A new eBook shares how to gain pervasive network visibility.
The ‘Security Delivery Platform for Dummies’ eBook provides key information about technology that transforms how security and monitoring tools are deployed on the network.
Readers of the e-Book issued by Gigamon, which provides pervasive visibility into physical, virtual, and cloud environments, can learn how to:
- Detect threats faster by removing network blind spots.
- Achieve pervasive network visibility across the global enterprise.
- Optimise their security tools’ performance and efficacy.
The eBook is aimed at those responsible for protecting a corporate network or managing the deployment of security tools.
More specifically it will be helpful to those who work in the IT security field for a corporation, government agency, or services firm; those who have foundational knowledge of networking and network security concepts but are not necessarily familiar with network test access points (TAPs) or network visibility; and those who are familiar with common network interfaces, including 10/100/1000 copper, 1 Gbps fibre and 10 Gbps fibre.
Networks have become far more complex in recent years, as the volume and variety of data traversing them grows.
One way to avoid the blind spots created from increased data traffic is to deploy visibility solutions designed to tackle the problem and create a more secure and efficient environment.
The eBook introduces IT professionals to security delivery platforms (SDPs), a class of technology that transforms how security and monitoring tools are deployed on the network to provide pervasive visibility.
SDPs don’t just deliver traffic to security tools. They also offload intensive traffic‐inspection processes and deliver the right traffic to the right tool, helping users optimise their security tools for greater efficacy and increased return on investment.
The eBook, written by Crystal Bedell and Steve Piper, describes current networking challenges.
It states: “Despite a plethora of network security and monitoring tools, detecting and responding to cyberthreats are increasingly challenging tasks. The very nature of corporate networks and the way in which security tools are deployed put IT teams at a clear disadvantage.
“The corporate network is no longer a static, well‐defined entity that can be adequately protected with an armoury of perimeter‐based security tools. Instead, it’s an amorphous, dynamic entity that extends well beyond the four walls of the data centre. Technologies such as cloud computing, virtualisation, and mobile computing add to the complexity.
“Meanwhile, IT teams must shoehorn security tools into the network infrastructure and hope that their limited view of traffic will be enough to expose the low‐and‐slow activity that’s characteristic of advanced threats. But as long as there are blind spots on the network, there’s a chance that malicious activity is going undetected.
“IT organisations need a new approach that enables visibility across the entire IT infrastructure, including physical, virtual, and cloud environments. They need a SDP.”
The e-Book looks at: Addressing the new threat landscape; Understanding SDPs; Exploring features and use cases; Facilitating active security devices; Securing virtual and cloud environments; Generating session metadata; Isolating application traffic; Gaining visibility into SSL-encrypted traffic; Getting started with a security delivery platform; and 10 buying criteria for SDPs.
This final chapter looks at: Acquiring a futureproof security delivery platform; Choosing a technology provider; and Getting the most out of a SDP investment.
It states: “The enterprise network is anything but static, and sooner or later, the increasing volume of traffic will drive network upgrades.
“IT organisations should choose an SDP from a provider that offers a broad selection of network visibility appliances, including both physical and virtual versions. A futureproof SDP can scale and grow with network speeds and traffic loads.”
The eBook makes recommendations about what is required.
“Look for an SDP that provides centralised management, monitoring, and configuration of the physical and virtual traffic policies for a unified approach,” it says.
“The centralised management console should allow managers to map and direct network traffic to the tools and analytics infrastructure.
“To benefit fully from the agility afforded by virtualisation and cloud computing, however, IT organisations must address related security concerns.
“Choose an SDP that enables you to extend visibility into the virtualised servers/cloud infrastructure. Pay particular attention to compatibility with your virtualisation stack.”
The eBook also offers the following advice on customer support: “High‐quality customer support is an important criterion for selecting any vendor, especially an SDP provider.
“Select a vendor that offers a broad range of service and support solutions to help you confidently deploy and maintain your SDP.
“As you implement new technologies and architecture, the provider’s professional services team should be available to help you maintain high availability, solve problems quickly, and grow your SDP to meet business needs.”
Organisations use the Gigamon Visibility Platform to make it easier to manage, secure and understand all their network data, enabling stronger security and enhanced network performance.
Visit www.gigamon.com to find out more about Gigamon products. To download the eBook click here.
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