Dream world for the CISO
Organizations have all kinds of sources to guard. And a few sources are simpler to guard than others. Nevertheless, it’s not the straightforward stuff that retains a CISO up at night time. Earlier than we dive into the more difficult examples, let’s think about a state of affairs that enables a CISO to sleep peacefully.
On this state of affairs, when a employee “goes to work” (both within the workplace or remotely), they open their company laptop computer and login to a SaaS software. This employee sorts the URL into their browser, logs in with their SSO supplier and authenticates utilizing their fingerprint (biometric) on the gadget. Behind the scenes, this person is connecting to the applying by way of a Zero Belief Community Entry (ZTNA) resolution and authenticating with SAML protocol (or OIDC or OAuth2.0), the fashionable authentication methodology for cloud purposes.
This state of affairs is the dream state of affairs (and simpler) to guard:
- Trendy, cloud software
- Coverage-driven software entry
- Phishing-resistant authentication
- Trusted, managed gadget
The fact verify
Nevertheless, the dream state of affairs can also be the least prone to be the reason for a breach. As an alternative, attackers are exploiting legacy expertise or networks the place it’s tough to deploy further safety and implement coverage, like phishing-resisting multi-factor authentication (MFA) or ZTNA. Whereas organizations are on their infrastructure modernization journey, we have to have a sensible plan to guard the lengthy tails of legacy property which are nonetheless in place and could also be tough to safe.
What could be carried out?
Layered safety with RADIUS
One in every of these under-rated, however frequent, authentication protocols is RADIUS (Distant Authentication Dial-In Consumer Service). RADIUS is a standard network-based authentication protocol for customers and gadgets that want to connect with the community.
In case your group is ready the place routers, switches, wi-fi entry factors and VPNs all use RADIUS, Cisco may help. First, Cisco Identification Providers Engine (ISE) offers a layer of Community Entry Management by providing AAA safety (Authentication, Authorization, and Entry). This safety exists for customers connecting to the community within the workplace and employees connecting to the community by way of the VPN.
The challenges and safety implications round legacy VPN entry are effectively documented, which is why organizations are transferring towards trendy structure with ZTNA. The issue is that many legacy purposes aren’t suitable with ZTNA and organizations must grasp on to their VPN infrastructure. It isn’t a shock that whereas 86% of organizations have began to undertake zero belief, 98% haven’t reached maturity. Basically, they’re caught on this journey.
That’s the place Cisco Safe Entry is available in. Safe Entry has built-in each VPNaaS and ZTNA capabilities. This enables organizations to modernize VPN infrastructure and join utilizing Cisco’s cloud resolution, falling again to VPNaaS if ZTNA just isn’t attainable. In apply, all customers have the identical expertise when connecting to purposes (legacy or trendy, VPN-required or ZTNA-compatible) and the expertise takes care of the work behind the scenes.
In terms of VPNaaS use instances, organizations with ISE deployment can leverage the distinctive integration between Safe Entry and Cisco ISE to supply an additional layer of safety. Which means that when customers hook up with VPNaaS, they’re protected by ISE’s authentication, posture evaluation, and community segmentation, all by way of a single agent — Safe Consumer.
We begin with VPNaaS and Cisco ISE working collectively and subsequent we add an additional layer of protection with one other type of authentication (that’s the place the “multi” in MFA is available in). Cisco Duo can provide RADIUS assist for legacy VPNs by way of the Duo Authentication proxy by including servers to a corporation’s surroundings. However once you use Duo with ISE and VPNaaS, there’s a distinctive API integration that allows RADIUS authentication with out the necessity for the extra server in your surroundings. And all the top person sees is the everyday Duo push that they’re used to when accessing cloud purposes.
Now, even when authenticating with RADIUS, customers have a seamless expertise, and organizations have layered safety to shut potential gaps within the assault floor.
Safe organizations with Consumer Safety Suite
Within the best world, a corporation may defend all its sources utilizing probably the most superior and trendy expertise and protocols. Nevertheless, organizations have a variety of property that every one want safety, no matter how simple or onerous it’s to guard. When combining the community safety by way of Cisco ISE with Consumer Safety Suite instruments, Cisco can present the options you want immediately when you proceed to modernize for the long run. And permit CISOs to get an excellent night time’s relaxation.
To be taught extra about how Cisco’s Consumer Safety Suite can defend your workforce, join with an knowledgeable immediately.
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