The Fast Mode spoke to Nick Harders, SASE Director, APJ, at HPE Aruba Networking on the impact of traffic visibility on ZTNA networks. Nick joins us in a series of discussions with leading cybersecurity and networking vendors, assessing the evolution of ZTNA technologies, the roadmap for ZTNA deployments, the benefits of ZTNA for enterprise and telco networks, and the need for real-time traffic visibility technologies such as DPI for ZTNA.
Ariana: How well are zero-trust principles espoused by today’s networks?
Nick: Zero Trust security adoption is rapidly on the rise, moving away from being just a piecemeal to becoming a strategic initiative. A 2023 global study by the Ponemon Institute and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, “Closing the IT Security Gap: Addressing Cybersecurity Gaps from Edge to Cloud," revealed a remarkable milestone with 51 per cent of organisations having now integrated Zero Trust security strategies into their cybersecurity frameworks, a significant leap from just 20 per cent in 2021.
Zero Trust security has gained a strong foothold in the region, and APAC organisations are echoing this trend with C-Suite executives largely backing Zero Trust programs and demonstrating understanding of its benefits to the business and employee experience, according to Forrester. As a result of this shift, we are seeing more organisations today effectively navigate the threat landscape, and those that have embraced these principles are emerging as high performers, displaying greater confidence in their network’s resilience. In the current landscape of escalating cyber threats, the implementation of Zero Trust security has emerged as a critical imperative for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring uninterrupted business operations. Forward-thinking organisations that adopt this approach have demonstrated their ability to mitigate the adverse consequences of security breaches, leading to minimal data loss and downtime.
Ariana: How has ZTNA transformed today’s networks and what are its greatest benefits?
Nick: Zero Trust security models excel in limiting access to resources and enhancing security, aligning with compliance mandates such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By granting users the least amount of access required for their tasks, Zero Trust reduces the attack surface for perpetrators and minimises the risk of unauthorised or accidental data exposure by employees or guest users.
These models also continuously analyse user behaviour to detect and respond to potential threats that may exploit implicit trust, such as stolen credentials or spoofed device addresses, and effectively curb the lateral spread of attacks within the network by automatically restricting access in response to anomalous behaviour. Its scalability is a significant asset, as Zero Trust is based on roles and policies rather than tied to specific users, locations, or devices. This flexibility enables organisations to easily adapt and expand their security measures as they grow, offering a versatile and cost-effective approach to modern network security.
Nick Harders, SASE Director at HPE Aruba Networking, boasts 20+ years in networking and cloud engineering. His leadership extends to large teams, specializing in infrastructure solutions and cloud transformations. As Solutions Director, he partners with sales, customers, and global providers in APJ, driving business success with HPE Aruba Networking solutions. Beyond, he's held senior roles at iQor and Macquarie Group.
This interview is a part of The Fast Mode's Next-Gen DPI Traffic Visibility for ZTNA segment, featuring over 40 leading cybersecurity and networking solution providers and their views on the importance of traffic visibility for ZTNA. A research report on this topic will be published in January 2024 - for more information, visit here.
