Robust Secure SD-WAN

With the escalating adoption of bandwidth-hungry SaaS applications, VPs of networking are having to rethink their wide area networking (WAN) strategies. Instead of accommodating increasing and variable demand with costly, inflexible WAN connections, more network leaders are looking to implement a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN). SD-WAN is attractive not only because it provides more efficient and cost-effective bandwidth allocation, but also because it improves WAN performance, agility, and operational flexibility. As network leaders assess their SD-WAN options, however, what is often missing from their deliberations is how to adequately address security risks. SD-WAN vendors are increasingly embedding security features into their offerings, but these tend to be basic, Layer 3 network controls and not the robust security functions that these environments require. Considering the current cyber-threat environment, should security embedded in an SD-WAN-enabled appliance be relegated to perfunctory specs, subjugated to SD-WAN’s greater mission of pushing packets through pipes as seamlessly as possible? Because that is exactly the problem with most of today’s SD-WAN-plus-security offerings.  

 

 

Why Divide and Conquer Isn’t the Answer

Embedded security may seem like a moot point for many enterprises in which security and networking are handled by different functions in the organization. The networking team deploys an SD-WAN solution, and the security team is responsible for deploying a next-generation firewall (NGFW) as a gatekeeper for the SD-WAN-enabled appliance. But if implementing SD-WAN involves two teams, managing two types of products, using separate management consoles, the TCO of the solution may become more than what the CIO bargained for. What’s more, lack of integration between SD-WAN and NGFW products also heightens risk due to potential gaps between the disparate technologies that cybercriminals are highly motivated to exploit. Finally, and perhaps more importantly for some, network performance bottlenecks are almost guaranteed to ensue. For example, increasing SSL-encrypted enterprise traffic, which now comprises over 50% of all network traffic, must be thoroughly checked for hidden malware, a CPU-intensive process that result in significant overhead for many traditional NGFW solutions

 

Will the Real Integrated SD-WAN/NGFW Solution Please Stand Up?

In an attempt to address this challenge, a number of vendors have begun to offer advanced firewall features embedded into their SD-WAN Wilmington NC appliances. It sounds promising, until you realize they’re not really integrated: You must still manage separate security and networking domains, which hampers IT visibility and control. So, what’s left? As is often the case, the answer is revealed through a change in perspective: Rather than trying to find an SD-WAN solution with security features, you might be better served by seeking to create a secure environment for implementing SD-WAN. One of the best ways of doing so, that is available today, is an SD-WAN-enabled next-generation firewall. For enterprises with high security requirements, an NGFW is essential to provide Layer 3 through Layer 7 protection. But what about SD-WAN functionality? Lest “SD-WAN-enabled NGFW” become a euphemism for SD-WAN compromise, candidate NGFWs claiming to provide SD-WAN functions should be assessed for several key capabilities:

 

• Application and Path Awareness. As an SD-WAN-enabled appliance, the NGFW must have path awareness intelligence, automatically routing packets from each application according to application-level SLAs, prioritizing them by criticality, time of the day, and so on. It should also be application aware, enabling network admins to monitor the changing traffic patterns of the applications traversing the WAN so they can modify policies accordingly.
• Integrated Security and Compliance. This secure environment should not only include key security features, such as high-throughput IPsec VPN and SSL inspection, but also compliance tracking and reporting. With applications dispersing packets across multiple WAN pathways in an SD-WAN, you don’t want to spend hours retracing the routes of suspect packets by toggling between multiple apps.
• Automation. Advanced NGFW hardware design is key to ensuring that firewall functions do not compromise WAN path routing. Otherwise, the performance gains promised by SD-WAN may be negated by security-based latencies.
• Multi-Broadband Support. Rather than relying on erratic 4G/3G network as the only failover for multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) lines, the firewall should also be able to leverage the public internet in order to maximize WAN availability.
• TCO-Reducing Features. Consolidated management almost goes without saying. It doesn’t pay to use an integrated solution if it needs to be managed through two different consoles. And furthermore, an SD-WAN-enabled firewall that offers zero-touch deployment will also relieve much of the burden associated with SD-WAN implementation.

Who Maintains It—Networking or Security?

