IT professionals prioritize security for enterprise data and enterprise applications. However, accommodating the needs of an increasingly distributed and remote workforce has compromised security efforts by moving applications and data to multicloud environments and Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms.
Today’s companies rely on the Wide Area Network (WAN) to securely connect cloud applications to a hybrid workforce at main offices, branch sites, and remote workplaces. By using direct internet connections, organizations bypass the enterprise data center with its layers of security, leaving data and endpoints exposed to cyberthreats. Data in transit and devices at the edge of the network are particularly vulnerable to attack.
Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN) address these challenges with built-in features that combine security at scale with implementation flexibility.
To successfully provide cloud application security while delivering continuous connectivity and high levels of application performance to enhance user experience for distributed enterprises, SD-WAN must have three specific capabilities.
By unifying security and networking through SD-WAN, enterprises get the flexibility they need while still delivering the application performance required for quality user experience.
SD-WAN provides flexibility through transport independence and options for on-premises and cloud deployment.
SD-WAN supports connections over direct internet broadband, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) circuits, and LTE/5G, enabling dynamic, application-aware routing. These multiple connection types carry traffic simultaneously, allowing the best path to be selected automatically for optimal application experience and performance, as well as for instant failover protection after a security incident or equipment failure.
SD-WAN flexibility and security can be extended to colocation facilities and cloud platforms to provide connectivity for regional branch sites. With SD-WAN, companies can minimize the attack surface without implementing edge hardware at each site. Applying unified security and segmentation policies through SD-WAN on a cloud colocation platform keeps personal data local to meet regulatory compliance and privacy requirements.
With SD-WAN, the IT team benefits from unified management of distributed resources. By integrating flexible, transport-independent WAN capabilities with full-stack security, all managed from one centralized cloud portal, companies avoid complexities that result from installing, configuring, and managing products provided by multiple vendors using multiple interfaces. Branch sites and remote workplaces gain direct internet access to cloud applications with protection against threats originating from the internet.
With the ability to centrally manage both the SD-WAN fabric and integrated security stack from a central cloud portal, IT teams can focus on providing the best application experience for the workforce. For example, SD-WAN Cloud OnRamps for SaaS platforms provide performance tuned for cloud applications such as Office 365, directing traffic from branches to the closest cloud gateways to meet pre-defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and simplifying both connection management and access control.
As data moves beyond tightly managed data centers to be transmitted to multicloud environments and SaaS platforms, security controls must be emphasized in the network design. When considering the options for an SD-WAN solution, look for a fully integrated security stack that includes an application-aware enterprise firewall, intrusion prevention, advanced malware protection, and URL filtering that operates at the edge of the network or in the cloud.
The SD-WAN solution should be capable of leveraging intelligent analytics to measure and maintain application Quality of Experience (QoE) through higher availability and predictability of service. For Cisco SD-WAN solutions, built-in security is enhanced with insights derived from Cisco Talos. The leading cyber threat intelligence team continuously monitors emerging threats worldwide and automatically updates SD-WAN security solutions with proactive and actionable remediation measures.
The right SD-WAN solution enables organizations to take a holistic and end-to-end approach to cloud application security and networking using security layers that are embedded into the SD-WAN fabric. When similar security layers are implemented as bolt-on sets of third-party point solutions instead of built-in capabilities, they must be individually integrated and managed, requiring additional IT training and time to unify them.
Where an SD-WAN security stack deployment is less about protecting data and cloud applications, and more about providing the ability to adapt to changes in an organization’s operations, a holistic solution that encompasses both on-premises and cloud security, including integration with third-party security vendors, provides maximum agility.
Integrated security at each branch edge router provides flexibility to meet business requirements by customizing each instance for branch-specific security, routing, and real-time access policies, including guest access, direct internet permissions, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnels.
Easy-to-implement cloud-delivered security gateways, such as Cisco Umbrella, monitor network traffic and apply security policies to block access to known malicious sites, phishing attacks, and ransomware infections.
SD-WAN with security as Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) hosted in colocation facilities provides connectivity for multiple regional branch sites with the same capabilities as on-premises branch implementation, along with unified security and segmentation policies to protect and keep data regional in compliance with regulatory and privacy requirements.
Your company can use these three capabilities to evaluate how an SD-WAN solution fits into a secure WAN architecture. Security is essential for protecting sensitive business data. However, cloud application performance is equally vital for keeping a distributed workforce productive and meeting user experience expectations. The right SD-WAN solution will deliver cloud application security without compromising performance.
While adopting a flexible, high-performing SD-WAN solution meets many challenges, if the solution doesn’t have built-in security, every connected resource is left at risk. Installing the best security solutions with a flexible, dependable SD-WAN fabric to maximize cloud application performance gives the enterprise workforce access to the information they need where and when they want it.
To successfully transition enterprise resources to cloud and SaaS computing, companies need to develop an SD-WAN architecture that combines the best of both security and cloud application performance. An end-to-end software-defined networking (SDN) architecture embeds security directly into the SD-WAN fabric to provide the optimal solution for IT teams and a distributed workforce.
Xceptional can help your company choose and deploy the ideal SD-WAN solution for cloud application security using our specialization in Network Solutions. As a Cisco Partner, we have certified expertise in Cisco’s integrated security solution, empowering your company to provide the best balance of security and user experience for direct internet access.
Get expert guidance in choosing the best SD-WAN solution for cloud application security and performance optimization. Reach out to Xceptional today.