Gartner’s SSE Magic Quadrant for 2023 identifies 10 key vendors currently providing secure service edge capabilities for the enterprise market. In this guide, we’ll summarize the common factors shared among leading SSE vendors, discuss what separates them from niche players, and share advice for connecting your edge network to SSE solutions via an SD-WAN on-ramp.

Table of Contents:

What is Security Service Edge (SSE)? What is the need for SSE? What is the SSE Magic Quadrant? What has changed since the 2022 SSE Magic Quadrant? Key takeaways from the 2023 SSE Magic Quadrant SD-WAN: An on-ramp for SSE What to look for in an ideal SSE on-ramp Why Nodegrid is the ideal SSE on-ramp

What is Security Service Edge (SSE)?

Security service edge (SSE) is a cloud-centric security methodology for protecting edge network traffic. It rolls up technologies like Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) into a single service. These technologies offer threat protection, security monitoring, access control, and data governance.

What is the need for SSE?

With the frequency and severity of ransomware attacks and other cybercrimes increasing daily, security is a major priority for any organization. To protect your enterprise from cyber threats, you need to be able to extend your security policies and controls to all the remote and geographically distributed systems at your network edge. Historically, that meant backhauling all remote traffic through your primary firewall, which would inevitably cause performance issues for everyone on the network. This is frustrating and can greatly impact the business when much of your remote traffic is destined for cloud and web resources that aren’t even on your enterprise network.

SSE solves this problem by taking advanced enterprise security technologies and making them available as a cloud-based service. You can use SD-WAN with intelligent routing (more on that later) to send remote and branch office traffic through your SSE stack. This allows you to apply consistent policies and controls to your enterprise and edge traffic while reducing bottlenecks and increasing overall network performance.
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Learn more about SSE:

• Understanding Key Components of SSE (Security Service Edge)
• Top Security Service Edge Use Cases & Benefits for Enterprises
• Security Service Edge (SSE) Implementation Guide for Enterprises

There are many reasons why an SSE vendor would be considered a niche player, including that the market hasn’t caught on to them yet due to poor marketing or sales strategies. However, one common caution among niche players is a failure to fully integrate SSE components, which means customers must use multiple dashboards to manage a single SSE solution. Another common issue is poor support during sales, implementation, and operation, leading to frustration among enterprises with less experience in edge networking and security.

On the other hand, the leaders of the SSE Magic Quadrant share a few common characteristics as well. For one, they have strong marketing and sales outreach, a clear vision, and a roadmap for the future. This vision is essential because it allows enterprises to ensure their goals and strategies align with where their SSE vendor is headed.

In addition, these solutions’ components are tightly integrated with a single, unified management platform for more accessible and efficient operation. Magic Quadrant leaders invest in and implement new security features frequently, bug-free, and with adequate documentation and support. That means customers can stay ahead of emerging security threats without worrying about breaking their existing setups.

What has changed since the 2022 SSE Magic Quadrant?

There are three major changes to Magic Quadrant this year.

• Palo Alto Networks moves from Challenger to Leader: In 2022, Palo Alto extended its Prisma Access SSE solution to better integrate with Prisma SD-WAN, enhance its proxy and ZTNA components, and add SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM).
• McAfee splits its cloud business into Skyhigh Security: Early in 2022, McAfee enterprise split into two, with its cloud business now known as Skyhigh Security. This split disrupted Skyhigh’s growth and market share and moved this SSE offering from the Leaders quadrant to the Visionaries quadrant.
• Versa leaves the SSE Magic Quadrant: Versa no longer ranks in the top 20 organizations in Gartner’s market momentum index (MMI), so it isn’t included in the 2023 Magic Quadrant.

Key takeaways from the 2023 SSE Magic Quadrant

• Most vendors prioritized improving their core capabilities and better integrating their product, rather than focusing on new features and other innovations.
• Vendors who fail to fully integrate their SSE offering into a unified platform are quickly losing market share.
• WFH traffic is less of a concern for enterprises than branch/edge sites, so SD-WAN access and integrations are critical.

Overall, the biggest takeaway from the SSE Magic Quadrant is the importance of a seamlessly-integrated platform. A consolidated platform ensures complete visibility and control over your security service edge solution without needing to learn and operate multiple consoles.

On top of this, to use SSE’s cloud-delivered solution, you need a reliable way to send traffic from your branch and edge locations to the SSE stack. That means part of the architecture needs to include an access solution that can tunnel traffic from these locations to the cloud, such as SD-WAN. The access solution serves as an on-ramp to SSE, and requires a physical appliance for on-premises installations. This framework combining SD-WAN access with SSE is how SASE (secure access service edge) is built.

SD-WAN: An on-ramp to SSE

Security service edge provides the technology to protect your edge-based cloud-destined traffic, but you still need a way to get that traffic to your SSE platform. This is known as an SSE on-ramp, and it’s not included in any of the SSE Magic Quadrant solutions. However, one of Gartner’s selection criteria was the ability to integrate with SD-WAN technology.

An SSE on-ramp uses SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) technology to route remote and branch office traffic to your SSE stack in the cloud. SD-WAN separates the control and management processes from your underlying WAN hardware and virtualizes them as software, making it possible to centrally control and orchestrate even very complex and distributed WANs. With SD-WAN, you can use intelligent and application-aware routing to connect your edge users directly to the SSE platform, cloud, and web resources.

