Long gone are the days when switchboard operators were
relied upon to make phone connections. Advancements in telecommunication
quickly eliminated the need for cumbersome and manual intervention. It is time
we abandon the switchboard-like model that we have inherited from virtual
private networks (VPNs), remove unnecessary complexity, and make room for
security innovation. Policy Management Should
Not Be a Full-Time Job
Security admins managing VPNs and policies are often left
with a difficult choice— open broad access to simplify operations but introduce
serious security risks or restrict access and spend an admin’s working day
manually providing access.When VPNs are used across hybrid environments, managing
access based on static IP addresses does not work. New IP addresses are
assigned dynamically by the cloud provider and require admins, once again, to
spend valuable time managing policies.Given the increase and rapid evolution of cyber threats, it
is imperative to devote time protecting the organization rather than placating
the pitfalls of antiquated VPNs.Ditch the VPN for a Better,
Simplified ApproachChange requires letting go of the past and embracing the
present. For the telectommunications industry, it was replacing the switchboard
with automated systems to handle the influx in required connections. For cybersecurity
today, it is letting go of cumbersome VPN technology and applying a simpler
approach to secure access with the Software-Defined
Perimeter (SDP).The Software-Defined Perimeter transforms security by
implementing the principles of Zero Trust, enabling cloud adoption and focusing
on the user’s identity, not the IP address. This provides a better alternative
to the insecure VPN and reduces manual intervention to manage policies and
access requests.The dynamic policies and automation capabilities of an SDP
break down the need for resource-intensive management. Solutions like AppGate SDP
dynamically look at what the user is doing at any point in time and adjust
access based on predetermined rules. AppGate SDP’s programmable architecture
allows it to scale seamlessly with new cloud or on-prem deployments, and API
integrations enable process automation unachievable with VPNs.Case Study: Datadog Retires
VPN and Deploys SDP Datadog previously relied on traditional VPNs but knew it
needed a simplified, cohesive platform to
manage user access. It turned to AppGate SDP to replace its VPN and
unleashed the true potential of DevOps. Covering 600-plus users in more than
100 locations, AppGate SDP provides individual, one-to-one network segments only
to the resources users are permitted. It allows developers to access
distributed resources simultaneously across cloud and on-prem environments, removing
constant and agonizing VPN switching.Kill the VPN. Unleash
Innovation. As enterprises seek to innovate through moving to the cloud,
embracing DevOps, or supporting remote talent, they cannot afford to be held
back by antiquated security. VPNs are dangerous and complex when it comes to
protecting today’s IT-driven organizations.Learn more about why it is time to kill the VPN and replace
it with a Software-Defined Perimeter in this latest on-demand
webinar.
There are many ways to do DevSecOps, and each organization — each security team, even — uses a different approach. Questions such as how many environments you have and the frequency of deployment of those environments are important in understanding how to integrate a security scanner into your DevSecOps machinery. The ultimate goal is speed […]
It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but security awareness is about much more than just dedicating a month to a few activities. Security awareness is a journey, requiring motivation along the way. And culture. Especially culture.That’s the point Proofpoint Cybersecurity Evangelist Brian Reed drove home in a recent appearance on Business Security Weekly.“If your security awareness program […]
Get daily email updates
SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news
