Every day, businesses worldwide face sophisticated threats to their data and communications networks.
While enterprises continue to invest heavily in hardening their IT infrastructures and enforcing comprehensive and constantly updated security policies against malicious code attacks, another in-house threat – the mobile workforce – is opening the floodgates to compromised enterprise data and corporate network contamination.
While mobile working provides commercial and operational benefits, enterprise security policies frequently suffocate the effectiveness and productivity of mobile workforce devices.
In this article, we will examine why best-of-breed software alone is unable to provide the mobile workforce and their laptops with the same level of security as office-based workers.
Two lines of defense in a corporate environment that is protected
Currently, organizations use a layered approach to anticipate, detect, and prevent threats from laptop attacks.
This is in addition to a centralized, unbending IT policy that trumps an individual’s control over his or her own laptop.
Due to the importance placed on corporate IT governance by IT departments, their primary method of enforcing organizational security policies effectively is through control of all networking components.
When laptop users connect to the Internet via the corporate network, they are protected by two lines of defense:
A comprehensive set of IT security appliances running secure and hardened operating systems, as well as security software such as firewalls, intrusion prevention/detection systems, antivirus, antispyware, antispam, and content filtering, all of which are fully managed by the corporate IT organization.
On the user’s laptop, the user installs and controls personal firewall and antivirus software.
Additionally, when laptops are contained within a secure corporate environment, the IT department of the organization can exercise complete and consistent control over (and visibility into) any device, which is a critical operational consideration. This means that the IT department can:
Consistently update respective laptops with data, policies, and other pertinent information.
Effectively monitor the entire network in terms of the status of all network components.
Outside the zone of safety
When a laptop leaves the enterprise-managed network, the two-line defense system breaks down, as the laptop is no longer protected by the corporate security appliances layer and is entirely dependent on the security software installed on the local operating system.
The roaming laptop is at risk of being attacked by nearby wireless and wireline devices (in hotels, business lounges, airports, WiFi at Internet Cafes, etc.).
These threats represent a threat that extends well beyond the scope of the individual laptop, as intrusive code may proceed to use the laptop as a platform for breaching corporate security once it returns to its base and connects to the network.
Reliance on only the best-of-breed software on the laptop is flawed for the following reasons:
Operating System Inherent Vulnerabilities – By definition, security software that runs on Windows is vulnerable to Windows-specific vulnerabilities, effectively exposing personal firewall and antivirus applications to malicious content attacks.
Unknown Threats – security software is designed to protect against known threats only. It may be too late by the time these threats are added to the knowledge base.
Immediate Damage – malicious content executes directly on the protected platform, rather than on a security appliance designed to filter and buffer the content.
Managing Security Levels – ensuring that all computers have the latest security updates installed and enforcing a unified security policy can be extremely challenging. When computers are on the front lines, these security flaws can have a catastrophic effect on the entire network. In other words, it is “all or nothing,” meaning that either the entire network is secured or it is not.
As a result, many organizations adopt stringent security policies that prohibit the majority of wireless networking options (significantly limiting user productivity and remote computing freedom), or impose stringent, costly, and difficult-to-enforce cleaning procedures for laptops returned from the “field.”
Mobile-optimized best-of-breed software
To address the current vulnerabilities in laptop security, an increasing number of CSOs have chosen to place computers behind a robust security gateway, typically a dedicated security appliance.
Unlike personal computers, these appliances feature hardened operating systems that lack security holes, “back doors,” or unprotected layers. They were created with a single objective in mind: to provide security.
Due to the fact that these security appliances are hardware-based rather than software-based, the following benefits accrue:
Cannot be uninstalled – security attacks frequently begin by attempting to uninstall or disable security software.
Software-based security solutions, as every software program includes a targetable uninstall option.
In comparison, appliance-based security cannot be removed due to the fact that it is hard coded into the hardware.
Memory that is not writable – solutions based on hardware manage memory in a restricted and controlled manner. Access to the memory of security appliances can be restricted, providing additional protection against attacks on the security mechanism.
Through the use of hardware, a comprehensive set of security solutions can be combined into a single device.
Additionally, hardware enables the coexistence of best-of-breed enterprise-class solutions and proprietary developments operating at both the lower and upper levels (e.g. packet and network level, application level etc.).
Additionally, hardware can alleviate the well-known tension between users and IT managers regarding users’ computing freedom.
On the one hand, users desire complete freedom when using computers, while IT managers strive to enforce security policies (e.g. banning the use of P2P software).
