As organizations become increasingly digital, cyberattackers find more opportunities to exploit security vulnerabilities at every level of the network. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), cybercriminals are launching smarter, more evasive attacks that adapt in real time. To stay ahead, it’s crucial to consider your organization’s entire threat landscape – from edge to core to cloud – and build a strategy that leverages AI-driven, proactive security solutions to anticipate and stop threats before they occur.
Securing the Expanding Edge
More Devices, Data Processing, and Attack Opportunities
The global shift to a distributed workforce and the growing use of edge computing are creating new security challenges. With more devices and data processing happening at the edge, the attack surface has expanded dramatically, providing more entry points for cybercriminals.
IoT devices like smart home tech and assistive tools now number over 18 billion globally. These devices often lack strong security protocols, making them attractive, easy-to-infect targets for attackers to infiltrate private networks or even use as part of botnets in large-scale DDoS attacks.
A distributed workforce adds further complexity. Personal and company-issued devices, unsecured home networks, and remote access points create a sprawling web of potential vulnerabilities. Without strong Identity and Access Management (IAM), every connection to corporate resources becomes a risk.
Compounding these issues, cybercriminals are using AI to orchestrate and train faster, more adaptive attacks that can bypass traditional defenses. AI-driven DDoS attacks are becoming more sophisticated, harder to detect, and more damaging, with 2024 witnessing an 81% surge in attack frequency compared to 2023.
While Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) offers a compelling framework to address these threats, implementation is a major hurdle. As Ed Loveless, Head of Product for Managed Edge and Cybersecurity, notes, “Zero Trust is becoming the new ‘cloud.’ It works great in a PowerPoint…It’s really hard to implement.” Without proper execution, ZTNA can leave critical gaps in your security posture.
Implementing Security at the Edge
To combat these evolving threats, organizations need a comprehensive, multi-layered approach that secures devices, users, and networks across all environments.
- Device-Level Security: Endpoint protection solutions, such as antivirus tools, encryption, and remote wipe capabilities, help reduce breach risks. IP-VPN configurations further secure data in transit by reducing points of failure and ensuring private, reliable connectivity.
- Access Security: Effective IAM and Zero Trust strategies are essential for managing who can access what, when, and how. A strong Zero Trust framework uses continuous monitoring, access controls, and strict authentication policies to secure critical assets. As Shawn Edwards, SVP and Chief Security and Privacy Officer, puts it, “When done well, it changes the game for your organization.”
- Network Visibility and Performance: Modern edge networks benefit from secure SD-WAN and SASE technologies, which enhance both performance and security. Zayo’s Managed SD-WAN and SASE solutions with built-in AIOPs capabilities offer added benefits like automated anomaly detection, faster response times, and smarter, more efficient operations.
- AI-Enhanced Defense: Artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity by enabling real-time threat detection and predictive analytics. With AI, organizations can identify vulnerabilities before they’re exploited and respond faster to active threats, ushering in a new era of resilience in the face of increasingly complex attacks.
Securing the Core
The Importance of Safeguarding the Heart of the Network
The core network is the backbone of your infrastructure, connecting servers, databases, and devices while ensuring seamless access to critical resources and services. However, it’s also a prime target for modern cyber threats, and any attack on the core could disrupt the entire network.
Today, companies face growing risks, such as ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure and aging legacy systems that are ill-equipped to handle sophisticated threats. The core network often houses high-value data, making it a lucrative target for attackers. If the core is compromised, the ripple effects can take down systems critical to operations, and lead to massive financial (and reputational) impacts.
The interconnected nature of the core network also increases its vulnerability. Weak security in surrounding areas can provide attackers with a pathway to the core. Privacy risks in data transit and threats like route hijacking further amplify the need for robust protection.
How to Keep the Core Secure
To thrive in today’s landscape, organizations must secure their core networks by addressing legacy vulnerabilities, protecting data, and defending against modern threats. A secure core isn’t just important; it’s the foundation of resilience and growth.
Proactive Fiber Monitoring: Detecting vulnerabilities before they become problems, such as those identified by AI-enabled solutions, can stop threats like unauthorized access or tampering, keeping your connectivity secure and uninterrupted.
Private Networks and Dark Fiber: For the ultimate level of network security and control, Private Networks and Dark Fiber minimize interception points, reduce latency, and provide peace of mind, perfect for industries where data protection is non-negotiable.
Advanced DDoS Protection: Upstream network-based DDoS protection intercepts threats at the edge and safeguards your infrastructure, ensuring operations run smoothly, even under pressure.
Strategic Network Segmentation: Isolate critical assets like servers and databases with customized policies, firewalls, and access controls, adding layers of defense to protect what matters most.
Encryption for Data in Transit: Encryption protocols like SSL/TLS and Layer-1 encryption protect sensitive information, ensuring confidentiality and integrity every step of the way.
Resilient Infrastructure: Ethernet and Wavelengths provide dedicated, internet-independent connections, ensuring reliability, reduced risk, and optimal performance.
Securing the Cloud
Building Resiliency Against Cloud-Based Threats
While the Cloud offers organizations unmatched scalability, flexibility, and innovation, it also introduces new vulnerabilities that attackers are quick to exploit. Running on multiple cloud platforms adds complexity, increasing the number of potential attack surfaces and making it harder to maintain consistent security practices.
Cloud environments are a prime target for cybercriminals, especially when it comes to sensitive data. Weak access controls, poor encryption for data in transit and at rest, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities in third-party applications or APIs often open the door to attacks.
The shared responsibility model further complicates matters. While cloud service providers (CSPs) secure the underlying infrastructure, customers must take charge of protecting their data, applications, and configurations. Any gaps in this shared effort can lead to security breaches, regulatory non-compliance, and costly penalties.
Making Security a Priority in Cloud Environments
As organizations increasingly move workloads to the cloud, building a resilient and secure cloud environment requires a combination of smart practices, strong protections, and strategic planning.
- Encryption and Data Protection: Safeguarding sensitive data like financial information and personally identifiable information (PII) begins with effective encryption. While CSPs offer the tools, it’s up to customers to implement encryption properly and manage their keys securely. Encryption is essential, but only as strong as its execution.
- Private and Secure Cloud Connectivity: Public internet pathways introduce unnecessary risk. Tools like CloudLink provide private, dedicated connections to cloud environments, creating a secure, direct route that reduces exposure to threats and ensures more reliable performance.
- Consistent Security Policies: Managing security across multiple cloud environments requires a unified approach. Consistency in policies, configurations, and access controls is critical to avoiding misconfigurations and closing potential security gaps. A centralized, policy-driven model helps maintain control and clarity in complex multi-cloud environments.
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Even the best defenses can’t eliminate all risk. That’s why a robust disaster recovery plan is essential. Backing up critical systems and data in the cloud ensures availability and continuity during outages or cyber incidents. A well-designed plan turns unexpected disruption into manageable recovery, supporting long-term resilience.
Integration and Collaboration for Security from Edge to Core to Cloud
Every business’s network is unique – there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to network security. This blog has explored the options and key considerations for securing your network at every level – from edge to core to cloud. Zayo’s security solutions, including DDoS Protection and SASE, offer comprehensive protection tailored to ensure your network stays resilient against evolving threats while maintaining performance and reliability.
Read Zayo’s 2024 DDoS Report to learn more about effective security strategies from our experts.