That’s up to you. A fully integrated secure SD-WAN solution should integrate both networking and security functions for simplified management through a single pane of glass. This not only reduces finger pointing and wasted time, but also increases your flexibility in allocating FTE resources. A secure SD-WAN can help you lower TCO all around, and it’s a straightforward path to creating one that meets the needs of both your networking and security teams, if you know what to look for. Download “Research from Gartner: Four Architectures to Secure SD-WAN” for more details on this pioneering approach. The release of the Fortinet Secure SD-WAN Solutions portfolio earlier this year is enabling organizations around the world to securely realize the full benefits of what promises to be a global game-changing technology. 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and learn more about SD-WAN.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
http://manageditserviceswilmington.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Who Is Taking Care of Your Network Security?

Regardless of the business size, whether it’s a big financial firm with more than 500 employees or a small health care office that’s comprised of only 32 personnel, network security is a significant concern, which constantly grows as enterprises start to realize the risks of running unprotected networks. That's why managed IT services are becoming increasingly popular. 

Doug, The Nephew Of The Owner’s Brother-In-Law 

If businesses begin, they usually save money with the help of a person or a small firm offering IT services to create their first network. This person, in some cases a relative or a friend of a friend, takes a Cat-5 Ethernet cable and links it to a wireless router then to a cable modem. He then ensures that the laptops and desktops could connect to one another and whenever the need comes up, goes to the office to key in the network security key right into the new devices. Even if Doug means really well, office management may probably be his side job or he may not have enough time to stay updated about the many different security threats or even update the firmware of the router when required.  

 

 

Off-The-Shelf Security Product Maybe your office manager noticed a product on the store shelf in the office and believed it would be a wonderful idea to have it installed on your business network. It may provide features like Trojan horse /virus scanning, threat scan, or a software firewall to protect the specific device where the program has been installed. Maybe an executive assistant told you a story regarding something she can download, install, and protect against various online threats. Individual mobile devices or computers can still get the protection they need from off the shelf solutions. However, they don’t know your network, topology, switches, routers, as well as other connecting devices. Off the shelf solutions work passively, needing somebody to set off the scans and to make the needed updated to the threat signatures as well as software once somebody thinks of it. 

Eastern European Crime Syndicate 

Someone, somewhere, at some point may have already scanned your business network. Curious kids and even malicious actors tend to probe computer networks to look for open ports and anything they can find about private and public networks as well as their discovered vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals will then use this data for targeted attacks. These data breaches may use your business network as the main source for launching DOS or denial of service attacks on a particular target. These later attacks, on the other hand, may breach your business network for billing or client information. Nobody wants this to happen. You surely wouldn’t want some script kid or an Eastern European crime syndicate to be watching your network.

 

Let SpartanTec, Inc. Watch Your Network Security

SpartanTec, Inc., with its reliable managed IT services Wilmington NC has a proven track record when it comes to helping businesses of all sizes when it comes to their IT needs. With our IT outsourcing services, you will be confident with your answer once someone asks you the question, “who is watching your network security?” Our IT consulting services take into account your needs, the nature of your business, and your existing network when building flexible solutions that will monitor for online threats proactively. Our team of IT experts are always updated about the latest products and technologies to provide the most current and the best solutions so you can do your business securely.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let us help protect your business from online threats while making sure that your business operations run as smoothly as possible.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 420-9760
https://www.spartantec.com/

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
http://manageditserviceswilmington.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

6 Reasons Why Your Business Should Outsource IT

Listed here are some of the benefits of IT outsourcing. In the past, your IT department may have been confined in your building’s basement or in a back office. There may have been times when your IT team have asked you to restart your computer in order to fix the problem. These brainiacs most likely had the worst pay, worst hours, and worst office.

In worst cases, they may be treated with hostility and that’s why they would rather get their job done as fast as they can so they could go home as quietly as they could. IT appeared to be totally complicated, inaccessible, and remote. But others didn’t know is that they had all these secret knowledge and power – that having your network and computer systems work seamlessly is one of the reasons that could help your company succeed.

Importance of IT Outsourcing

Slowly, IT services became the focus of the healthcare industry, the government, the free market, the hackers, and the C-suite. IT departments suddenly had an available budget. Not only that, they were also provided with means to turn the usefulness of their department around. They took the spotlight after CEOs realized that their IT department can improve their bottom line.

This implied that you had to look beyond the constraints of the abilities of your IT department and finding useful tools somewhere else. After all, every new software and hardware deployment, including domain and cloud migration, malware protection, may take weeks to implement across your business manually. Plus, it rarely goes smoothly.

