The Mounting Need for an Integrated Security Platform

Jon Bove

Today’s networks are continually growing and increasing in complexity, which has led to a deeper fragmentation of traditional edges at the data center, wide area network and local area network. Factors such as off-network devices, 5G and LTE, multicloud environments, converged operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) networks, and the unexpected rise of the home edge have all introduced new challenges. Now, organizations must be able to offer remote employees the same level of access, speed, customization and performance as those who are still working in an office.

The adoption of new technologies and the expansion of unique edge environments can make it challenging to effectively secure customer networks. As a result, many organizations are turning to a number of disparate point solutions, each designed to cover only a particular network segment. This can lead to gaps in security and is a mounting weakness that cyber criminals continue to take advantage of to gain unauthorized access, steal or corrupt data and systems, or even disrupt the economy.

As more organizations leverage vendors and new technology solutions, establishing and maintaining holistic visibility and consistent security policy enforcement can be a challenge. A recent survey by IBM found that organizations are deploying roughly 45 different solutions on average, with most requiring coordination across 19 security tools. With the cybersecurity skills gap continuously widening, IT staff can’t afford to spend more time monitoring a wide range of security solutions.

Taking All Security Elements Into Account

Even organizations that understand the importance of security everywhere may find it difficult to not only establish a flexible and adaptive network, but also to add security that can keep up with an evolving threat landscape. This challenge is exacerbated for businesses using legacy solutions and strategies.

For this reason, partners should help their customers implement a security-driven networking strategy, which operates under the idea that networking and security should act in tandem. This helps to break down siloes and encourages collaboration across the network. Networking and security should be integrated into an IT infrastructure that can take all moving parts into account, including the network, endpoints and devices, and the cloud and applications. In doing so, security is able to take key networking functions into account and more appropriately adapt configurations, policies, and programs to better maintain consistent protection.

Today, organizations require solutions that can offer coverage across the entire attack surface. To maintain a strong defense, it’s critical to understand the components of the cyber kill chain. The process begins with threat reconnaissance, first looking at weaponization, then delivery, exploitation, installation, command and control, and finally, action objectives. To keep up with evolving networks, partners must help their customers evaluate these factors across their digital attack surface and gain the ability to thwart the cyber kill chain at any given point, in any location within the network.

The Case for a Broad, Integrated and Automated Security Platform

As a result of the ever-growing digital threat landscape, many organizations are turning to integrated tools or platforms. In the past, the cybersecurity industry has fallen short when it comes to delivering advanced solutions that can keep up with continuous network changes. Rather than providing a comprehensive and integrated solution, many security manufacturers are focused on providing security to only a specific piece of a business’ network.

However, the right platform can assist in …