondents indicated that when it comes to SASE, they would select a “best-in-breed” vendor when, “deploying both SD-WAN and cloud delivered security for a SASE architecture.”

It was also found in the course of the study that a majority of respondents said they would “use leading vendors who focus on cloud-delivered security services” when implementing cloud-delivered security services.

Take Your Network Security To The Next Level With Aruba

If your enterprise is interested in any of the security strategies discussed above, WEI and Aruba can help. offers the holistic security and architectural simplicity needed to stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. By taking advantage of Aruba’s full portfolio of security solutions and out-of-the-box integrations, enterprises can fully secure their remote, hybrid, or on-premises workforces. What’s more, you don’t have to go it alone. Our team of Aruba experts are ready to answer your toughest questions. We have extensive knowledge across Aruba’s entire network security portfolio and can architect and deploy custom solutions unique to your business needs. .

NEXT STEPS: See how Aruba is helping enterprise companies secure their remote workforce with Aruba Remote Access Points in our tech brief below. And ask us about our experience with Aruba RAPs!

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As an IT leader, cybersecurity threats are constantly on your mind. They lurk in dark corners, lay in wait and when a moment of vulnerability presents itself, they strike!

The threat of cyberattacks is constant, pervasive, and exhausting. As cybersecurity technology improves, cybercriminals also grow more advanced, keeping up and sometimes outpacing the enterprise technology you’ve grown to trust.

So, what can IT security teams do, other than wait, prepare, and fervently hope they’ll be able to stop an attack before it does too much damage?

With Cisco SecureX, IT security teams can take the upper hand and strike first.

What Are Cisco SecureX and Threat Hunting?

offers a simplified security experience as a cloud-native, built-in platform. As the bridge between the portfolio and enterprise infrastructure, it allows IT teams to drastically reduce dwell time and automate previously manual tasks.

Beyond just simplifying the existing security ecosystem and providing integrations with third-party solutions, SecureX also offers a unified visibility experience with a customizable dashboard and allows IT to automate routine tasks using prebuilt workflows built to suit common use cases. Enterprises can also create their own workflows with SecureX’s no-to-low code, drag-and-drop canvas.

SecureX is also included with every Cisco Secure product and offers an 85% reduction in time to respond to security threats and remediate.

But what if you’re ready to take the fight to the security threats? With SecureX Threat Hunting, you can.

Traditional cybersecurity efforts are reactive. IT security waits for malicious activity to begin and then reacts. Threat hunting starts long before the damage occurs.

As an analyst-centric process, it allows IT security teams to find hidden and advanced threats before they cause damage. It’s a proactive approach to enterprise security and is empowering IT to take an active role in fighting cyberthreats, instead of just waiting and reacting once the damage begins.

However, Threat Hunting with SecureX doesn’t replace traditional efforts, it enhances them. It provides a way for IT security to go on the offensive and augments existing defensive measures.

How Does Threat Hunting With Cisco SecureX Work?

Now that we’ve explained what threat hunting is, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of how Threat Hunting With Cisco SecureX works.

The backbone of threat hunting is utilizing a hypothesis driven methodology. The process can be broken down into a several repeatable steps:

1. Analysts identify current techniques being used by cybercriminals using incident response observations, reports from security groups, or other research techniques.
2. Using the knowledge collected in the first step, analysts formulate a plan of action and the scope of the project.
3. Implement the plan of action.
4. After the plan is executed and data is collected, analysts perform automated analysis and analytics.
5. As a final step, analysts adjust or accept the hypothesis and then repeat the process.

While this is a fairly simple set of steps, many enterprises are still facing significant barriers that keep them from adopting threat hunting.

These barriers include:

• Limited resources.
• An overwhelming number of alerts.
• Sourcing and utilizing up-to-date threat intelligence.
• A growing attack surface.
• A slow implementation process for threat hunting.

Cisco has created Threat Hunting With Cisco SecureX as way for enterprises of any size and budget to apply established, mature threat hunting practices to their IT security infrastructure, without the heavy cost and large time commitment they would face when doing it on their own.

