The Power of Software-Defined Architecture

The number of reported cases of cybercrime reported by IC3 touched a height of 791.79 thousand in the year 2020 as per Statista. The reason for such huge cybercrime numbers is the lack of awareness about the new invention in the field of cyber securities or the lack of adaptation of such new securities.

Many organizations still seem to have the traditional security system. The pattern of approach is basic and limited to verification and trusting everyone. This allows external bodies to enter the network and manipulate systems and data.

Zero Trust Security is the new approach of cybersecurity that has taken a major shift from trust and verification mechanics to trust no one and verify everyone. According to this mechanism, everyone, be it an employee or any end-user can be a threat to the company network and should be verified. There are multiple methods to implement this mechanism and one of the best-considered methods is Software defined Perimeter.

The below discussion will help you to have a better understanding of how SDP is one of the most suitable options for the implementation of a zero-trust mechanism.

Working of SDP

The SDP works on the basic principle of protecting the users, application, and the network used for the purpose of communication. To serve protection, the SDP method is divided into two frames— controller and data frames.

Controller frames provide protection to the application and end-user, verification and trusting process is performed by this frame. Data frames protect the networks/channels used for communication. The two frames are the bricks and cement of the four pillars of rules on which the whole method survives which are as follows:

Never trust any user
Security of the communication medium
Restricting inbound connection
Segmenting the applications and not the network

Triangle of zero trust mechanism

The mechanism of zero trust is completely based on the ideology of trusting no one automatically, without any verification. The admin, employee, end-user — everyone is an equal threat to the secured network. With Zero trust organization, one can easily perform the following activities:

Adopt the changes in the network perimeter.
Limits the access network and application to the users.
Reduce the dependency on multiple security software.

The additional benefit is that it provides individuality and remote workforce security to all its users. The network area is secured, be it inside or outside the corporate network.

This means every user has his or her own network area and is responsible for all the activities within that space. This allows the organization to track down the person responsible for damage to the system or flooding the spot of data in no time.

Trust nothing inside or outside the network.
Zero trust network access control over everyone and everything.
Monitoring and tracking of the network and its users.

There are three sides of the security triangle of zero trust. This makes it the ideal approach for cybersecurity solutions. The potential of the development of technology in the zero trust zone is around 20% which is the greatest amongst various other security systems, as per Statista.

The similarities in their working and ideology make it more suitable to be implemented over Software defined Perimeter methods. Before moving into the verdict of the best platform. It is important to analyze the benefits and limitations that are followed by the implementation of Zero Trust over SDP’s.

Advantages of SDP

Hidden network

SDP is well known for hiding the network and end devices such as routers and servers from external bodies. This keeps the resources restricted to the authorized personnel.

Reduction in attacking spots

The feature of restricting the inbound connection of SDP makes it nearly impossible for any external body to invade the sensitive areas, via any medium of connection.

Authentication

Zero Trust believes in Multifactor Authentication of all the registered bodies. This mechanism makes the user verify their identity more than twice for the system’s satisfaction. Hence, avoids any unauthorized or stolen credential login activity.

Monitoring and report

Software-defined Perimeter provides individuality to every registered user. This makes it easy for the system to keep a track of activities. The why, what, when, and how questions related to the time, application, and user are monitored by SDP. The malicious activities are easily encountered by this individual monitoring process.

Verification before trust

The user has to get verified whether the user is a valid user or not. Only after successful verification of the user access to the predetermined services is granted to the user.

Even after a bunch of high-level security provided by SDP. It is important to examine the disadvantages or the limitations of the platform before implementing it as a safeguard for your organization.

Disadvantages of SDP

Building from scratch

The approach of SDP is different from the traditional security system. This makes it difficult to implement over the existing system. As the existing system is still required by the user for the daily routine. Hence, the time and efforts required to build a new network are less than reconfiguring the existing one.

Obstacle in productivity

The method works on no access without authority. The lack of information from the organization’s side to perform certain predefined tasks can make it difficult for the users to access the services required to perform the daily activities.

Multiple users and devices

It monitors the activity of multiple users and types of devices with minute details. As the number of users and devices increases the requirement of a different set of privileges and access for a different group of users and devices increases for the system to work efficiently.

In conclusion

The effective implementation of Zero Trust security on Software-defined Perimeter can result in the best possible security for your organization. Not to forget the fact that proper access and privilege distribution is in the hands of the organization.

Instasafe is deemed to be one of the best cybersecurity providers when it comes to shielding your organization’s network with zero trust security. We provide the best SDP security required by your organization to protect you against \ any malicious activity.