The Security Perimeter Is Dead. Long Live the New Endpoint Perimeter.

The network no longer provides an air gap against external threats, but access devices can take up the slack.

Four potent forces have turned network security on its head: the decentralization of corporate networks; the proliferation of mobile devices; the evolution of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies to include multiple devices; and the massively disruptive Internet of Things (IoT) phenomenon. One of these forces on its own is enough to weaken the best security defenses, but together they are wreaking havoc in enterprises in every industry.

The impact of these forces has essentially erased the enterprise perimeter, traditionally used to protect organizations from external attacks. The fall of this wall has created a new security landscape in which each endpoint, no matter from where it connects, has become its own perimeter — a weakness that can give adversaries access to the entire network. Today, we’re seeing the rise of the new endpoint perimeter.

The Fall of the Wall

Decentralization caused the first bricks to crumble. The final bricks were taken away by the widespread adoption of BYOD policies and the often chaotic infiltration of IoT devices.

Today, an enterprise might have multiple offices in cities across the country or across the globe, with each location potentially having different security protocols, products, and services. Meanwhile, employees connecting through public, unsecured WiFi connections, as well as contractors and other third-parties using unmanaged BYOD devices all log in to the corporate network.

The Lateral Threat

A significant challenge to network and information security is lateral movement of attacks such as malware or ransomware and hackers, once inside the network. Undetected, these threats can propagate from one compromised endpoint to others.

In recent years, adversaries have carried out large-scale attacks by exploiting known vulnerabilities and security gaps on endpoints. WannaCry, NotPetya, and Bad Rabbit malware all used lateral movement to spread on a global scale in 2017. Using a single entry point — generally, the most vulnerable device — hackers were able to quickly take down unpatched systems.

Often, the weakest points are unmanaged, unprotected IoT devices, especially those deployed on secure network segments used by important company assets. IoT devices aren’t transient and typically remain undetected by network scans. Therefore, security teams are often unaware of the attack surface they create.

Best Practices in Endpoint Perimeter Security

• Visibility: Having full visibility of all devices connected to the network is essential. This includes gathering information such as the location and type of device, the processes and applications it is running, and how many similar devices are connected across the enterprise. Full visibility should not be limited to headquarters and includes all branches and endpoints.
• Use Historical Data: Historical data on endpoint usage — such as past processes, network connections, and other information — can be very useful in detecting compromised devices as well as in tracing the path of a threat once it has been identified. This data can also be invaluable for conducting rapid and accurate responses to incidents as well as preventing future attacks.
• Keep It Simple: Simple security configurations and deployments can translate to painless ongoing maintenance and better security in a world of increasing threats. Simplicity is crucial because enterprises are shorthanded, manage dozens of security products, and have limited time to investigate and respond to threats.
• Automate Monitoring and Mitigation: Continuous monitoring is the best way to prevent risks from escalating into security incidents. Organizations need the ability to automatically quarantine threats before they access crucial enterprise data or services. This allows the security teams to assess if a risk is a threat, and, if it is, to block affected endpoints.
• Avoid Vendor Lock-in: In a dynamic world where organizations evolve through organic growth or through merger or acquisition, they should not tie their security to a specific vendor. To prevent vendor lock-in and future-proof security operations, adopt a vendor-agnostic approach when choosing security products or services.
• Embrace the Cloud: A cloud service runs the latest version of software at any given moment, provides seamless upgrades, and delivers up to date capabilities. Additionally, it offers smooth scalability and distribution across the world, making it a must-have for decentralized enterprises.

Another advantage of a cloud-based approach: It handles threats both inside and outside the enterprise perimeter, allowing organizations to provide remote branches the same security as their corporate headquarters.

Ultimately, enterprises should consider a security approach that implements a perimeter on endpoints through continuous monitoring, risk assessment, policy enforcement, and automated containment/remediation of compromised devices. Following the previously mentioned best practices provides a good framework for re-establishing control over network security.