Four reasons the Channel should pay attention to Internal Segmentation Firewalls
With the network perimeter disappearing before our eyes, a new model
of firewall deployment represents an untapped opportunity for the
security channel that shouldn’t be ignored. Here are the top four
reasons you should pay attention to Internal Segmentation Firewalls (ISFW):
1. The traditional “edge” firewall is no longer enough.
As enterprise organizations adopt the latest IT technologies like
Mobility and Cloud – and look ahead to
things like container security –
one unintended result is the expansion of the network’s attack surface.
This creates more access for Advanced Threats to enter the network
which significantly increases risk. Networks are now more vulnerable
than ever to data breaches because once inside, Advanced Threats are
poised take advantage of the often flat and open architecture.
Traditional firewalls protect only the network edge, leaving data
within the network unguarded and open to breaches. This “outside-in”
approach to network security and the assumption that nothing gets past
the firewall is simply outdated.
The Internal Segmentation Firewall is a new class of security device
that sits at strategic points on the internal network. Ideally the ISFW
will integrate with other elements of the enterprise security
architecture under a single pane of glass management hierarchy to
further reduce complexity in the organization. Internal firewalls add an
extra level of security to provide network segmentation further
protecting key internal data and assets in the event a threat gets past
the perimeter. Once in place, the ISFW can provide instant “visibility”
to traffic traversing into and out of a specific network segment thus
delivering proactive and real-time protection based on the latest
security updates. Download our white paper, “A New Class of Firewall – Internal Segmentation Firewall (ISFW)” to learn more about the benefits.
2. ISFW represents incremental revenue beyond the traditional firewall.
Traditional “edge” firewalls, while still a necessary component of a
cogent security policy, only provide partial visibility into the attack
lifecycle by primarily observing ingress and egress activity.
Deployment of an ISFW complements the traditional firewall structure,
and provides more complete visibility into the additional internal
activity of the hackers once they’ve compromised the edge. Having a
thorough picture of both internal and edge activity enhances all phases
of a complete ATP framework.
Studies of internal “east-west” network traffic estimate it to be 3-4
times the amount of edge traffic. Because traditional firewalls have
been architected to the slower speeds of the Internet Edge, it’s
difficult to deploy them internally in a way that meets the performance
requirements of core networks. This creates additional opportunities
for incremental services revenue as the ISFW must be deployed with
additional bandwidth, rapidly, and with minimum disruption to the
production network.
3. It’s a business sell, not a technology sell
The c-suite, has entered the conversation of IT security, and
rightfully so…they’re the ones who have to answer to stakeholders when a
security breach occurs. Perhaps the driver is a mandate from the Board
of Directors for a mitigation strategy addressing advanced threats
inside the network, or the PR nightmare that results from an attack;
either way, ISFW speaks to the heart of their concerns, with the
capability to compartmentalize different parts of the network that cyber
criminals are after: financials, intellectual property, customer data,
etc.
Internal Segmentation Firewallsdeliver a full spectrum of advanced
security services, allowing for the enforcement of policies that
complement standard edge firewalls. This real-time visibility and
protection can provide early indications that data, applications,
networks, and users are at risk, and is critical to limiting the spread
of malware inside the network.
As a reseller, you should be looking to raise the conversation to the
business side of the house…it’s typically where the decision-making and
budget power resides, and ultimately allows you to sell a solution into
the entire organization, rather than a one-time point product sale.
4. 56% of organizations are evaluating ISFW now or in the next 12 months (IDG)
The time is now to get in front of prospective customers. With 56% of them evaluating the solution, the opportunity is large!
Are you seeing ISFW as an opportunity with your customers? What has been the driving force for adoption?