Enterprises that already have threat hunting practices in place can also benefit, as Cisco’s methodologies will overlap, compliment, and support existing capabilities.

As a result of implementing the solution, IT organizations instantly improve cybersecurity posture, reduce alert fatigue, and stop cyberattacks in their tracks.

So, are you ready to go Threat Hunting with Cisco SecureX?

As a leader in enterprise security, and with products ranging from to , Cisco can help any enterprise ensure continued cybersecurity. With Threat Hunting With Cisco SecureX, enterprises can take an active role in warding off threats and protecting confidential corporate data.

Next Steps: Get everyone onboard with enterprise security, especially your executives! Grab a copy of our Security Strategy Checklist by clicking below.

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Even as employees return to the office, just as many are choosing to stay remote. As a result, many enterprises need solutions that can provide specialized security for remote workforces.

Unlike in an office setting where IT can effectively control the who, what, when, where, and why of device usage and network access, remote workforces present unique challenges. To keep corporate data secure, these challenges must be addressed with strategies that have been developed with remote workers in mind.

Remote work environments also require cloud-based security, an additional challenge when selecting the perfect solution. The benefit is that cloud adoption makes all your security controls, including network, email, endpoint, identity, access management, authentication, and others “follow” remote employees wherever they go, rather than remain confined to an often irrelevant on-premises environment.

Three Areas To Address For Remote Workforces

While security is always a priority for enterprise IT, there are several specific areas of concern that must be addressed when it comes to ensuring security for a remote workforce.

These areas of concern can be broken down as follows:

• Email security – Today’s enterprises are dependent on email for communication. In a remote working scenario, especially when it’s unexpected, email can become the primary way employees share important and oftentimes confidential information or documents. As a result, email is frequently targeted by cybercriminals and should be prioritized when it comes to security for remote workforces.
• Device security – When employees are working from home or other remote locations, the security of their devices should be carefully considered. Not only is it important to ensure that devices cannot be accessed by those without the proper login credentials, it’s equally important that employees know what they can and cannot use their devices for.
• Insider threats – One of the largest threats to enterprise security comes from within. Employees that lack the proper training to spot cyberattacks or who are unclear of the security risks that certain behaviors create offer cybercriminals an easy way past your security.

How To Address Areas Of Concern With Mimecast

Enterprises in need of security solutions created with remote workforces in mind need look no further than Offering cloud-based , and web security, Mimecast can help enterprises secure their environment and prevent cyberattacks from succeeding.

Mimecast’s cloud-based Secure Email Gateway offers protection for employees using any cloud or on-premises email platform and defends against spear-phishing, whaling, malware, spam and other attack types. By combining custom applications and policies with multiple detection engines and intelligence feeds, Mimecast offers the first line of defense for email-dependent enterprises.

When it comes to online activity outside of email, Mimecast’s cloud-based web protection at the DNS level prevents malware attacks and inappropriate web use regardless of whether employees are at the office or at home. It also helps mitigate shadow IT risks from cloud app usage. Best of all, it integrates with Mimecast’s email security for consistent cyber protection.

Should an employee still somehow encounter a cyberthreat, Mimecast offers the training they need to learn how to spot suspicious activity and respond appropriately. Mimecast’s security awareness training reduces the risk of human error and helps IT minimize the impact of insider threats by adding an extra layer of protection against cyberattacks.

Long term remote work causes the lines to blur between home and work life for many employees, but with Mimecast’s security awareness training, you can positively impact security culture throughout the enterprise and help employees internalize critical cybersecurity concepts that help keep your data safe.

Want to learn more about Mimecast’s Security Solutions?

Mimecast helps companies protect their employees, intellectual property, customer data, and brand reputations by providing comprehensive, cloud-based security and compliance solutions that mitigate risk and reduce the cost and complexity of creating a cyber-resilient organization. It is an ideal option for hybrid workforces now and into the future. If you have questions about how to get started with Mimecast, today.

NEXT STEPS: How we secure our enterprise has changed drastically in less than one year, especially for those managing a much larger network of devices and remote workers. Find out what your security strategy might be missing with our tech brief below, “.”