The question now is how can a CIO combine the knowledge base possessed by his internal IT guys while remaining abreast of the never ending enhancements in this particular field? Aside from that concern, there’s a need to look for a cost effective method to implement these improvements but continue to maintain the security of their patient data.

Managed IT services is one solution. Over the past few years, IT outsourcing Wilmington NC has finally found much greater acceptance as more and more companies realized the importance of the benefits of IT consulting. Reports show that 74% of companies use some kind of outsourced IT service. IT outsourcing is now more than just web development.

Benefits of IT Outsourcing

Improved Security and Monitoring

Being updated with the technology needed to protect your company is time consuming and expensive. Professional outsourced IT consulting providers work with several clients in different industries and they need to be up to date of the best practices in the industry. A reliable managed IT services provider will be serious when it comes to security against online intrusions like zero day hacks and malware. It is their job to always check and update their cybersecurity measures.

Focus On Core Activities

Regardless of how big your company is, you shouldn’t be dealing with every little IT concern. For firms that depend on inhouse IT consulting, the management team ends up making technical decisions or fixing basic IT issues that may even result into halting business operations. With IT outsourcing, you and your staff can focus on your core tasks.

Stay Updated With New Technologies

No single employee can stay updated with all of the latest technological advancements. Automation and innovation are the pillars of the IT technology. The problem is that no one employee can become an expert on the different IT fields. With IT outsourcing, your company will be able to access a pool resources from your selected vendor like SpartanTec, Inc.

Reducing Cost and Overhead

With everything moving online these days, it’s no surprise that IT spending will increase. This means the amount you will spend on protecting your company and client data will be more than the amount you spent five years ago. But, managed IT services will help drive down other costs. For example, you don’t have to pay high electricity bills because you no longer have to keep the server room cool. Since your IT will be outsourced, you can free up some much needed space, which you can use for other important purposes.

Don’t Forget The Cloud

You’ll also enjoy a lot of benefits if you move your data center to the cloud. It keeps your data secure. It replicates data 24/7, which means you don’t have to worry if an outage happens. Cloud space is also scalable. Plus, using public cloud software and infrastructure can significantly boost the agility of your business and help your company grow.

Continuity

Managed IT services offer a level of continuity to your business will cutting back on the risk that a subpar level of operation will bring to your company. There’s also no need to hire more staff to operate the new services that are added to your IT platform. You just have to get in touch with your managed IT service provider if you want more storage, processors, or memory.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you have finally decided that you want to outsource your IT.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
http://manageditserviceswilmington.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Carnival Cruise Lines Company Suffers Ransomware Attack

Carnival Cruise lines, reeling since the start of the global pandemic, has a new problem. Recently, the company disclosed that they were the victims of a ransomware attack.

Carnival's disclosure was almost frighteningly uninformative. The company gave no clear indication which of their brands was impacted, how widespread the damage was, how many guest records were stolen, or any other useful data points.

Their disclosure reads, in part, as follows:

"On August 15, 2020, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc (together, the "Company," "we," "us," or "our") detected a ransomware Wilmington NC attack that accessed and encrypted a portion of one brand's information technology systems. The unauthorized access also included the download of certain of our data files.

...we expect that the security event included unauthorized access to personal data of guests and employees, which may result in potential claims from guests, employees, shareholders, or regulatory agencies."

Several companies reached out to Carnival for additional information but all received the following stock reply:

"We are not planning to discuss anything beyond the 8k filing at this point since it is early in the investigation process."

On the face of it, that seems reasonable, and yet, this is not the first time we've seen a company fall victim to such an attack. When they do, their disclosures are categorically more informative than the one Carnival made.

Independent security researchers have jumped into the fray and begun their own investigations and researchers from the company "Bad Packets" discovered that Carnival has a number of Citrix servers that were vulnerable to CVE-2019-19781 and CVE-2020-2021.

Both of these vulnerabilities would have allowed an attacker easy access to the company's network. Worst of all, the first issue has had a patch available since January 2020, and the second was patched in June of this year (2020).

If those issues prove to be the way the attackers gained access to the system, then this attack was essentially a self-inflicted wound. We'll know for sure in time. In the meantime, if you've been on a Carnival cruise at any time, keep a sharp eye on the payment cards you used to book the trip. You may have trouble heading your way.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let our IT team help protect your business against ransomware and other kinds of online attacks.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
http://manageditserviceswilmington.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence