What does edge to edge cybersecurity mean?

• Edge-to-edge cybersecurity is the collection of technologies, solutions, protocols and best practices that enterprises use to ensure security for edge computing.
• Edge computing moves data processing and storage functions away from centralized data centers to individual devices and locations at the edge of the network. This can potentially increase bandwidth, reduce latency and improve user experiences. However, edge computing also makes it harder for security teams to visualize and protect data at the edge, and to manage the hundreds or thousands of devices on which data is stored and processed.
• Edge-to-edge cybersecurity solutions revolve around authenticating the identities of users, protecting endpoints, and monitoring, detecting and blocking threats.
• To achieve edge-to-edge cybersecurity, organizations may adopt solutions such as access control, endpoint security, firewalls, intrusion prevention, multifactor authentication, Zero Trust network access, encryption, network monitoring, vulnerability management, URL filtering and more.
   

What does edge computing mean?

Edge computing is a model for IT architecture where data is processed at the edge of the network, as close as possible to the individuals and devices that generate it and use it. Edge computing moves a certain amount of data processing and storage out of centralized data centers that may reside at great distances from users, and performs these functions on devices located closer to users like local servers, mobile devices, laptops, desktops, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and machines. Because data no longer needs to be backhauled through a distant data center for security inspection and control, edge computing significantly minimizes latency, increases network capacity, delivers better user experiences and lets organizations take advantage of real-time, data-driven insights.
 

What are some examples of edge computing?

Common use cases for edge computing include:

• Connected and autonomous vehicles. Edge computing enables data generated by sensors on autonomous vehicles to be processed and analyzed in milliseconds, allowing the vehicle and/or the driver to make smart, safe decisions.
• Smart utilities. Providing real-time visibility into energy consumption in commercial, industrial and residential facilities, IoT sensors and devices enable utilities to better manage energy production and availability.
• Predictive maintenance. Edge computing enables sensors to monitor the health of industrial machines and alert maintenance teams to imminent problems and service needs to prevent downtime.
• Patient monitoring. Edge computing devices help healthcare providers monitor vital patient information like blood pressure, glucose levels and heart rate while keeping data close to healthcare sites rather than exposing it to the public internet and third-party storage sites.
• Content delivery. By storing and serving content from locations closer to users, edge computing delivers better user experiences for surfing the web, gaming, and streaming video and music.
• Smart traffic. Edge computing is essential for smart traffic lights, smart parking technology, and smart transportation management systems that rely on real-time insight into local conditions.
• Virtual reality. Virtual and augmented reality technologies rely on the ability to quickly process massive amounts of data.
   

What are the challenges of edge-to-edge cybersecurity?

Data, devices, applications and users at the edge are vulnerable to the same type of attacks that target data centers, web applications, network defenses and cloud services. However, several aspects of edge computing make it more difficult to manage edge-to-edge cybersecurity.

• Lack of centralized protection. Data stored at the edge lacks the overarching protections of data stored in a centralized data center. To simplify their workflows, users and administrators working with edge devices may not deploy strong authentication measures such as multi-factor authentication, making it easier for hackers to access these systems for malicious purposes. Edge devices are also frequently deployed in uncontrolled environments where it’s easier for attackers to gain physical access.
• Larger attack surface. Because data processing happens on hundreds or thousands of devices rather than on servers in a central data center, edge computing inherently increases the size of an organization’s attack surface. This gives attackers many more potential points of entry and increases the difficulty of defending against threats such as DDoS attacks.
• Lack of visibility. As organizations embrace cloud computing and networks become more distributed, data and IT infrastructure no longer neatly reside within a well-defined network perimeter. Data assets and applications may be spread out around the world, making it difficult for IT teams to track and protect them.
• Unmanaged devices. While edge computing enables the transition to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) connectivity, it also means that data and applications are living on devices that are not managed by IT teams and are not protected by corporate security solutions.
• Device mobility. Since many user devices and IoT devices are mobile, IT teams can’t protect the network by relying on security solutions designed to be installed in a fixed location.
• Limited expertise at the edge. There is typically a lot less IT and security expertise available at edge locations, making it more difficult to count on security equipment and controls being properly installed, configured, updated and patched.
• Poor security hygiene. Edge devices are inevitably managed by a large group of users and administrators, making it difficult to enforce security hygiene such as strong passwords and security best practices such as encrypting sensitive documents and regularly installing patches and updates.
• The scale of edge networks. The sheer volume of locations and devices in an edge computing network makes it nearly impossible for IT teams to manage security with traditional tools. Network administrators may be responsible for tracking hundreds or thousands of sensors. When devices are deployed across a broad geographic area, securing each device physically becomes impossible. Yet, since these devices are connected to the network and other systems, they may be easily breached by threat actors if they are not properly secured.
   

