From Performance to Protection: SD-WAN's Security Edge - Minneapolis Cloud Services and Managed Service Provider Verus Corporation

From Performance to Protection: SD-WAN’s Security Edge

Posted September 10, 2024

We already know SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is transforming manufacturing and logistics and revolutionizing corporate networks. But did you know SD-WAN is increasingly recognized not just for its ability to optimize network performance but also for enhancing network security? If you’re new to the topic, you can check out the basics of SD-WAN. Otherwise, here are the top 10 ways SD-WAN is being used to simplify and improve security:

Centralized Security Management:With SD-WAN, organizations can enforce security policies from a centralized controller. This eliminates the need for manual configuration at each branch, which often leads to inconsistencies and errors. For example, a multinational corporation can ensure that all its global offices adhere to the same firewall rules or VPN settings, significantly reducing the risk of security breaches due to misconfiguration.
Enhanced Encryption:SD-WAN solutions typically employ end-to-end encryption protocols like AES-256. This means that even if data is intercepted over public networks, it remains unreadable without the decryption keys. An example is a financial institution using SD-WAN to securely transmit sensitive customer data between branches, ensuring privacy and compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
Microsegmentation:This feature allows networks to be divided into secure zones. For instance, in a hospital, patient records, administrative data, and IoT medical devices can each reside in separate segments. If malware infects one segment, it cannot easily spread to others, thereby containing the breach.
Integration with Security Services:SD-WAN can integrate with next-generation firewalls (NGFW), intrusion detection systems (IDS), and web filtering services. A retail chain might use this to deploy uniform security policies across all stores, ensuring customer payment data is protected against threats at every point of sale.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA):Under this model, no user or device, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, is trusted by default. For example, a tech company might use ZTNA within its SD-WAN to ensure that even remote employees must verify their identity through multi-factor authentication before accessing corporate resources.
Direct Internet Access (DIA):Instead of backhauling internet traffic to a central location, branches can directly access the internet, reducing latency and bandwidth costs. A hotel chain could implement DIA to allow guests to stream content directly from the internet while keeping the hotel’s internal network secure.
Real-time Threat Intelligence:SD-WAN systems can be linked with global threat intelligence platforms to update security policies in real time. If a new type of malware is detected, the SD-WAN can immediately adjust firewall rules or block traffic from known malicious IPs across all locations.
Secure Cloud Connectivity:SD-WAN provides optimized paths to cloud services like AWS or Azure. For example, a software development firm can use SD-WAN to securely connect to its cloud-based development environments, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality during transit.
Automated Security Policies:Automation in SD-WAN can dynamically adjust security settings based on the context. For instance, if an employee logs in from a new device or unusual location, the system might automatically increase security checks or limit access to sensitive data.
Enhanced Monitoring and Analytics:SD-WAN’s analytics capabilities can detect unusual patterns that might indicate a security issue, like a sudden spike in data transfer from a normally quiet server. This could help in early detection of data exfiltration attempts by cyber attackers.

The integration of these security features into SD-WAN solutions reflects a broader industry trend towards the convergence of networking and security functions, aiming for a resilient, secure, and efficient network infrastructure. This not only enhances security but also simplifies network management, making it more scalable and adaptable to the dynamic needs of modern businesses.

Kyle Vinar

Kyle Vinar is Partner / President of Verus Corporation. He oversees all business operations and coaches Verus teams to continually improve on their solutions from client experience to product development and overall solution implementation. He works with all Verus resources to increase efficiencies and excellence in every aspect of their organizational roles. Kyle believes that people are the last real competitive edge that a company can have and constructing a rich culture is a vital step in running a world-class organization. Therefore he strives to create a culture within Verus that allows everyone to show up authentically and grow both personally and professionally, which in turn allows Verus Corp team members to provide clients with top-of-the-line service. Kyle helps balance strategy, capacity, and culture in such a way that has allowed Verus Corp to achieve exponential growth since he joined the company in 2013. One of Kyle’s greatest professional achievements has been in helping lay the foundation upon which Verus Corporation could be named the 2nd Best Place to Work by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. Cloud State University. He lives in Champlin with his wife and 3 children. He has enjoyed volunteering as a soccer coach for over 6 years and was the former Director of Coaching for Rebels Soccer Club. If Kyle isn’t on the sidelines of one of his children’s soccer games or in the audience of his eldest’s musicals, he can often be found cruising scenic routes on his Harley, in a deer stand, or on the golf course.