It comes as no surprise that cybersecurity threats are increasing by the day. Unfortunately, the vast majority of business security infrastructure is outdated to counter the dangers posed by external threats. In this blog, the enterprise IT and technology experts at IntraLAN discuss cybersecurity mesh and how it’s helping to protect modern-day business.
In our recent blog, we discussed the challenges facing businesses as they migrate to a work anywhere at any time model. One such challenge was the growing threat of cybersecurity incursion from connected devices and a distributed workforce. Cybersecurity mesh is one of the ways companies can protect their workforces, whether they’re on-site or working remotely.
What is cybersecurity mesh?
Cybersecurity mesh isn’t as strange as it sounds. Typically, IT teams implement a single strategy approach to their infrastructure security. Cybersecurity mesh is the opposite of that. It’s securing each device independently with overarching protections, including firewall implementation and network protection tools.
So, why use a cybersecurity mesh approach instead of a single approach to IT security? Easy. When you use a cybersecurity mesh to secure your IT infrastructure, you can manage individual access points and devices from a centralised system. This provides teams with the ability to implement a more dispersed method of security that is scalable, adaptable and heartier. Essentially, cybersecurity mesh enables the architecture of a zero-trust security strategy where everything within an IT infrastructure is only accessible with strict identity verification and authorisation.
What does a cybersecurity mesh architecture (CSMA) look like?
A CSMA can be viewed as layers, and in this example, there are four layers to a robust strategy. This strategy provides agile and adaptive responsible with added inoperability and scalability.
Centralised security analytics
Having all analytics in one centralised location will ensure IT teams can access, collect, consolidate and analyse data in real-time from any location. This means that risk, threat and mitigation responses are quicker and more manageable. Additionally, when artificial intelligence (AI) is implemented, it learns and adapts to security threats, making cybersecurity even easier for teams.
Identity management
This layer of the CSMA provides IT teams with the ability to manage identities, entitlements, privileges and identity verification.
Enhanced policy management
Cybersecurity policies will be translated across each device’s configuration, providing IT teams the ability to identify issues and risks with misconfiguration and compliance efficiently.
Centralised dashboards
With everything in one consolidated dashboard, IT teams have complete transparency into the cybersecurity environment enabling rapid response to any risks or incursions.
What are the benefits of using cybersecurity mesh?
Before we look at the benefits of using cybersecurity mesh, let’s analyse why taking cybersecurity seriously is more important now than ever.
According to Info Security Magazine, during the COVID-19 pandemic, instances of phishing emails rose by over 667% in under a month. Additionally, a recent ransomware blog by Varonis highlighted:
- In 2021, experts estimated that a ransomware attack would occur every 11 seconds.
- 1 in 6,000 emails contain suspicious URLs, including ransomware.
- Average company downtime after a ransomware attack is 21 days.
- Over 2,100 data breaches have occurred in the healthcare industry since 2009.
- Between 2019 and 2020, ransomware attacks against universities went up by 100%
- In 2021, over 204,000 people experienced a login attempt to access their banking details.
- 90% of companies in the financial sector have been targets of ransomware attacks.
- Over 68,000 new trojans for mobile were found in 2019 alone.
- In 2021, the cost of cybersecurity ransom demands soared with some exceeding $1 million.
With these being such a small sample of the cybersecurity risk metrics – why wouldn’t you take your company’s cybersecurity seriously? Putting in comprehensive protection puts your business in an excellent position to future-proof the possibility of future attacks and has a whole host of wider benefits.
Exceptional Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Cybersecurity mesh provides businesses with a more agile and reliable approach to digital asset access. With the uptake in the work from anywhere at anytime business model, the majority of business assets and devices exist off-premises. Businesses can handle IAM requests in a more adaptive, unified way by implementing a cybersecurity mesh strategy.
Agile, reactive response
Everyone from governments to businesses is undertaking a digital transformation. As this trend continues, the need for an agile, reactive response to cybersecurity threats also increases. With the implementation of a cybersecurity mesh, through a centralised system, IT teams will have the ability to address any risks in real-time – granting them a quicker, more flexible response than the traditional security approach.
Going truly digital
The world is digital, and as more businesses move their infrastructures to the cloud, it’s important that your cybersecurity strategy is in sync with this move. A cybersecurity mesh is an ideal approach to dealing with security threats to devices, software and assets outside traditional network perimeters.
How can IntraLAN bolster your business’s cybersecurity efforts?
IntraLAN can help safeguard your data, prevent vulnerabilities and protect your business as a managed service provider. With our comprehensive cybersecurity detection, protection and response capabilities, we can help provide security best practices with advanced products and services, ensuring multiple security controls to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
Get in touch with our team of cybersecurity experts to discuss how IntraLAN can help future-proof your business against the rising wave of ransom and malware.