Relevance of perimeter cyber security for your business

The concept of an organisation’s cyber-security perimeter is bound to expand to adapt to the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks to encompass the external surface of the organisation as well.

What is perimeter security in cyber security?

In cyber security, perimeter security refers to the measures and technologies implemented to protect the boundaries of an organisation’s internal network. Its main objective is to prevent unauthorised access and external threats by ensuring that only legitimate users and devices can access the network. Perimeter security is crucial because it acts as the first line of defence against cyber-attacks, acting as a barrier. By protecting the entry and exit points of the network, it reduces the risk of external threats compromising the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data. Key components of perimeter security in cyber security include:

• Firewalls: act as a barrier between the internal and external network, filtering traffic based on predefined rules.
• Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and have the capability to take action to block attacks if necessary.
• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): allow secure and encrypted connections between remote users and the internal network. With the implementation of remote working, the use of VPNs in the enterprise has become widespread.
• Web security gateways: filter web traffic to block malicious content and unauthorised sites.
• Authentication and access control systems: verify the identity of users and control which resources they can access.

With the rise of remote working, the sophistication of attacks and the adoption of cloud technologies, perimeter security has evolved. Networks no longer have clearly defined boundaries, which has led to the development of approaches such as Zero Trust, where it is assumed that no entity, internal or external, is trusted by default, or concepts such as extended perimeter cybersecurity, which extends surveillance to the external perimeter of an organisation. If you want to keep up to date→ 5 cybersecurity trends you need to know about.

Network Perimeter Security Guidelines

In order to achieve effective network perimeter security, it is necessary for the organisation to follow, as a minimum, the following guidelines:

Authentication

Authentication ensures that only authorised users and devices can access network resources. It involves verifying the identity of users before allowing them access, which helps to prevent unauthorised access and potential threats. Different authentication methods include:

1. Passwords. The most common method, but can be vulnerable if strong and unique passwords are not used or not stored securely.
2. Two-factor authentication (2FA). It adds an additional layer of security by requiring a second factor, such as a code sent to the user’s mobile phone.
3. Biometric authentication. It uses unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to verify the user’s identity.
4. Digital certificates. Used primarily in enterprise environments, these certificates provide a secure and official way to authenticate devices and users.

It is imperative that the organisation implements strong password policies, enforcing that they are complex and regularly changed, and that it is accountable for ensuring that these policies are known and followed. In addition, it is important that access attempts are monitored to detect and respond to suspicious or failed access attempts.

 

Integrated security solutions

Integrated security solutions are essential in network perimeter security by combining multiple technologies and tools into a single platform to provide more comprehensive and efficient protection. They enable organisations to manage and coordinate multiple security measures from a single point, making it easier to detect and respond to threats. Integrated solutions are recommended because they improve an organisation’s operational efficiency by centralising security management and reducing complexity. They also provide a unified view of network security, making it easier to identify and respond to threats. They are also scalable, allowing organisations to adapt to new threats and security requirements without the need to deploy multiple standalone solutions. Integrated security solutions include:

1. Next generation firewalls (NGFWs): offer advanced traffic filtering, deep packet inspection and intrusion prevention capabilities.
2. Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and can block attacks in real time.
3. Web and email security gateways: protect against web and email-based threats such as malware and phishing.
4. Security information and event management (SIEM) systems: collect and analyse security data from multiple sources to identify patterns and alert on potential incidents.
5. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): provide secure, encrypted connections for remote users.

For a correct integration of the solutions, it is advisable to carry out a gradual implementation, to minimise interruptions, to provide continuous training on the tools to the responsible personnel and to keep the solutions updated and monitored.

Shared security

Shared security is a collaborative approach to network perimeter security that has gained momentum since the expansion of cloud services. It involves cooperation between different entities, such as service providers, customers and partners, to protect the network infrastructure. This model recognises that security is a joint responsibility and that each party has a crucial role in protecting data and resources. The main characteristics of shared security are:

• Mutual responsibility: Both service providers and customers have specific responsibilities for network security. For example, providers may be responsible for physical and infrastructure security, while customers must manage the security of their applications and data.
• Transparency and communication: open and transparent communication between all parties involved is essential to effectively identify and mitigate potential threats.
• Common policies and procedures: Establishing security policies and procedures that are consistent and understood by all parties helps to ensure a coordinated response to security incidents.

For security sharing to be truly effective, the responsibilities of each party involved need to be clearly defined and delineated. In addition, communication channels must be established to allow for the rapid and continuous exchange of information on threats and best practices. Regular audits periodically assess the effectiveness of security measures and adjustments can be made as necessary.

