Protecting Edge Data in the Age of Decentralization

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The new paradigm shift towards data decentralization may be an indicator of change in how organizations approach device protection.

Cyberattacks can exacerbate existing security issues and expose new vulnerabilities at the edge, presenting a range of challenges for IT and security personnel. The infrastructure must withstand the vulnerabilities that come with the massive proliferation of devices generating, capturing, and consuming data outside of the traditional data center. The need for a holistic cyber resilience strategy has never been greater, not only to protect data at the edge, but also to consolidate protection from all endpoints across an enterprise to centralized data centers and public clouds.

But before we get to the benefits of a holistic framework for cyber resilience, it may be helpful to better understand why the edge is often susceptible to cyberattacks, and how following some proven security best practices can help. to strengthen the on-board defences.

The impact of human error

Conventional computing wisdom says that security is only as strong as its weakest link: humans.

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Human error can mean the difference between an unsuccessful attack and one that results in application downtime, data loss, or financial loss. More than half of new enterprise IT infrastructure will be state-of-the-art by 2023, according to IDC. Additionally, by 2025, Gartner predicts that 75% of business-generated data will be created and processed outside of a traditional data center or cloud.

The challenge is to secure and protect critical data in edge environments where the attack surface is growing exponentially and near-instantaneous access to data is a must.

With so much data flowing in and out of an organization's endpoints, the role humans play in keeping it secure is magnified. For example, failing to practice basic cyber hygiene (reusing passwords, opening phishing emails, or downloading malware) can give a cybercriminal the keys to the kingdom without anyone in IT. know it.

In addition to the risks associated with not adhering to standard security protocols, end users can bring unapproved devices into the workplace, creating additional blind spots for the IT organization. And, perhaps the biggest challenge is that edge environments are typically not staffed by IT administrators, so there is a lack of oversight of both the systems deployed at the edge and the people using them.

While capitalizing on data created at the edge is essential for the growth of today's digital economy, how can we meet the challenge of securing an expanding attack surface as cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated and pervasive than ever?

A multi-level approach

It may seem like there are no simple answers, but businesses can start by addressing three key elements fundamental to data security and protection: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) .

Confidentiality: Data is protected from unauthorized observation or disclosure both in transit, in use, and while stored. Integrity: Data is protected against modification, theft or deletion by unauthorized attackers.