SD-WAN solutions typically allow organizations to combine a variety of transmission technologies that provides end users with access to applications while simultaneously meeting the application’s performance and security requirements. They can be broadly segregated into the following three components:
- Zero touch deployment for both physical and virtual appliances, be it at the branch, headquarters or cloud data center
- A Network Wide control from a centralized dashboard that facilitates:
- Simplified Configuration
- Granular Level of Visibility
- Centralized Deployment of Qos and Security Policies
- Additional features that optimize WAN Capabilities
- Inbuilt Security features and functionalities
The Security Advantage of SD-WAN
SD-WAN security exceeds the conventional IT requirements of application traffic protection over public lines. Resiliency to data breaches typically has four dimensions:
- Data Plane
- Management Plane
- Partner Integrations
- Regulatory Norms
Consequently, the entire gamut of security and data protection concerns are addressed through a consolidated solution that takes advantage of an SD-WAN architecture.
Application Specific Data Plane Security
The approach to security implementation varies from application to application. Additional factors such as QoS, performance optimization and tunnel bonding also need to be factored.
Examples
- Highly critical financial management program that handles confidential transactions would require data to be encrypted irrespective of the connection type from a regulatory perspective
- SaaS applications, with their inbuilt features such as transport layer security (TLS), are fairly self reliant from a security perspective
Protecting Data En Route
IPSec tunnels secure traffic routes through encryption. This way, data and applications are kept invulnerable to security breaches. Security is further enhanced through automatic key rotation and integral message authentication.
Granular Level of Segmentation
Security policies and management controls for different applications can be clubbed together into separate modules using a virtual WAN overlay model. Each overlay consists of a group of encrypted tunnels. The resulting outcome is a zero-trust architectural capability that leverages a granular level of segmentation within the internal networks at data centers, regional location and also across the network. Other features include:
- Attack Surface Reduction
- Effective Responses to network security infiltrations
- Stronger adherence to regulator norms and business standards
- Segregating highly confidential data and transactions during transit through the network from auxiliary and second in line service data
Zone based firewall
The entire network infrastructure must be split into smaller zones. This classification must span the entire scope of the LAN and WAN connections. Physical, VLAN labeled and logical interfaces are clubbed together to form zones. Access to these zones and segments can be restricted through a combination of stateful firewall, policies and tools that allows applications and domains to be identified on the first packet. Traffic can be further segregated based on application which allows IT teams the convenience of automating security policies. Security measures for traffic between branch locations can also be fortified. Suspicious packets trying to enter the branch network can be blocked. Policies can be established to permit only incoming responses to requests that were initiated from the branch. This can be achieved through:
- A Whitelist policy for accessing applications and services
- Permit only trusted external systems to access local resources
DDoS Attacks
IT teams must protect their internet lines from DDoS attacks that are becoming increasingly frequent in the present day business arena. A business continuity solution must be deployed that intelligently switches between multiple broadband connections when a DDoS incident occurs such that application performance is never compromised. This way, protection can be leveraged across all systems, user and operational internet lines.
Protecting Inactive Data
Encryption techniques can be used to safeguard inactive data stored in digital form on various devices.
Management Plane & System Level Protection
Solution deployment should be simple and hassle free, requiring almost no human intervention whatsoever. Security at this stage should be leveraged through a two-step authentication and authorization process. From a central cloud portal, IT teams should be able to approve as well as revoke permissions for individual devices that are deployed in different locations.
Management Plane Security
Policies can be introduced to avert the possibility of tampering with the management plane functionality through:
- Rigorous user authentication and authorization by using protocols such as RADIUS and TACACS
- Restricting access to resources through role-based permissions
- Creating an IP address and subnet whitelist
Detailed Logging
- Archiving events and warnings such a system malfunctions related to
- Storage
- Processor
- Network interfaces
- Routing
- Management Plan Connectivity
- Designing warning notifications that can be configured based on rising levels of consumption (for instance, of storage or bandwidth) that might lead to a disruption
- Tracking all activity through CLI, WebUI, REST APIs and other management interfaces
- Capturing data traffic logs for assessment by external security management software such as SIEM
Security Partners
Organizations invest heavily in software, tools and technology to protect their IT infrastructure. However, the scale and complexity of security threats can sometimes be beyond the scope of their in-house capabilities. In such cases, companies partner with third party solution providers who specialize in managing threats, risks and other operational hazards.
Service Chain Optimization
Manually implementing security measures across all devices, systems and applications can be cumbersome and time consuming. Present day businesses need to adopt a security solution that is easy to use, automated and adaptable. The security model must also be application driven and user friendly such that IT teams can combine components and capabilities as per their business requirements. For instance: Using a cloud platform for application layer access control, threat filtering and analytics.
Certification and Regulatory Norms
The severity and frequency of security breaches have made it mandatory for present day businesses to adhere to regulatory norms. These compliance standards include:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
- Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS 140-2)
- NIST Special Publication 800-53
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