Limitations of perimeter cyber security

As technologies have evolved, the original strict concept of perimeter security limited to the internal environment has presented some important limitations that affect its effectiveness in protecting organisations, such as:

Third-party risk

One of the biggest challenges for perimeter security is third party risk. This risk arises when external organisations, such as suppliers, partners or contractors, have access, for operational reasons, to a company’s internal network. Third parties are a weak point in perimeter security as they often have different security standards and policies than the host organisation, which can lead to vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals can use these third-party vulnerabilities as a gateway to access the internal network. For example, a vendor with compromised credentials can be used to launch an attack. In addition, third-party management is complex and difficult to monitor. Organisations often have multiple vendors and partners, which increases the attack surface. The lack of visibility and control over the actual and updated cybersecurity status of these third parties ends up becoming an organisational vulnerability. Access our publication→ Third-party risk for organisations.

Complexity of IT systems

The complexity of IT systems is another important limitation of perimeter security. Modern IT systems are composed of a multitude of interconnected components, such as servers, network devices, applications and databases. This interconnectedness creates a large and difficult to protect attack surface. One of the challenges of complexity is managing multiple technologies and platforms. Each component may have its own vulnerabilities and require different security measures. In addition, integrating legacy systems with new technologies can lead to incompatibilities and security gaps. Complexity also makes visibility and control difficult. With so many and varied components and connections, it is difficult to have a complete view of the network and to detect suspicious activities. A relevant aspect of this complexity is patch and update management. Keeping all components up to date and protected against known vulnerabilities becomes an arduous task. Lack of updates leaves open doors for attackers.

Sophistication of cyber-attacks

Attackers are using increasingly advanced and complex techniques to evade traditional defences and penetrate corporate networks.

One of the key factors is the use of automated tools and artificial intelligence by attackers. These tools can scan networks for vulnerabilities, launch coordinated attacks and adapt in real time to the defences in place. The proliferation of targeted attacks, known as zero-day attacks, exploit unknown vulnerabilities in software. These attacks are difficult to detect and mitigate, as there are no patches available for the exploited vulnerabilities. In addition, attackers are employing more elaborate social engineering techniques to trick users into gaining access to sensitive information. In this respect, people are the weakest link in an organisation’s cyber security chain. When an attacker manages to trick the user himself into providing his personal credentials, for example, there is no perimeter security system capable of preventing the intrusion. Read our publication→ How to protect yourself amid a wave of cyber attacks on businesses.

 

Cost of perimeter armouring

The high cost of perimeter armour is a significant constraint to its proper design. Implementing and maintaining perimeter security measures is extremely costly, especially for organisations with large and complex networks. These costs include the acquisition of security hardware and software, the hiring of specialised personnel, and regular security audits and assessments. One of the most significant challenges is that threats are constantly evolving, requiring continuous upgrades and enhancements to perimeter defences. This can result in a never-ending cycle of expense, as organisations must constantly invest in new technologies and solutions to keep up with the latest threats. Furthermore, the cost of perimeter security is not just limited to the purchase of equipment and software. It also includes the time and resources required to manage and maintain these solutions. Staff training, implementation of security policies and incident response also contribute to the total cost.

Extended cyber security as an enhancement to perimeter cyber security

External perimeter security in organisational cyber security, also known as extended perimeter security, is a strategy that goes beyond traditional defences to protect digital assets in an increasingly interconnected environment. This strategy recognises that threats can originate both inside and outside the corporate network and seeks to nullify or proactively mitigate risks with security before they reach the corporate perimeter security barrier. One of the key benefits of extended cyber security is the ability to monitor and protect external access points, such as VPN connections and mobile devices. This is especially important in a world where remote working and mobility are increasingly common. Extended cyber security also includes the protection of cloud services. With the increased use of cloud-based applications and services, it is crucial to ensure that these environments are protected against unauthorised access and vulnerabilities. This can be achieved by implementing robust access controls, data encryption and continuous monitoring of cloud activity. Among all the advantages of extended cyber security is the ability to detect ongoing threats at the external perimeter of the organisation in an automated, continuous and real-time manner through Cyber Intelligence solutions. Within these solutions, the most evolved ones also include third party risk management. Cyber Intelligence solutions use advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to monitor the web, deep web, dark web and social networks for leaked corporate information, open breaches and exposed vulnerabilities and analyse large volumes of data. This enables a fast and effective response to security incidents, nullifying or minimising the potential impact on the organisation’s systems.

Extends corporate perimeter cyber security strategy with Kartos by Enthec

Kartos XTI Watchbots is the Cyber Intelligence platform developed by Enthec to extend the security perimeter controlled by organizations.
By simply entering the organization’s domain, Kartos provides real-time information on exposed vulnerabilities and open breaches in nine threat categories outside its IT perimeter.
In addition, Kartos by Enthec allows organizations to continuously and automatically control third-party risk, providing real-time data.
If you want to learn more about extended cybersecurity, download our whitepaper, Extended Cybersecurity: When Strategy Builds the Concept.
Contact us for more information on how Kartos can extend your organization’s perimeter security strategy.