As IT infrastructure keeps expanding, first to the Cloud and now to the Edge, businesses must implement a security model that protects both. This means implementing both Zero Trust and SASE.
A Zero Trust model of cybersecurity follows the X-Files philosophy of “Trust No One” regardless of whether your users are outside or inside your organization.
A secure access service edge model, or SASE, works by identifying users and devices and then applying policy-based access to the appropriate applications or data. This approach allows you to grant users or devices secure access to your IT infrastructure no matter where your users or devices are located.
To assist our clients in implementing Zero Trust and SASE models of cybersecurity, ISG Technology has partnered with Aruba to leverage the value of their new Aruba Edge Services Platform (ESP). Adding Aruba ESP to your network and security solutions will provide you with the visibility required to deliver a fully Zero Trust cybersecurity solution.
Zero Trust Requires Visibility
Zero Trust Security starts with knowing who is on your network at all times. Without visibility, critical cybersecurity controls that support a Zero Trust model are difficult to apply.
Businesses are increasingly relying on AI solutions to help maintain visibility at all times. Aruba ESP uses AI to detect and classify all devices on your network. Aruba ClearPass Device Insight uses both active and passive discovery and profiling techniques to track all the devices connected, or attempting to connect, to your network, including standard devices such as laptops and tablets as well as IoT devices.
Visibility Leads to Access Control
Once you know who is on your network, you can restrict access based on identity and role, defining precisely who can connect to your system and what they can connect to, even for work-from-home networks.
Applying Zero Trust best practices based on “Least Access” and micro-segmentation are critical next steps. A “Least Access” model grants users and devices only the minimum access they need to perform a task or role and only for the minimum amount of time necessary.
Micro-segmentation means breaking up your systems into silos, allowing you to allocate users to only the specific systems they require access to in order to perform a role or task.
To further tighten your Zero Trust model and help integrate your security across both Cloud and Edge platforms, you can use an SD-WAN (Software-defined Wide Area Network) to tie everything together.
An advanced cybersecurity dashboard, such as those used by Aruba Central, provides your IT teams with network-wide visibility to help them monitor and manage network access and address any cybersecurity issues.
Combining Zero Trust and SASE into One Platform
Today’s network environment and threat landscape require a different approach. The past’s perimeter-centric network security was not designed for today’s mobile workforce or emerging IoT devices.
When possible, all devices and users should be identified and adequately authenticated before granting them network access. In addition to authentication, users and devices should be given the least amount of access necessary to perform their business-critical activities.
Aruba ESP is an excellent system that makes managing network security both easier and more secure. Contact us to find out how this system can work for your business.