SD-WAN security: protecting your network in the cloud era

More organizations are turning to the cloud to increase agility and reduce costs. As cloud adoption grows, so does the need for secure networking solutions. That is where software-defined wide area networking comes in.

SD-WAN simplifies networking and improves connectivity, but it also brings unique security challenges. Here is what matters about security and the practices that protect an SD-WAN network.

What SD-WAN is

SD-WAN uses software to abstract a business’s networking infrastructure, with a centralized controller to manage and monitor traffic. That controller allows businesses to prioritize and route traffic based on application requirements and network conditions.

Because traffic is routed over multiple transport methods, including MPLS, broadband internet, and LTE, businesses can reduce connectivity costs while gaining better application performance and user experience, particularly for cloud-based applications. It also enables policy enforcement across large-scale environments from a centralized platform.

Traditional networks compared with software-defined networking

Traditional WANs use on-premises hardware to control internet traffic. SDN uses software to abstract the underlying infrastructure, making it more flexible and scalable.

Control plane

Built into traditional network devices, so policies and configurations are managed by each device independently. In SDN, the control plane is managed by a software controller, allowing administrators to manage the network from a central location.

Programmability

Policies are configured manually on each device in traditional networks, a time-consuming process. With SDN, implementing policies can be automated, making it easier to deploy changes at scale.

Flexibility

Traditional networks are typically designed for specific functions like routing or switching, and are not easily scalable. SDN provides more flexibility and agility, enabling businesses to scale based on changing needs.

Security

Traditional WAN security policies are implemented on individual devices, making consistent enforcement difficult. In SDN, security policies are centrally managed and can be enforced company-wide.

The benefits

Improved network performance

Dynamically routing traffic over multiple transport methods and paths helps ensure critical applications receive priority for better performance and user experience.

Better security

Businesses can implement security controls across all endpoints and branches, and IT teams gain better control over network traffic with built-in security functionality, reducing the risk of data breaches.

Cost savings

SD-WAN can be deployed without expensive on-site equipment or specialized expertise, reducing deployment costs and improving time to value. Leveraging multiple transport methods also lowers costs compared with traditional WAN.

Agility and flexibility

Businesses can scale up or down quickly based on changing requirements, meeting new needs and taking advantage of new opportunities.

Centralized management

Administrators manage policies and configurations from one place, making it easier to deploy changes across all branch locations and troubleshoot issues quickly.

SD-WAN security features

Encrypted tunnels

Traffic between endpoints and branches is encrypted using IPSec tunnels, helping prevent breaches and protect sensitive data from interception.

Integrated security functions

Most solutions include next-generation firewalls, intrusion prevention that monitors application traffic in real time, secure web gateways that act as a proxy between users and the internet, and anti-malware protection.

Virtual private networks

SD-WAN can support VPN connectivity, providing secure remote access for employees and partners.

URL filtering

Administrators can block access to specific websites and content categories, reducing the risk of malware infection and data leakage.

Visibility and control

Granular visibility over application traffic allows administrators to prioritize critical applications and restrict access to non-business applications.

Network segmentation

The network can be divided into zones, with different security policies and controls enforced based on the level of risk associated with each.

How secure SD-WAN combats advanced threats

• Machine learning algorithms detect changes in traffic and behavior that may indicate a threat, identifying unusual activity by learning what normal traffic looks like.
• Threat intelligence identifies and blocks known threats such as malware, viruses, and phishing attacks, reducing the risk of data loss.
• Behavioral analytics detect abnormal activity such as unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or lateral movement.
• Automated response blocks traffic, quarantines infected devices, or alerts administrators without waiting for manual intervention.

Security best practices

Use strong authentication and encryption

Secure your infrastructure with strong authentication and traffic encryption, including strong passwords and multi-factor authentication so only authorized users gain access. End-to-end encryption protects data as it travels across the network, and role-based access controls limit users to only the resources needed to do their jobs.

Deploy SASE

Deploying SASE and WAN edge routers helps provide consistent security across all office locations and endpoints. As a cloud-based model for delivering security services, it makes security easier to manage across the entire network, provides a comprehensive approach spanning multiple security functions, optimizes performance to reduce latency, and scales quickly to meet the needs of businesses of any size.

Implement a zero trust model

Cloud adoption and remote workers using public internet connections increase the attack surface, which makes traditional perimeter-based security models ineffective. Zero trust works on the principle of never trust, always verify: every device, user, and network request is assumed untrusted, and access is only granted after successful authentication and authorization. Because it emphasizes least privilege, access is granted on a need-to-know basis, limiting the impact of any breach.

SD-WAN provides many benefits, but it also brings unique security challenges. Protect your network in the cloud era by choosing a best-fit solution and implementing these practices.