Tag: Zero Trust

Building Zero-Trust in Multicloud Environments

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Zero-Trust Multicloud Environments
Zero Trust in Multicloud Environments

The ever-increasing complexity of the modern digital landscape has led to the rapid expansion of cloud computing. Multicloud environments, where organizations use multiple cloud service providers, have become the norm. However, with this increased flexibility comes added security risks.

Identity governance is a crucial aspect of building a zero-trust architecture in multicloud environments. By implementing a comprehensive identity governance framework, organizations can secure access to sensitive data and resources, no matter where they reside.

The Importance of Identity Governance in Multicloud

Identity governance is the process of managing and monitoring user access to systems and resources. It helps organizations ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive information and resources, and that they are using them in compliance with the organization’s security policies.

In a multicloud environment, identity governance is even more critical. With resources spread across multiple cloud service providers, it becomes increasingly difficult to monitor and control access.

The Benefits of Zero-Trust in Multicloud

Zero-trust is a security model that assumes that all users, devices, and systems are potential threats. In this model, access to resources is granted only after the identity of the user and the device they are using has been verified and authenticated.

By implementing zero-trust in a multicloud environment, organizations can:

Improve security

By verifying the identity of all users and devices, organizations can reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and resources.

Streamline compliance

Zero-trust enables organizations to enforce their security policies across all cloud service providers, ensuring that they are in compliance with regulations and industry standards.

Enhance productivity

By granting access only to authorized users, organizations can minimize downtime and ensure that employees have access to the resources they need to be productive.

Implementing Zero-Trust in Multicloud

Multicloud Environments

Implementing zero-trust in a multicloud environment requires a comprehensive identity governance framework that includes the following components:

Identity and access management

This includes the processes and technologies used to manage and control user access to resources.

Authentication and authorization

This encompasses all the methods and systems involved to verify the identity of users and devices and grant access to resources based on predefined security policies.

Monitoring and reporting

This takes into account the processes to monitor user activity and generate reports to help organizations identify and respond to security incidents.

Conclusion

In today’s rapidly expanding digital landscape, it is increasingly important for organizations to implement a zero-trust architecture in their multicloud environments. By implementing a comprehensive identity governance framework, organizations can secure access to sensitive data and resources, minimize downtime, and ensure compliance with regulations and industry standards.

To learn more about Zero-trust and cloud environments, you can contact us at marketing@www.ctlink.com.ph to learn more!

Preparing for Evolving Threats with OT Zero Trust

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<strong>Preparing for Evolving Threats with OT Zero Trust</strong>
OT Security banner

Every year new technologies are being introduced into the IT business environment to improve it for the better. On the other hand, threats as well have been improving the ways to disrupt businesses and finding ways to exploit security vulnerabilities to steal or ransom your data. Attackers in recent years have focused their efforts on previously less guarded entry points such as remote endpoints. However, Operational Technology (OT) is an entry point which most businesses tend to forget, are unsure of how they can secure it, or even think IT security covers it. OT security is something businesses need to be aware of as the threats coming from it grow every year.

OT targeted threats started coming into big news in 2010 when an Iranian nuclear power plant experienced major loses due to an attack. It was then considered a common way state-sponsored threat actors would deal blows to enemies of their state. It would then be looked in a different light in 2017 when WannaCry caused havoc to many businesses. This showed threat actors that companies were willing to pay large sums of money for data that they could easily encrypt by exploiting security vulnerabilities within their systems.

As of 2020 and 2021, customized and targeted attacks have now become the norm and something to be wary of. All these attacks, be it to the remote endpoints or OT, stem from the exploitation of excessive trust. This is why in recent years, the push for Zero Trust security has been everywhere.

Zero Trust approach for OT can improve defenses, streamline security oversight, minimize time taken during maintenance. This is done through policies which help neutralize the activities that attackers and malware can do if they are able to get into the business network.

Below are the steps that Trend Micro txOne takes to ensure that Zero Trust is implemented into a business’ OT:

Scan inbound devices

OT Security scan

Modern OT cyberattacks usually start with an infected endpoint or USB brought into the worksite by an employee. Once connected to the network, the attackers are able to access the OT device which has little to no security. By setting up a checkpoint for rapid, installation-free device scans you can mitigate these threats. This also be the process of newly arrived assets being prepared for onboarding to mitigate threats from compromised devices prior to shipping.

Activate endpoint defenses

OT Security endpoint

Traditional antivirus software can bog down assets, leading to crashes or delays. By using operations-friendly, “OT-native” lockdown software can help secure legacy endpoints through a trust list that only allows applications critical to operations. Modernized endpoints on the other hand, can save on resources by cross referencing a library of trusted Industrial Control System (ICS) applications and licenses. This to allow the OT security to communicate with the next generation firewalls to know what files and applications it can skip and give priority to.

Zero out network trust

OT Security network

Having IT security doesn’t mean that you have OT security. The OT network and devices have their own protocol and processes that are separate from your business IT. However, OT still needs a connection to your business IT for necessary data collection and updates. Attackers aim for this window to get your attack the network. To increase the difficulty for attackers, Zero Trust OT security limits the access of entry points within the OT network with specific traffic rules. The traffic rules are based on the functions and communication needs in order for them to do their work. It also has the added benefit of separating them into segments that make it easier for IT teams to monitor and secure.

To learn more about OT security solutions like txOne, you can send us your inquiries at marketing@www.ctlink.com.ph!

Zero Trust: Citrix Secure Private Access

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Zero Trust: Citrix Secure Private Access
Zero Trust Citrix Secure Private Access header

In today’s hybrid environment, traditional enterprise architecture and security models are not up to standard when faced with the accompanying complex application-security requirements it brings. Companies are now shifting towards SaaS while maintaining their enterprise apps inside their datacenters. This is so that data is more accessible to their users as they collaborate through remote work solutions while still keeping their important applications within their network perimeter.

