Data Defense in Depth: Unifying Data Protection and Zero Trust through SASE for Ultimate Data Protection with Versa Networks

By Brad LaPorte, Gartner Veteran and Industry Expert, Lionfish Tech Advisors & Jon Taylor, Director and Principal of Security, Versa Networks

April 17, 2024

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats, data protection has become a priority concern. Traditional security models are proving inadequate in the face of sophisticated attacks, leading organizations to seek out more dynamic and robust approaches to securing their data. The integration of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust architectures offers a promising approach to modern cybersecurity challenges. In this blog, we delve into how Versa Networks merges SASE and Zero Trust to ensure the protection of data in today’s landscape.

Zero Trust Overview

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been instrumental in defining and disseminating the Zero Trust model. According to the NIST Special Publication 800-207, Zero Trust (ZT) is a set of cybersecurity paradigms that moves defenses from static network-based perimeters to focus on users, assets, and resources. A Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), informed by these paradigms, is designed to plan, and manage industrial and enterprise infrastructure and workflows. It is predicated on the assumption that there is no implicit trust granted to assets or user accounts, regardless of their physical or network location. Zero Trust demands that authentication and authorization are discrete functions performed before a session to an enterprise resource is established. The movement toward Zero Trust is driven by enterprise network trends, including remote users, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, and cloud-based assets that fall outside traditional network boundaries. Zero Trust concentrates on securing individual resources and not traditional network segments. The full explanation and framework can be accessed through the NIST publication (NIST.SP.800-207).

This Zero Trust paradigm requires a mental shift in how organizations consider security. It’s not merely about implementing new technologies but also about adopting a new security mindset that permeates all aspects of IT operations.

The Critical Role of SASE in Safeguarding Data and Versa Networks’ Offerings

A Unified Approach with SASE

In today’s workplace, where data, users, and devices frequently move physical locations, safeguarding sensitive information becomes a herculean task. SASE, or Secure Access Service Edge, is an emerging solution that combines security functions with software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) capabilities to support the dynamic, secure access needs of organizations. By merging these traditionally separate areas, SASE aims to create a flexible approach to security, networking, WAN, and analytics delivered via the cloud, on-premises, or as a blend of both.

Versa Networks’ Unified SASE Solution

Unified SASE is defined as being able to deliver all SASE features from a singular solution built on one operating system, not multiple products, and having one management console for all configuration and logging. Versa Networks is a leader in Unified SASE, providing the aforementioned solutions in an easy to deploy, elastic environment tailored to the needs of each customer. Versa Networks’ SASE solutions are designed to protect data regardless of where it’s accessed from, ensuring that the security perimeter extends to every endpoint.

Versa achieves this using a data-centric approach following the below best practices to ensure the highest level of data protection:

• First data must be accurately identified and classified based on its sensitivity and the risk it poses to the organization if compromised. To complete this Versa Networks does the following:
  • Uses automated classification tools to scan and tag data as it is created or modified.
  • Defines data categories (e.g., public, internal, confidential, highly confidential) and implements policies that specify how data in each category should be handled.
  • Performs a classification of data based on its sensitivity and the risk to the organization if it were compromised.
• Encryption of data in transit must be performed to safeguard its integrity and confidentiality. Versa Networks does this by:
  • Implementing strong encryption protocols such as AES-256.
  • Utilizes TLS 1.3 for data in transit to ensure secure communication channels.
  • Regularly updates and manages cryptographic keys, ensuring they are stored securely and separately from any encrypted data.
• Implementing fine-grained access controls that adapt based on continuous profiling of entities, monitoring data access, and user activity to dynamically detect and respond to potential threats. Versa Networks does this through multiple activities such as:
  • Deploying Adaptive Access Control (AAC) systems that adjust permissions based on real-time context, such as user geolocation, device security status using endpoint information profiles, and integrating User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to learn the behavior patterns of a customer’s traffic and continuously respond to anomalous patterns that may indicate a security risk.
  • Sets up alerts for unusual data usage patterns to enable rapid response to potential breaches.
• Versa ensures that data protection strategies are compliant with corporate compliance policies, local laws, regulations, and industry standards. Versa also regularly reviews and updates data protection features to align with evolving legal and regulatory requirements. Versa utilizes its Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems to enforce rules for handling and transferring sensitive data based on the context of use cases provided by its customers.

The Synergy Between Data Protection and Zero Trust

Versa doesn’t just use a data-centric approach though to ensure data protection but goes above and beyond by applying zero trust principles within its SASE solution to create a true synergy between data protection and zero Trust principles where unified security posture, enhanced data protection, and improved user experience are seamlessly integrated. This unified approach not only simplifies the security management process but also reduces the complexity traditionally associated with IT environments. Furthermore, the integration of Zero Trust’s stringent access controls within SASE’s cloud-native framework ensures that sensitive data remains secure under all circumstances. This powerful combination guarantees that no matter where a user is located or what device they are using, sensitive data remains inaccessible to unauthorized entities. Additionally, the fusion of SASE and Zero Trust significantly enhances the user experience. SASE’s efficient delivery of services, together with Zero Trust’s continuous verification processes, ensures that users enjoy secure, fast, and reliable access to necessary resources. This integrated strategy highlights how Zero Trust, user experience, and data protection are intricately fused together, offering a robust solution in the evolving landscape of digital security.

This blog post is part of an ongoing series exploring the latest trends and technologies in cybersecurity. Stay tuned for future posts as we continue to delve into the world of SSE, SASE, and beyond.