SSE: The MVP of The Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture

This blog was originally published by Axis Security here.

Overtime IT has adopted a number of siloed security services. These services work adjacent to one another, rather than WITH one another. As you would’ve guessed, this increases complexity and decreases efficiency. This is why we must do away with these types of models.

The best security strategies focus on both people and technology. The modern era of work that we are all now experiencing has led to the need for IT security teams to get smarter with every single security incident that occurs. It requires the end users to be aware of security challenges as well. Technologies that automate security to make it as easy as possible for people are the game changers. This is what’s driving the need for what we call a cybersecurity mesh.

A cybersecurity mesh architecture (CSMA) provides a holistic cyber defense strategy geared to unify separate, distinct security services to create an enhanced, dynamic security environment. And at the center of this mesh, is the Security Service Edge (SSE) platform. This mesh is key to adopting an adaptive trust model. Adaptive trust is the notion of continuing to adapt policies based on changes in context such as: device type, access location, device health, user group and even agent-based versus agentless access. For work to get done, users will inevitably require access. In other words, trust. Adaptive trust continuously ensures that only specific users gain access to specific applications, and uses API-based integrations between the core security services to automate this process.

At first glance the image below can seem complex. The caveat is that this is a look at the future state. Starting with SSE will lay the proper foundation for the cybersecurity mesh. IT security leaders can then integrate existing security tech/adopt new tech from there.

Start by securing connectivity with SSE

As users, devices, and applications have moved outside the control of the corporate network and traditional security solutions, ensuring connectivity between these entities is highly important.

This is why the Security Service Edge (SSE) is the foundational layer of the cybersecurity mesh, providing a secure method of modern connectivity for any user, device, or application needed to get work done. Rather than having remote users connect to the corporate network via VPNs or RDPs, SSE leverages the power of cloud and centralized access policy to not only provide fast connectivity, but ensuring access is secured at the edge.

By securing business connectivity, SSE lays the foundation for a strong cybersecurity mesh, on top of which an enhanced defense posture can be built.

Enhance your defense posture with an integrated approach

While SSE provides the baseline of secure connectivity, it is wise for IT leaders to enhance defense posture with the integration of key cybersecurity services: Identity, Endpoint security, SIEM provider.

By building on top of the SSE framework, IT gains the ability to see the whole story of what’s going on with your users – start to finish. By supplementing and consolidating services that enhance visibility and control into a single dashboard, IT can enforce adaptive, zero trust access by joining the power of identity, device posture, and authorized connectivity to your sensitive business resources.

Through shared insights within the SSE framework, security, networking, and IT teams can take once siloed insights and bring them together to see the holistic picture of their business environment and make informed decisions.

Enjoy more agility and stronger resilience

By bringing together the different pieces of the security puzzle and consolidating the control vectors, IT teams have the greater ability to better identify, diagnose, and remediate security risks when they occur, or even before they happen.

By unifying the cybersecurity mesh with SSE, even your entry-level professionals can easily understand the context of what’s happening and can focus on responding and preventing such threats. The result is a more flexible and agile IT organization. One that is able to better serve the evolving needs of the business while reducing operational overhead, allowing time to be focused on more pressing and value-add projects.

Mesh for the better

This is why it’s critical to bring on the right technologies, especially in the midst of change. The right frameworks matter. The right architecture matters. Leveraging API integrations matter. It’s not just about the single security solutions that you adopt now, but how they “play well” and enhance the functionality of one another. This is true knowledge and value, to build your security strategies on the right foundation as you anticipate the needs of your users, your board members, your customers, and beyond.

If you want to hear more about SSE, check out Axis Security's CloudBytes webinar, The Journey to SSE. This webinar airs on May 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM (PDT) and is available after on-demand.