What are solutions for edge-to-edge cybersecurity?

Achieving edge-to-edge cybersecurity requires a multilayered approach that combines security solutions which defend against a variety of threats and vulnerabilities.

• Antivirus and anti-malware detection blocking. These solutions scan files and directories to detect, quarantine and/or delete malicious code.
• Encryption. By encrypting data at rest and in transit, security teams can prevent sensitive information from being accessed even when it is stolen or exposed.
• Unified threat management (UTM). UTM products combine multiple security functions such as antivirus, content filtering, web filtering, email filtering and data loss prevention to monitor for a variety of threats and simplify security management.
• URL filtering. URL filtering technology blocks users from accessing malicious or suspicious websites, or sites that violate acceptable use policies.
• Vulnerability scanning and management. By identifying vulnerabilities in software and devices, vulnerability management tools can help security teams to prioritize patches and updates to address weaknesses that attackers could exploit.
• Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS). These systems identify anomalies and suspicious behavior by monitoring, analyzing and reporting on network activity and events.
• Network access control. Adopting the principle of least privilege prevents users from inadvertently or maliciously accessing resources and sensitive data to which they should not have access.
• Next generation firewall (NGFW). In addition to traditional port/protocol inspection, NGFWs include application-level inspection, intrusion prevention and external threat intelligence.
   

How does SASE contribute to edge-to-edge cybersecurity?

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cloud-based framework for simplifying network management and improving network security. Because they are implemented via the cloud rather than through a data center, SASE technologies are ideally suited for edge-to-edge cybersecurity. SASE is built on a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) that provides centralized control, cost-effective connectivity, greater visibility and improved security. To enhance security, a SASE architecture may also incorporate several cloud-based security technologies, including:

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG). Installed as software at the edge of a network, an SWG blocks unauthorized traffic and allows users to only access secure websites. SWGs can offer strong defenses against malware and viruses, human error, and data leaks.
• Firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS). FWaaS solutions provide cloud-based capabilities for inspecting network traffic, detecting and preventing intrusion, enforcing application-aware security policies, filtering URLs, preventing malware and more.
• Cloud access security broker (CASB). This technology sits between users and cloud-based service providers, monitoring traffic to enforce security policy, ensure encryption, prevent malware and facilitate multi-factor authentication.
• Zero Trust network access (ZTNA). This remote access protocol requires users to be authenticated on every request for access to IT resources while also limiting the scope and duration of access to increase network security.
   

What is edge computing vs. cloud computing?

Edge computing is the practice of deploying compute and storage resources at locations at the ede of a network – where data is generated and used – to minimize latency and improve performance. Cloud computing is an IT model that virtualizes computing resources and makes them available as on-demand services via the internet. While cloud computing enables organizations to scale computing resources easily and to pay only for the services they consume, data in cloud data centers may be located at great distances from the users, devices and applications that need it.
 

What are best practices for edge-to-edge cybersecurity?

Best practices for edge security include:

• Adopt a Zero Trust approach. A Zero Trust approach to security assumes that every request for access to IT resources may be malicious. As result, every user, device and application must be authenticated and authorized on every request. This dramatically reduces the size of the attack surface while also limiting an attack’s “blast radius,” preventing attackers who have accessed one part of a network from moving laterally to compromise additional assets.
• Monitoring the network with AI-powered tools. To manage the large and unwieldy nature of an edge computing network, security teams can use AI-powered monitoring tools to search for threats and vulnerabilities.
• Deploying multi-factor authentication. When authenticating users and devices, requiring two or more factors minimizes the chances that authentication may be compromised. Factors may include things like a biometric scan or one-time password (OTP) pushed to a mobile phone. Factors may also be less tangible metrics, such as the time and location from which a device is seeking to connect to the network.
• Prioritize updates and patching. Keeping edge devices updated and patched is critical to blocking attackers from exploiting hardware and software vulnerabilities. Centralized configuration management and monitoring tools can help to identify and prioritize a patching schedule.
   

Edge-to-edge cybersecurity with Spectrum Enterprise

At Spectrum Enterprise, we offer comprehensive solutions for edge-to-edge cybersecurity in partnership with industry leaders like Cisco and Fortinet. Our Managed Network Edge solution is a modular, turnkey platform that provides services for security, routing, SD-WAN, WiFi, remote access and more. Our Enterprise Network Edge delivers advanced security with the flexibility to support hybrid networks and multi-cloud strategies. Our subscription-based DDoS protection service automatically defend networks against volumetric attacks, and our secure remote access solution combines multi-factor authentication and Zero Trust network access to strengthen network security.