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Over the last year, the need to support employees from alternative working locations has risen dramatically. However, even as employees return to the office, when given the choice, many are choosing to continue working from home. For IT, this means finding a longer-term solution that can provide the same network security and user experience at these alternative work locations that employees would have in the office.

One strategy that many enterprises are deploying is the zero-trust access model. In regards to network security, this means that users, whether inside or outside the network, are regarded equally as potential threats and that any access attempt could be a possible threat.

In a time when the impact of cybercrime and number of incidents is , this sort of security philosophy is attractive to many IT leaders.

How Does Zero Trust Network Access Work?

Zero trust network access (ZTNA) can best be described as a piece of the larger zero trust access puzzle. , “ZTNA has received more attention lately because it’s a way of controlling access to applications regardless of where the user or the application resides.”

While virtual private networks (VPN) have been a popular option for quite some time, ZTNA takes network security and access to the next level, offering a better user experience and more granular control. With these improvements over traditional options, ZTNA has become a popular, long-term solution for ensuring network security for remote workforces.

Three Requirements of Zero Trust Network Access With Fortinet

Fortinet’s approach to zero trust access can be broken down into : who, what, and what happens after network access.

1. Who is accessing the network?
The first piece is who is accessing the network, which can include employees, supply chain partners, and customers. With a zero-trust model, users are only given access to the resources that are necessary for them. To achieve this, breach-resistant identification and authentication is mandated, with many enterprises going a step further and requiring multi-factor authentication at login.

2. What devices are accessing the network?
The second piece is the devices that are accessing the network. For a zero-trust access strategy to be effective, IT teams need a comprehensive solution to managing and monitoring the myriad of devices that require access to the network. This is especially true as internet-of-things devices continue to grow in usage and popularity. And let’s not forget that IoT devices are an attractive entry point for hackers.

3. What happens when devices leave the network?
The third piece is about endpoint security, or what happens when a device leaves the network. According to Fortinet, a comprehensive zero-trust access strategy should provide off-network hygiene control, vulnerability scanning, web filtering, and patching policies.

Fortinet FortiOS 7.0 Prioritizes ZTNA

To address these needs, Fortinet’s FortiOS, the foundation of the Fortinet Security Fabric, to include several new features, including ZTNA. With FortiOS 7.0, IT teams can “apply ZTNA to remote users, home offices, and other locations such as retail stores by offering controlled remote access to applications that is easier and faster to initiate.”

It also offers IT teams increased visibility and control when compared to legacy VPNs. An additional benefit is that with FortiOS 7.0, applications are protected whether they exist on the network or in the cloud, offering additional flexibility when allocating workloads.

Through verifying the user and device posture for every application session, the attack surface is dramatically reduced and because ZTNA specifically focuses on application access, security is ensured regardless of what network the user is on and where they are located.

An added bonus is that ZTNA is available right out of the box for FortiGate customers. It also doesn’t require a software-as-a-service solution and because it’s built into FortiOS 7.0, which provides the foundation for Fortinet’s security portfolio, ZTNA is also built into Fortinet’s other solutions, including , , , and .

Are You Interested In Zero Trust Network Access With Fortinet?

Fortinet offers comprehensive and holistic security solutions for the largest enterprise, service provider, and government organizations in the world. From NGFWs for microsegmentation to ZTNA, Fortinet ensures security without compromising performance. If you have questions about how Fortinet can help you improve enterprise security for your company, contact WEI today.

NEXT STEPS: Take a closer look at all the security solutions IT leaders consider essential for securing their business throughout the digital transformation journey. Our eBook, “An IT Leader’s Guide to Enterprise Security in a Digital World,” pulls it all together. Click below to start reading.

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The greatest measure of an IT security solution, besides its usefulness in protecting the enterprise from threats, is how cost-effective it is. This is especially true in the eyes of enterprise leaders and decision makers, who continually expect more out of IT while offering fewer resources.

So how can IT security teams ensure the continued protection of the enterprise, while keeping costs low? The key is operational efficiency. By keeping day-to-day costs low, the overall impact of security on the enterprise budget is lowered.

