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 simple stuff that retains a CISO up at evening. Earlier than we dive into the tougher examples, let’s take into account a state of affairs that permits 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 consumer is connecting to the applying by means 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 state of affairs is the dream state of affairs (and simpler) to guard:
- Fashionable, cloud utility
- Coverage-driven utility entry
- Phishing-resistant authentication
- Trusted, managed system
The fact verify
Nevertheless, the dream state of affairs can also be the least prone to be the reason for a breach. As a substitute, attackers are exploiting legacy expertise or networks the place it’s troublesome 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 belongings which are nonetheless in place and could also be troublesome to safe.
What might be accomplished?
Layered safety with RADIUS
One in every of these under-rated, however widespread, authentication protocols is RADIUS (Distant Authentication Dial-In Person 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 also 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 means of the VPN.
The challenges and safety implications round legacy VPN entry are effectively documented, which is why organizations are transferring towards fashionable structure with ZTNA. The issue is that many legacy functions will not be appropriate 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. Primarily, 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 potential. In apply, all customers have the identical expertise when connecting to functions (legacy or fashionable, VPN-required or ZTNA-compatible) and the expertise takes care of the work behind the scenes.
On the subject of 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 connect with VPNaaS, they’re protected by ISE’s authentication, posture evaluation, and community segmentation, all by means 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 supply RADIUS assist for legacy VPNs by means of the Duo Authentication proxy by including servers to a company’s setting. However while 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 setting. And all the tip consumer 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 superb world, a company may defend all its assets utilizing essentially the most superior and fashionable expertise and protocols. Nevertheless, organizations have a variety of belongings that each one want safety, no matter how straightforward or laborious it’s to guard. When combining the community safety by means of Cisco ISE with Person Safety Suite instruments, Cisco can present the options you want as we speak whilst you proceed to modernize for the longer term. And permit CISOs to get a superb evening’s relaxation.
To be taught extra about how Cisco’s Person Safety Suite can defend your workforce, join with an skilled as we speak.
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