Securing the multi-site enterprise network
AS GLOBAL connectivity expands, more businesses are operating across multiple locations, often separated by vast distances from their headquarters and each other.
This geographical distribution presents significant challenges for information security (InfoSec) professionals and network security decision-makers. They must ensure seamless communication, high performance, and robust data protection across these dispersed networks, safeguarding critical assets and information while maintaining operational efficiency.
A recent Kaspersky report, “Managing geographically distributed businesses: challenges and solutions,” sheds light on the network security issues faced by these organizations.
According to the report, 59 percent of geo-distributed businesses experience network problems related to their multi-site structure at least once a month. Network failures or outages (55 percent) and loss of connectivity or poor performance of services and applications (45 percent) are the most common issues. These problems can significantly impact business operations, leading to reputational damage and financial losses.
Maxim Kaminsky, Business Development Manager of Secure Access Service Edge at Kaspersky, emphasizes the importance of addressing these network problems:
“As we can see, geo-distributed organizations encountered network problems quite often. Given the importance of network infrastructure for modern businesses, any network downtime and IT issues carry a huge risk that can lead to reputational and financial losses. Therefore, it’s important to take timely measures to secure company’s networks and implement solutions that enable centralized and automated network management, providing businesses with a clear view of what’s happening in their multi-site IT infrastructure.”
Beyond network problems, a survey of network security decision-makers reveals other key challenges faced by multi-site enterprises including integrating diverse technologies and ensuring consistent security policies across different sites that can be complex, protecting sensitive data and systems across a distributed environment requires a comprehensive security strategy. A more specific condition is identifying and responding to security threats in a timely manner becomes more complex with multiple sites.
Organizations are utilizing various tools and solutions to address these challenges. While VPNs remain widely used, the adoption of more advanced tools like SD-WAN, SIEM, and XDR is increasing, particularly among organizations with dedicated cybersecurity specialists.
Security management in multi-site enterprises is a collaborative effort. Headquarters staff, local teams, and third-party providers all play a role in supporting IT and information security processes. This collaborative approach leverages local expertise while ensuring centralized oversight.
To minimize the possibility of network problems, Kaspersky experts recommend the use of dedicated solutions like Kaspersky SD-WAN which manages the entire corporate network from a single console. This product converges separate communication channels and network functions across companies, making the construction of reliable networks easier and enabling the connection of new branches with a zero-touch experience.
Securing multi-site enterprises requires a holistic approach that addresses technological, procedural, and human factors. By understanding the key challenges and adopting appropriate solutions, organizations can enhance their security posture and protect their critical assets and data.
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