Dream world for the CISO
Organizations have all kinds of sources to guard. And a few sources are simpler to guard than others. Nonetheless, it’s not the straightforward stuff that retains a CISO up at evening. Earlier than we dive into the tougher 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 utility. This employee sorts 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) resolution and authenticating with SAML protocol (or OIDC or OAuth2.0), the trendy authentication methodology for cloud purposes.
This state of affairs is the dream state of affairs (and simpler) to guard:
- Trendy, cloud utility
- Coverage-driven utility entry
- Phishing-resistant authentication
- Trusted, managed system
The fact verify
Nonetheless, the dream state of affairs can be the least more likely to be the reason for a breach. As a substitute, attackers are exploiting legacy expertise or networks the place it’s tough to deploy additional 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 will be carried out?
Layered safety with RADIUS
One in every of these under-rated, however widespread, authentication protocols is RADIUS (Distant Authentication Dial-In Consumer Service). RADIUS is a conventional network-based authentication protocol for customers and units that want to connect with the community.
In case your group is able the place routers, switches, wi-fi entry factors and VPNs all use RADIUS, Cisco may help. 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 employees connecting to the community by way of the VPN.
The challenges and safety implications round legacy VPN entry are properly documented, which is why organizations are transferring towards fashionable structure with ZTNA. The issue is that many legacy purposes are usually not appropriate with ZTNA and organizations should cling on to their VPN infrastructure. It’s not 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 is just not doable. In follow, all customers have the identical expertise when connecting to purposes (legacy or fashionable, VPN-required or ZTNA-compatible) and the expertise takes care of the work behind the scenes.
With regards to VPNaaS use circumstances, 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 Shopper.
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 atmosphere. However whenever 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 atmosphere. 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 superb world, a corporation might shield all its sources utilizing probably the most superior and fashionable expertise and protocols. Nonetheless, organizations have a variety of property that every one want safety, no matter how straightforward or exhausting 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 a superb evening’s relaxation.
To study extra about how Cisco’s Consumer Safety Suite can shield your workforce, join with an skilled immediately.
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