To offer support to enterprises on this efficiency journey, we’ve compiled five tips for running a cost-effective security program, as detailed by Cisco in their

Be proactive about tech refreshes

This might seem a bit backwards, but by spending money and regularly updating the tools that power your security systems, you can be sure your team has what they need to work quickly and efficiently, without wasting time dealing with malfunctioning or legacy systems. Let’s also highlight the importance of patches and updates, which can expose major vulnerabilities if not properly and quickly addressed.

In terms of hardware, new technologies also usually come with a reduced footprint and power usage, which reduces operational costs in the long run.

According to Cisco’s research, proactive tech refreshes are the top success factor for running a .

Utilize automation effectively

This may seem like a bit of a no brainer, but by effectively utilizing automation to eliminate repetitive day-to-day tasks, you can reduce the resources spent on administering your security system, which directly translates to dollars saved.

However, the key word here is “effectively.” Many enterprises hop on the automation train without fully considering how best to integrate automation across the IT environment, which can actually result in increased costs, and give IT teams a massive headache. Instead, approach holistically, and with a plan in place.

As shared by Cisco, utilizing automation effectively offers enterprises a 6.3 percent increase in the probability of success when running a cost-effective security program.

Respond to incidents quicky

Like our second tip, this third tip is fairly obvious, but according to Cisco, it’s one of the most important factors in running a cost-effective security program. A report from Accenture in 2020 found that the average cost per attack for non-leading companies was $380,000 per incident. For enterprise-level organizations, the costs are significantly higher.

To reduce overall costs, ensure your IT security team is ready to go in the event of an incident. Ensure that your incident response plan includes disaster recovery, and that you have tested your DR strategy!

Ensure threat detection is accurate

When it comes to IT security, the only thing worse than a false alarm is an actual attack. That said, responding to a false-positive is nothing but a waste of resources, and can actually reduce your IT team’s effectiveness in the event of an actual security breach. In order for a security program to be effective, accurate threat detection is a must.

Reduce unexpected work and wasted resources

This last tip is the bottom line when it comes to reducing costs in any situation, IT or otherwise.

To run an efficient security program, you have to shore up inconsistencies, reduce waste and reduce the number of unexpected projects your IT security team undertakes. Having a carefully planned and executed is the first step to achieving these goals.

Bonus: keep your IT security budget reasonable

As a final bit of advice, finding your security budget sweet spot can also benefit the efficiency of your IT security program. As said in Cisco’s report, “There’s a Goldilocks zone for security budgets when it comes to this outcome. Too little, and you can’t get everything done no matter how hard you try. Too big, and wastefulness tends to creep in. But when the budget is just right, the program’s capabilities fit the mission perfectly and operations run at maximum efficiency.”

Are you looking for a cost-effective security solution?

As a leader in enterprise security, and with products ranging from to , Cisco can help any enterprise ensure continued cybersecurity. WEI’s team of security experts know Cisco solutions in and out. Contact us to start a conversation. We can help you take a closer look at the Cisco security suite, help you understand how these solutions will fit in your environment, and we can architect a solution that is flexible and adaptive to the evolving world of cyber threats.

NEXT STEPS: Leveraging network security data across your enterprise can uncover valuable insights abut security vulnerabilities, as well as network performance, overall health, and opportunities for increased efficiencies. And Cisco is leading the way with intent-based networking solutions. Find out how Cisco’s DNA Center solution can help your business in our white paper below, Make Your Network Work For You With Cisco DNA Center.

The post How To Manage A Cost-Effective Security Program appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

1. Security

Effective protection of enterprise data and applications comprises a number of successive security measures:

• First, users must be identified, authenticated (preferably via 2-factor authentication, using both password and token), and checked for authorization to access the requested data, applications, or URLs.
• Throughout the session, the user’s pattern of behavior should be checked against known intrusion-prevention techniques, with any anomalies flagged or logged for later analysis as required.
• Due to the existence of zero-day exploits, social engineering, and polymorphic viruses, to name but a few of the tactics employed by , intrusions and malware will still occasionally slip through. When they do, it is essential to minimize the time taken to detect them, so they can be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
• Finally, the network administrator needs to be alerted to the nature and potential impact of any detected threat, and any infected systems need to be quarantined and cleaned.

