Getting SD-WAN Security Right

For some companies, software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) was the difference between enduring through the pandemic or closing up shop. This virtual network overlay allowed companies to provide connectivity to dispersed locations and manage heavy cloud bandwidth demands. But it soon became clear that for those implementing the networking approach, SD-WAN security must be prioritized.

Before the pandemic arrived, companies were utilizing SD-WAN to help manage increasingly complex cloud environments that were placing too much burden on existing WAN architectures. SD-WAN also equipped companies prioritizing an ever-more-demanding customer experience.

But the technology became essential in 2020 for equipping work-from-home shifts happening across the globe. SD-WAN made it possible to support business continuity and productivity – and even allow businesses the opportunity to thrive. For companies that jumped into a network infrastructure upgrade too quickly, there was often a too-late realization: SD-WAN security must be prioritized.

When choosing a networking solution, here are four areas to consider to determine if the SD-WAN security is adequate:

Over-Complication: When you implement SD-WAN across your branch locations, it can become challenging to troubleshoot without the right tools in place. As you extend SD-WAN to uses like cloud-to-datacenter or remote workers, the complexity becomes even more troubling. You need a solution that supports a wide variety of use cases, but it should also integrate them into a single management console that includes networking and security so that you can implement consistency in your policies and their enforcement across your entire network.

Limited Visibility: SD-WAN is designed to be a dynamic technology that prioritizes optimizing application performance by continually monitoring and replacing connections to a better pathway. When SD-WAN security is an afterthought, it creates a situation in which security cannot keep up with the changes. The result is a gap in security, particularly if the security tools are not integrated with the SD-WAN functionality.

Making VPNs Too Important: In 2020, many companies were forced to access virtual private networks (VPNs) as a way to accommodate workers outside the perimeter of the traditional WAN. This offered cyber criminals an opportunity to target devices used in home networks and then use them to access corporate WANs. When you choose a networking solution, it’s important that SD-WAN security isn’t compromised with the same vulnerabilities. Too many companies are using only a VPN to protect transmissions going to and from branch offices.

Focusing on SD-WAN Security: Your branch offices and remote workers need security that can keep pace with the dynamic changes happening constantly with SD-WAN. When considering solutions, it’s important to look for a full range of integrated security, but that is only part of achieving secure SD-WAN. You will also need additional security that stretches throughout the infrastructure that will address risks across the meshed networking approach that SD-WAN offers. It must inspect traffic at high volumes and at application speeds without compromising the performance of the network.

If SD-WAN security seems a bit overwhelming, there are two key tools that will help you ensure that you can successfully implement the technology without compromising security:

Zero-Trust Network Access: Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) uses tools like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and role-based access to resources to ensure that your systems and data are protected. The basic philosophy is that rather than treating everything within a certain boundary as safe, the ZTNA approach treats every device and user as suspect until proven otherwise.

A Trusted Technology Partner: Identifying the integrated SD-WAN security tools and features necessary for a protected network is easier when you have a guide along for the entire process. One Connect starts by helping your team identify your priorities for the infrastructure upgrade, then assists you in matching those priorities with solutions that fit your needs and your security requirements. Contact us today to get started.