It’s been reported that cyberattacks are one of the fastest growing crimes in the US. More than 1,000 data breaches happened in 2020, exposing more than 155M records. Cybercrime is operated like a business, and threat actors are constantly evolving their tools and techniques to evade detection. Over the last year, we’ve seen some of the largest organizations including Pulse Secure, SolarWinds, SonicWALL, and Fortinet make headline news about cybersecurity incidents. One of the things these attacks all have in common is the fact that the on-prem appliances these organizations were running were actively exploited.
While many IT leaders and CIOs are aware that outdated, appliance-based security and networking solutions are not capable of keeping up with today’s dispersed workforces, many still employ technology that is only serving as a band-aid versus a long-term solution – leaving them vulnerable.
Now on the heels of the highly publicized ransomware attack against one of the largest US fuel suppliers Colonial Pipeline, Biden signed an Executive Order to help improve the nation’s cybersecurity efforts and to protect federal government networks.
Here’s our analysis:
Part of Biden’s EO is focused on modernizing and implementing stronger cybersecurity standards in the federal government, and this is largely focused on accelerating the move to the cloud and supporting a zero-trust architecture.
We couldn’t agree more.
The shift to a zero-trust network architecture allows organizations to ensure fast and secure connectivity, from any location. Since users are always connected through the cloud network security service, access to cloud applications and resources can be granted based on who the user is, including the user’s role within an organization.
The iboss SASE cloud platform is built on a patented, containerized cloud architecture that enables users to connect quickly and securely to any cloud destination, from anywhere. This reduces the need for and dependency on VPNs to provide secure connectivity, which is typically a bottleneck for users needing to access cloud applications. iboss also eliminates the need for traditional network security appliances, allowing organizations to secure network traffic from anywhere to protect against malware and data loss.
Strengthen your Cybersecurity Posture with SASE
Now is the time to future-proof your network security investments. It was understood early in the pandemic that remote work would expose vulnerabilities for those not well-equipped for the immediate switch to the cloud. For example, legacy on-prem SWG appliances were never designed to support a workforce that was not in a physical office. All organizations – including federal agencies — need to take critical steps to ensure their infrastructure can support employees regardless of location. This means instituting cloud-based solutions that improve cybersecurity postures and keep their networks safe.
Organizations must adapt their network and security plans and focus on a path to migrate to SASE cloud in 2021 and beyond. According to Gartner, “Security and risk management leaders should build a migration plan from legacy perimeter and hardware-based offerings to a SASE model*.”
To understand how to future-proof network security investments and successfully migrate to the SASE Cloud, organizations should consider the following steps:
- Take inventory of on-prem appliances and implement a phase out of hardware with equivalent network security services offered in the cloud.
- Look to consolidate vendors for Secure Web Gateway (SWG), CASB, Malware Defense and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) as contracts come due for on-prem proxy infrastructure and network security equipment.
- Increase security by moving to a user and role-based security model (often known as Zero Trust) that allows security policies to be applied to all connections regardless of user location.
- Start the transition from VPN by moving security to the cloud allowing users to connect directly and securely to all cloud applications.
- Look for a cloud platform that provides core security functions in the cloud, so protection is always in place for all connections regardless of location.
Considering a migration to SASE Cloud? Download our ebook to learn how to offload VPN with better security, visibility and control.
Learn more about how iboss delivers fast and secure connectivity from anywhere for government agencies.
Register today for iboss’s next Webinar Wednesday! On Wednesday, May 19 at 9am PT / 12 pm ET, Jim Gogolinksi, VP of Research and Intelligence at iboss, will discuss iboss’s take on the new Executive Order.
*Gartner, 2021 Strategic Roadmap for SASE Convergence, Neil MacDonald, Nat Smith, Lawrence Orans, Joe Skorupa, 25 March 2021