In most large organizations, the majority of these security measures will already be applied centrally, but as we’ve just seen, with the recent proliferation of wireless access, this is no longer effective. Unless a common unified security policy can be applied to all new points of access, wired and wireless, wherever they may be throughout the distributed enterprise, the risk of leaving open an unguarded back door remains unacceptably high.

2. Connectivity

There are two main connectivity challenges for the distributed enterprise. The first is to provide a user access experience that is both consistent and transparent. The second is to interconnect remote sites in such a way as to meet the first challenge without over-reliance on expensive private-circuit WAN services.

• Consistent, Transparent User Access

Fundamental to any distributed enterprise security solution is the provision of flexible wired and wireless connectivity options that can scale as new equipment and personnel are added or moved from one location to another

Authentication aside, all network access needs to be transparent to the user. Whether querying the customer database or making an IP voice call, response times need to be as fast and reliable via Wi-Fi as via Ethernet.

With Wi-Fi speeds soon to exceed 1.3 Gbps and most large organizations now embracing “bring-your-own-device” (BYOD) policies to a greater or lesser degree, this is not only achievable but increasingly the most cost-effective option for new network builds, with some organizations now foregoing wired connections altogether. Integrated 802.11ac Wi-Fi access should therefore be a mandatory requirement for the distributed enterprise.

• Reliable, Cost-effective WAN Connectivity

To address the challenge of maintaining intersite connectivity and quality of service without over-reliance on expensive circuits such as MPLS, the router or firewall responsible for WAN connectivity needs to intelligently balance Internet and intranet traffic across the available WAN services. An effective solution to this challenge, capable of providing load balancing at an application level as well as overall traffic, is technology

Alternative WAN connectivity options such as 3G/4G or ADSL, delivered through integrated modems, can also increase the overall flexibility and resilience of the distributed enterprise network.

3. Performance

Although high-speed wired and wireless access devices are now readily available and relatively inexpensive to deploy, the challenge comes when you start to integrate the aforementioned security measures. This is because the kind of traffic analysis required to provide protection, such as application control, can be highly processor-intensive. It is therefore critical that any unified access and security solution not only meets current requirements in terms of bandwidth and latency but has the architecture to scale to future demands as well.

4. Cost

Security will always represent a compromise between risk and cost. Spend nothing at all on security, and the risk of a serious breach approaches certainty. Impose too many hurdles between users and the data and applications they need to do their jobs, and the cost, both in financial and productivity terms, becomes prohibitive.

Yet, calculating the true cost of a security solution is not straightforward. Not only are there capital and operating costs to consider, but also the potential cost to the business resulting from each breach. In today’s landscape of , some level of intrusion is inevitable, but for any given attack, its subsequent impact on the business can vary enormously depending on how it is managed. The longer it takes to detect, quarantine, and eradicate the problem, the greater the impact to productivity, and the higher the subsequent cleanup costs.

5. Manageability

In addition to the basic requirements of central configuration and monitoring, the management of large distributed enterprise networks presents three additional challenges:

• Device Provisioning – With tens of thousands of potential devices, automatic provisioning should be mandatory.

• Device Deployment – Similarly, it should be possible to deploy key devices without the need for skilled network engineers to be sent to each location.

• Policy Management – To avoid the inherent vulnerabilities of overlay networks and to ensure a consistent user experience across the distributed enterprise, it must be possible to create and maintain universal security policies.

To integrate these security policies with third-party authentication servers, the solution will also need to support RADIUS, Active Directory, or both. Additionally, in the event of a security breach, the network administrator not only needs to be alerted, but presented with a range of remedial actions to resolve the problem. Furthermore, to remain effective, the system needs to be able to learn from past breaches and, ideally, the input for this learning should come not only from your network but from thousands of others just like it.

As increase in number, risk, and sophistication, Fortinet’s distributed enterprise customers can rest assured that their data protection obligations to customers, business partners, and shareholders can be honored, and that maximum business continuity will be maintained.

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