However, this approach makes the IT environment more complex and challenging when it comes to keeping it secure and easy to manage. Allowing non-compliant or unauthorized devices into your network in favor of BYOD for hybrid work opens up your network to more security risks. This is made evident in the past few years as more cyberattacks have been focused on users rather than businesses.

The common risks and challenges that businesses face can be summarized below:

  • Cyberthreat Risks: Siloed point products cannot provide broad protection against cyberattacks
  • Poor Experience: High latency to access applications when backhauling traffic thought the datacenter
  • Complex Management: Multiple complex and hard-to-manage siloed technologies
  • Too Much Work: Overwhelmed IT staff due to rapid usage and high dependency on VPN
  • Slow Cloud Adoption: Complexity of transitioning to a cloud/multi-cloud architecture
  • Expensive: Overspending on siloed, redundant, and disjointed security technology increases costs

Citrix Secure Private Access

Zero Trust Citrix Secure Private Access summary

Knowing all of the above challenges, Citrix developed a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) security solution that focused on solving them. Secure Private Access is a cloud delivered ZTNA service with capabilities such as adaptive authentication and adaptive access for web, SaaS, and TCP (e.g. SAP, Oracle) applications.

Traditional VPN solutions needed user devices to be managed to access the network which either used more resources then needed or had push back from users using BYOD. It also had the issues of allowing users more permissions or access than needed while having the additional downside of static access control policies. Citrix Secure Private Access on the other hand, allows your IT team a set of security controls to protect against BYOD and limiting the access of users to IT-sanctioned apps. Security policy options can also be applied to devices whether they are a company issued device or a BYO device.

Secure Private Access was not Citrix’s first foray into the ZTNA space as it was preceded by Secure Workspace Access. The main difference is that Citrix has updated its technologies to better handle the current business needs for a ZTNA solution. Below are key features that Secure Private Access has that Secure Workspace Access does not have:

ZTNA to all IT sanctioned applications

Zero Trust Citrix Secure Private Access ztna

As stated above, Citrix Secure Private Access expands its ZTNA to applications running on TCP and UDP- based protocols. A feature not seen in the previous Citrix Workspace access which primarily focused on browser-based applications. This feature allows your IT to apply ZTNA to your business applications whether they are deployed on-premise or in the public cloud even if they are not going through Citrix Workspace.

Adaptive authentication, user risk score, SSO, and enhanced security

Zero Trust Citrix Secure Private Access new

Citrix Secure Private Access can scan end-users devices and then give them a risk score. It then uses this as a basis before it allows any sessions to be established between your network and the device. Risk score is based on the user’s identity, geolocation, and the device-posture assessment. IT then can define how they want users to authenticate and authorize their access to the business application. This gives IT to control the actions users can take within the applications and can be implemented on all sanctioned applications, including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop service customers.

To learn more about the Citrix Secure Private Access or any other Citrix solution, you may contact us at marketing@www.ctlink.com.ph and we would be happy to set a meeting with you at your convenience!

Improve your Zero trust Strategy with Pulse Zero Trust Access!

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Improve your Zero trust Strategy with Pulse Zero Trust Access!

Digital transformation is changing the business norms. Access and connectivity are becoming more flexible as devices, users, applications, and infrastructure adapt to a new era of hyper-connectivity. This has prompted enterprises to consider how to secure access for their users and applications while managing cybersecurity risks in a network with little to no boundaries. This is where Zero Trust solutions like Pulse Zero Trust Access (PZTA) comes into play.

The PZTA platform enables diverse users from any location to access public, private, and multi-cloud applications as well as data center resources securely while staying user friendly. Be it a hybrid cloud or pure cloud strategy, PZTA can help organizations enhance their security, productivity, and compliance while also improving administrative and user experience.

Below are a few key areas in which PZTA can help improve:

On-premises, SaaS and Hybrid Cloud Applications

PZTA allows you to have Zero Trust Secure access remotely or on-site to your corporate applications whether they are located in your network perimeter or in the cloud (private or public). Users and devices are authenticated continuously while maintaining secure entry points for your network and user device through the use of encryption channels.

Keeping user and application traffic
within the corporate network

Organizations can be confident when users from any location access any application using any device. All user traffic is directed to PZTA which acts as a middleman where user requests are fulfilled by PZTA accessing data from the corporate network on their behalf. Since data are not accessed directly by users, this lowers the area of attack of compromised accounts and devices.

Difficulty of managing
resources in the cloud

The PZTA cloud-based service emulates the same access and management experience as an on-prem solution. This means that you can enable the same level of visibility, compliance, enforcement, and analytics as you would in an on-prem solution.

Visibility, Enforcement and Compliance Reporting

PZTA provides a single pane-of-glass visibility of all users connecting to your network, regardless of the location of the user, application, or resource.

Visibility gaps

From the PZTA dashboard, administrators can get holistic visibility of users, devices, infrastructure, and applications as all access is authenticated and authorized by it. These are also logged in the dashboard for reporting and auditing purposes.

Ensuring user endpoint compliance

PZTA first goes through a set of policies during authentication to see if devices trying to access the corporate network are compliant. Users can then follow pre-defined remediation given set by the administrators so that they may access the network.

Measuring users’ risk factors

User activities are measured and given a “risk score” based on users’ behavioral patterns. Stricter authentication or restrictions can be dynamically applied to verify the user’s identity once there is behavior outside the norm detected. This continuous anomaly and malicious activity detection is used to ensure the network’s security.

These are just a few ways in which Pulse Zero Trust Access can help companies improve their visibility and security. If you would like to learn more about Pulse Secure solutions, you may fill out the form below and we will contact you as soon as we can!