Dream world for the CISO
Organizations have all kinds of assets to guard. And a few assets are simpler to guard than others. Nevertheless, it’s not the straightforward stuff that retains a CISO up at evening. Earlier than we dive into the more difficult examples, let’s think about a situation that enables a CISO to sleep peacefully.
On this situation, 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 varieties the URL into their browser, logs in with their SSO supplier and authenticates utilizing their fingerprint (biometric) on the system. Behind the scenes, this person is connecting to the applying by way of a Zero Belief Community Entry (ZTNA) answer and authenticating with SAML protocol (or OIDC or OAuth2.0), the fashionable authentication methodology for cloud functions.
This situation is the dream situation (and simpler) to guard:
- Fashionable, cloud software
- Coverage-driven software entry
- Phishing-resistant authentication
- Trusted, managed system
The fact test
Nevertheless, the dream situation can also be the least prone to be the reason for a breach. As an alternative, attackers are exploiting legacy know-how or networks the place it’s troublesome 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 belongings which can be nonetheless in place and could also be troublesome to safe.
What may be executed?
Layered safety with RADIUS
Considered one of these under-rated, however frequent, authentication protocols is RADIUS (Distant Authentication Dial-In Person Service). RADIUS is a conventional network-based authentication protocol for customers and gadgets that want to hook up with the community.
In case your group is able the place routers, switches, wi-fi entry factors and VPNs all use RADIUS, Cisco can assist. First, Cisco Identification Companies 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 staff connecting to the community by way of the VPN.
The challenges and safety implications round legacy VPN entry are nicely documented, which is why organizations are shifting towards fashionable structure with ZTNA. The issue is that many legacy functions usually are not suitable with ZTNA and organizations must hold 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 permits organizations to modernize VPN infrastructure and join utilizing Cisco’s cloud answer, falling again to VPNaaS if ZTNA just isn’t attainable. In follow, all customers have the identical expertise when connecting to functions (legacy or fashionable, VPN-required or ZTNA-compatible) and the know-how takes care of the work behind the scenes.
Relating to 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. Because of this when customers connect 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 help for legacy VPNs by way of the Duo Authentication proxy by including servers to a corporation’s surroundings. However while you use Duo with ISE and VPNaaS, there’s a distinctive API integration that permits RADIUS authentication with out the necessity for the extra server in your surroundings. And all the tip person sees is the everyday Duo push that they’re used to when accessing cloud functions.
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 Person Safety Suite
Within the best world, a corporation might shield all its assets utilizing essentially the most superior and fashionable know-how and protocols. Nevertheless, organizations have a variety of belongings that each one want safety, no matter how simple or arduous it’s to guard. When combining the community safety by way of Cisco ISE with Person Safety Suite instruments, Cisco can present the options you want at the moment whilst you proceed to modernize for the longer term. And permit CISOs to get an excellent evening’s relaxation.
To study extra about how Cisco’s Person Safety Suite can shield your workforce, join with an skilled at the moment.
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