What is Modern Perimeter Security?
The traditional network perimeter, while still important, is evolving in the face of a more complex threat landscape and a shift towards cloud-based resources and mobile workforces. Modern perimeter security goes beyond a single, physical boundary and adopts a layered approach to securing an organisation’s digital assets, regardless of location.
Benefits_
- Enhanced security: Modern perimeter security offers a more comprehensive defence by incorporating various security tools and strategies, making it harder for attackers to breach defences.
- Improved flexibility: Modern solutions can adapt to increasingly mobile workforces and cloud-based resources, ensuring security regardless of user location or device.
- Reduced attack surface: By focusing on securing user identities and controlling access across all access points, modern perimeters reduce the attack surface for potential threats.
- Streamlined management: Modern security tools often offer centralised management capabilities, simplifying the process of monitoring and maintaining security across different environments.
Key components_
- Zero trust architecture: A security model where all access attempts, internal or external, are continuously verified regardless of user location or device.
- Identity and access management (IAM): Centralised control over user identities and access privileges, ensuring only authorised users can access specific resources.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding an extra layer of verification beyond passwords, typically requiring a secondary factor like a security token or biometric authentication.
- Cloud security solutions: Cloud-based firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) and data encryption services to secure resources hosted in cloud environments.
- Endpoint security: Protects individual devices like laptops, desktops and mobile phones from malware, phishing attacks and unauthorised access attempts.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Monitors and restricts the movement of sensitive data to prevent accidental leaks or unauthorised exfiltration.
How Microsoft helps_
- Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): Cloud-based identity and access management solution that provides centralised control over user identities and access privileges.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Protects devices from malware, ransomware and other endpoint threats.
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud: Provides security monitoring, threat detection and posture management for workloads deployed on Microsoft Azure and other cloud platforms.
- Microsoft Defender for Identity: Analyses user behaviour and network activity to identify suspicious activity and potential insider threats.
- Cloud App Security: Monitors and controls access to cloud applications, preventing unauthorised access and data breaches.
