Hybrid Work Is Here to Stay: How to Best Secure Your Perimeter

Perimeter defense is a critical component of managed security. According to Zippia, 63% of high-growth companies use a “productivity anywhere” hybrid work model. Hybrid work has proven to be the future because of the flexibility coupled with the increased productivity that stems from it. But with employees working from anywhere, the organization’s perimeters are stretched exponentially more than before. Let’s dive into some tips on how your organization can succinctly defend its perimeter in the modern age with the use of cloud technology.

Before we begin on how to have the most secure perimeter possible, let’s better understand why it’s important to secure your perimeter. Perimeter defense security may seem like a simple task to the uninitiated but is far more complex in practice.

Recent trend studies show ransomware attacks continue to rise exponentially year over year. These attacks leave organizations vulnerable to reputation loss, revenue loss due to downtime, sensitive data being stolen, and more. Your organization must maintain the core functions of your system, but also defend its employees and clients. With employees working remotely and needing access to secure data on the go, setting up a scalable and defendable perimeter has proven complex for organizations. So how can you efficiently and effectively secure your perimeter?  With the cloud!

Implement a Multi-Layer Security Approach

This is a critical step in ensuring your perimeter is not easily breached. To give an example, I live in an apartment complex, where to enter, you have to scan your FOB. Not only do you have to scan your FOB to enter, but then to operate the elevator, you need to scan the FOB again and ensure you are headed to your floor. Once at your apartment, you then need to use a key to enter the residence. This is an example of a multi-layer security approach. Now how can you implement this at an organizational level?

Using a combination of technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection, prevention systems, and security information and event management (SIEM) systems, you can protect your cloud environment and sure your remote employees have access to the data they need.

Enable Network Segmentation

Network segmentation is extremely useful when it comes to securing your organization’s perimeter effectively. Employees on your sales team do not need to have access to data, files, and information that is critical to your HR team. Your HR team does not need to be regularly accessing information that is critical for your finance team. The list goes on and on. Of course, those teams need to collaborate effectively to ensure projects get completed promptly, but segmenting your networks can save your organization when it comes to a ransomware breach, as it slows down the spread. If you’d like to dive into other best practices for collaboration between HR and IT, check out our on-demand webinar.

What this looks like is dividing your cloud network into smaller segments, each with its security controls to limit the spread of any potential breach.

Use Identity and Access Management Controls

Multi-factor authentication has proven to be a critical element to security, as enabling MFA can ensure that the right person is indeed attempting to access the right cloud resources.

Regularly Monitor, Audit, Patch, and Test your Cloud Environment

Having your environment set up is not enough. Organizations need to have a team in place that uses tools such as security information and event management systems (SIEM) systems to monitor your cloud environment against potential security threats and vulnerabilities. Additionally, regularly applying software and security patches that ensure your environment is protected against the latest threats is critical, as threats to organizations are becoming more sophisticated and complex.

Implement Awareness Training for Employees

Verizon’s 2022 DBIR found that 82% of breaches involve the human element. Breaches are constantly evolving to be able to penetrate organizations more efficiently and effectively. Hosting quarterly security training with employees and any other stakeholders in the business on security best practices can help them better identify and avoid potential security threats and better protect your cloud environment.

Perimeter security is critical as it is your first line of defense in the event of a ransomware attack. Adopting a cloud environment is a step in the right direction to best secure your organization’s sensitive data, as it allows for multi-layer security approaches and network segmentation. Our team has also discussed in depth some statistics on why 2023 will be the year of the cloud, and I would encourage you to read more to best prepare your organization.