IT managers resolve the conflict between the user’s desire for computing freedom and the IT manager’s desire to control and enforce security policies by utilizing a security appliance.
Whereas with software, policy is embedded in the laptop or computer, with an appliance, security policies can be enforced externally to the laptop, allowing the user complete freedom within the secure computing environment.
To summarize, CSOs should consider layered security architecture on a hardware appliance to provide corporate-level security for laptops operating outside of a secure office environment.
A dedicated appliance can house all of the best-of-breed security software and reintroduce the two lines of defense that were previously available on office-based PCs.
By incorporating a security gateway, the damage is contained at the gateway in the event of a security breach.
Pingback: How To Apply Online For A Job - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Expanding Your VAR Enterprise - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: You Are Still Awaiting The Results Of Your Background Checks. - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: The Four Secrets To Wealth & Success - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Email Marketing The Easy Way - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: The New Frontier For Your AUP Is Blogging - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: E-commerce And The Supply Of Drinking Water - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Ten Things To Consider Before Purchasing A Business In California - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Do Definitions Inform You On How To Improve Your Business? - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: This Week's International Trade News - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Expressing You! - Breathing Life Into Your Presentation - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Merchant Accounts For Small Businesses - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Processors Of Credit Cards - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: The Business Analyst's Emerging Role - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Critical Considerations That Can Make Or Break Your Business - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Google: Page Experience Ranking Algorithm Coming May 2021 - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: How To Create A Shopping Cart And Integrate It Into A Website - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Shop Safely Online - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: More Proof That Blogs Are Taking Over The World - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Ten Pointers For Using Electronic Forms - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Where Should Your Blog Be Hosted? - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Create Your Own E-commerce Store - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Offline Data Recovery Solutions - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Newcomers To Online Shopping - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: ECommerce - A Strategy - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: All Your Blogging Needs Can Be Satisfied With Blog Software - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Choosing An Inventory Software Solution That Is Appropriate For Your Business - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: You'll Love Ordering Flowers Online For These 10 Reasons - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Utilization Of Independent Information Sources - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: How Do You Pick The Best Website For You? - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: SMS Marketing: What It Is And How To Get Started - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Google: New Deadline For Mobile-first Indexing March 2021 - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Top 7 Reasons For Companies To Be Present In The App StoreBetty Lockwood - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Internet Promotion - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: 6 Nonprofit Web Design Mistakes To Avoid In 2021 - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Consider The Following Before Conducting An Internal Employee Survey - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: The Parallels Between Economic Growth And The Growth Of Construction Equipment - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: How To Implement Credit Card Acceptance In Your Business - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Google: We’ll Pick The HTTPS Version Of Your Website If It Is Also Available With HTTP - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: The Internet Is Ruled By Sticky Sites - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Better Mobile Search Engine Optimization - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: In Australia, Online Shopping Is A Craze. - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Loading Time, Your Web Pages, Your Search Engine Rankings, And Your Bottom Line - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: How To Get Rid Of Pop-Up Ads: Reclaim Your Home Court Advantage - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Google: Redirect M.dot Subdomain URLs After Deleting Them - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: A Global Industry Of Significant Size - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: New In SEOprofiler: Even More Keyword Suggestions For The Ranking Monitor - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Text Messages Are An Ecommerce Opportunity - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: 5 Reasons Why Choosing The Correct Point Of Sale Equipment Increases Profits
Pingback: 13 Favorite Productivity Apps For 2020 - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Mobile Site Design Impacts Organic Search Rankings - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Do You Need A Retail Merchant Account? - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Acquire A Merchant Account For Credit Cards - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: ArcStone Wins Two Golds Horizon Interactive Awards - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Running A Mobile To Desktop Parity Audit - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: How To Optimize Your Website Mobile Experience For Conversions - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Clienteling Personalizes In-store, Online Shopping - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Get Ready For Digital-first Credit Cards - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: 4 Payment Methods To Integrate For The Holidays - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Ten Things To Consider Before Purchasing Bluetooth Headsets - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: ‘Payment Request API’ To Streamline Ecommerce Checkouts, Improve Security - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Video Conferencing: A Cost-Effective Solution To Rising Fuel Prices - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: 15 Mobile Payment Systems For Merchants - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Top 5 Mobile Page Speed Fixes - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Sales Report: 2020 Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday - Hire A Virtual Assistant
Pingback: Apple’s IOS 15 Will Change Email Marketing - Hire A Virtual Assistant