The importance of integrating security in planning and implementing SD-WAN

The global cyber threat landscape continues to become a concern for organizations, with the number of reported attacks growing consistently. Last year saw a 90% increase in ransomware cases, wherein the victims were publicly extorted. Around 5,000 organizations were affected, twice the number of victims recorded in the previous year. Also, ransomware-as-a-service is a growing problem as cybercriminals use generative AI to aid their attacks.

These details are from the Check Point 2024 Cyber Security Report, which paints a combination of grim prospects and optimism. Cyber threats have become more sophisticated and aggressive, but there are still reasons to be hopeful. Some major cybercriminal operators have been apprehended, and cybersecurity solutions are keeping up with the threats.

One area that merits attention is software-defined WAN or SD-WAN. This technology is gaining popularity as it provides organizations several benefits, including simplifying network management, enhanced application performance, and operational cost savings. Along with the rise of SD-WAN is the growing use of edge devices, which are now targeted by threat actors. This means the need to adopt a new paradigm in securing IT infrastructures.

The need for security in SD-WAN

SD-WAN is a transformative technology that enhances traditional WAN as it optimizes the network infrastructure of modern enterprises. However, as organizations embrace it, they inevitably expand their cyber-attack surfaces. SD-WAN entails using multiple connections, which results in more potential attack points for hackers. The Check Point cyber security report notes how attackers have found novel ways to breach cyber defenses, and widely used devices like routers and switches have become easy targets.

Because of the nature of connections involved in adopting SD-WAN and other networking technologies, traditional perimeter defenses are no longer effective. Also, more organizations are using cloud and hybrid environments, which cannot be secured by the usual firewalls and other conventional security tools. It is advisable to implement a zero-trust architecture and holistically address their security requirements in line with the need for security in SD-WAN.

SD-WAN is neither inherently secure nor naturally prone to attacks. However, like most other technologies, it has weaknesses that can be exploited to launch various attacks. It can have management plane vulnerabilities that may enable unauthorized access, data theft, and configuration manipulation. Also, hackers can use SD-WAN to escalate privileges, bypass security controls, and orchestrate supply chain attacks.

Integrating security into SD-WAN

Security vulnerabilities can easily undermine SD-WAN’s benefits. As such, it is crucial to add security functions to it or integrate cyber defense capabilities such as end-to-end encryption and threat intelligence. Organizations can make SD-WAN secure through a layered security strategy that entails implementing multiple security features, including network segmentation, security policy development, continuous monitoring, and multi-factor authentication.

Additionally, various solutions such as Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), and Secure Web Gateways (SWG) can be integrated into SD-WAN. It is also advisable to implement the zero-trust security model, centralized security management, and mechanisms to securely onboard devices.

These may sound complex and something not many organizations would be proficient in. In most cases, though, integrating security into SD-WAN is a matter of choosing networking or edge devices that already combine SD-WAN and security capabilities. Organizations can integrate separate security solutions into their SD-WAN devices, but there is also the more convenient option of deploying devices that expertly bring together SD-WAN and security functions. It is worth mentioning that Check Point, a leading security vendor, offers a security-infused SD-WAN product.

Maximizing SD-WAN’s Benefits

Around 15 billion edge devices are deployed worldwide. This means billions of cyber attack targets for persistent cybercriminals who relentlessly want to exploit every security flaw or vulnerability they can find. As the Check Point report shows, there is a growing trend of attacks on edge devices. Addressing the security threats is crucial to ensuring that SD-WAN delivers the advantages expected from it.

It is greatly helpful to pick an ordinary SD-WAN appliance that comes with security features instead. An advanced network appliance that includes capabilities such as advanced traffic management, dynamic routing, WAN optimization, automated path selection, and zero-touch provisioning is not significantly better than a router without security functions. The moment it is compromised because of the lack of cyber defenses, it ceases to be useful.

Organizations need to factor in security as they plan and implement SD-WAN. During the planning phase, they need to carefully examine the threats, especially in view of the broader attack surface brought about by SD-WAN’s implementation. After threat evaluation, it is important to develop clear and comprehensive security policies and choose a good secure SD-WAN solution.

During the implementation phase, it is important to ascertain the configuration’s security, integrate it with the existing security system, and manage vulnerabilities carefully. A schedule for regular patching and updating must be established. The SD-WAN software or firmware should also be updated promptly to reflect the latest security fixes and optimization functions.

Securely optimized

SD-WAN and security are logical partners. SD-WAN simplifies and accelerates network management, enhances app performance, and reduces the costs of managing diverse connection types. However, it also poses new and unfamiliar cyber threats. Therefore, it is essential to bake security into SD-WAN to ensure that the evolving threat landscape does not counteract the network optimization and app performance enhancement benefits.