Using Automation To Protect Information On Your Network

Companies across all industries face a wave of almost constant change as digital technologies redefine old industries and create new services we never even knew we needed. Think of any industry and it’s clear that digital transformation is creating a period of industrial flux that has no end in sight.

This does not help to create a secure business environment. Ideally your data and systems would be locked down and controlled, but as the recent global WannaCry attack proved, many systems are much more vulnerable than expected. In addition, many security experts are now advising that this type of chaotic information attack is something we should get used to.

So if your industry is chaotic and hackers are adopting chaotic methods of constantly attacking system vulnerabilities then how can you make sense of the chaos so your data can be protected?

This blog suggests several steps for executives worried about the threat chaos can bring to their business, but the main focus is on automating your network management and accepting that manually managing a network leaves it open to attack. Just one open port is enough for WannaCry – or similar – to get in and cause havoc inside your company.

Automated network segmentation is a reaction to the complexity of today’s enterprise networks. With many different platforms, systems, contractors, and a mix of a physical network and cloud the challenge of managing modern networks is huge. Add the potential for human error and the face pace of change and the threat is obvious.

Automating segmentation allows the system to look after itself. The network breaks into several different secure zones limiting the exposure any hacker would have. Even if a hacker gets into your business, by automatically creating these secure zones you can limit any damage.

Automation is often talked about in terms of productivity – allowing more to be done in less time, but when it comes to information security only automation of network security can really provide protection in a chaotic business environment.