What to look for in an ideal SSE on-ramp

The ideal on-ramp to SSE will support seamless integration with your SSE platform, and vice-versa. In addition, the right solution will provide additional capabilities like the ones listed below.

Why Nodegrid is the ideal SSE on-ramp

The Nodegrid branch and edge networking solution from ZPE Systems combines all the capabilities of the ideal SSE on-ramp in a single platform. For example, the Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR) is a customizable, all-in-one device with available modules for storage, compute, serial console management, and more. The vendor-neutral NSR can host your preferred SD-WAN solution and supports easy integrations with SSE Magic Quadrant Leaders like Palo Alto Prisma Access, or you can use ZPE Cloud’s integrated SD-WAN app.

Thanks to the open-architecture, Linux-based Nodegrid OS, you can also extend Nodegrid’s capabilities with your choice of custom and third-party applications for security, monitoring, automation, and more. Plus, every device, application, and integration connected to the Nodegrid platform is brought under a single management umbrella for a unified and efficient orchestration experience. 

The Nodegrid platform from ZPE Systems rolls up everything you need in an SSE on-ramp and delivers it in one powerful, unified edge networking solution.

Learn how Nodegrid easily hosts and integrates Gartner’s picks for the 2023 SSE Magic Quadrant!

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The Opengear IM7200 is a line of out-of-band (OOB) serial consoles, also known as terminal servers, console servers, serial console servers, serial console routers, and serial console switches. The Infrastructure Manager (IM) solution provides consolidated remote management of data center infrastructure. The IM7200 is EOL as of the 31st of March, 2023, with an end-of-sale date of the 30th of September 2023 – click here to see a full list of affected product SKUs. In this blog, we’ll discuss replacement options for the IM7200, including Opengear alternatives that deliver unlimited automation capabilities and complete vendor freedom.

 

Table of contents:

Opengear IM7200 overview Opengear migration options: OM2200 OM2200 features & tech specs Opengear OM2200 limitations Opengear alternative options from ZPE Systems Nodegrid Serial Console Plus Nodegrid Serial Console S Series Nodegrid Net Services Router Nodegrid features & tech specs Opengear IM7200 migration SKUs

Opengear IM7200 overview

The Opengear IM7200 is a line of serial console solutions that provide out-of-band (OOB) management for 8-48 devices. It’s designed to give administrators a dedicated control plane from which to access and manage remote infrastructure in data centers and large IT deployments.

With the IM7200 now EOL, Opengear recommends migrating to the OM2200 series. Let’s take a look at the features, specifications, and limitations of the Opengear OM2200 before discussing some alternative options.

 

Looking for replacement options for other discontinued serial consoles and branch routers? Try: Opengear EOL: IM7200 Replacement Options Cisco ISR EOL Replacement Options Cisco 2900 EOL: Replacement Options

Opengear migration options: OM2200

The Opengear OM2200 Operations Manager console server solution provides OOB management for up to 48 devices over serial and/or Ethernet. OOB and failover use dual fiber ports, with an optional LTE-A Pro cellular module available. One of the OM2200’s biggest strengths is its power management capabilities, uniquely supporting over 100 power vendors’ equipment.

The OM series is Opengear’s line of NetOps console servers, which means they support Opengear’s automation modules as well as Python scripts and Docker container deployments. However, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) and RESTful APIs are locked behind an upgraded version of Opengear’s Lighthouse software. In addition, the OM2200 is what’s known as a 2nd generation or “Gen 2” serial console, which means it isn’t vendor-neutral and can’t integrate or host third-party applications for automation or security.

Opengear OM2200 Features & Tech Specs
Notable Serial Console Features	• SSH direct to consoles • Keystroke logging • Alert on cable disconnects • Text pattern match • Multiple concurrent sessions • Automatic device name discovery
OOB Managed Interfaces	• 16, 32, 48 ports
Hardware	• AMD X86, 64-bit CPU • 8 GB DRAM • 64 GB SSD
Automation	• Opengear NetOps modules • Docker • Python • Perl and bash support • Ruby
Automation for End Devices	• Can run playbooks • Python • Lighthouse
Guest OS	• Docker support
Power Management	• Monitor UPS battery status • Automate routine maintenance and load testing • Control PDU outlets via serial, USB, and Ethernet • Enforce remote power permissions and map managed consoles to outlets • Minimize MTTR with out-of-band power control • Uniquely supports over 100 power vendors’ equipment
Hardware Security	• TPM 2.0 • Embedded firewall
Form Factor	Fixed 1RU

 

Opengear OM2200 limitations

The OM2200 is a good Gen 2 serial console switch that offers some major improvements over the IM7200, but it still falls short of delivering Gen 3 OOB console server functionality in the following ways.

• Vendor lock-in: The X86 CPU and Linux-based OS makes the OM2200 programmable and extensible, but Opengear’s Lighthouse management software is not truly vendor-neutral. That means your third-party integration capabilities will be limited to specific supported solutions. If you have a hybrid, distributed, or multi-vendor infrastructure, this limitation could leave gaps in your management and orchestration coverage.
• Limited automation: The OM2200 improves upon the 7200 by supporting Opengear NetOps modules and allowing scripting and ZTP within the Lighthouse Automation edition. However, this automation only extends to certain supported end-devices, which means you’ll either need to stay within Opengear’s ecosystem, or manually provision and deploy the rest of your infrastructure.
• Lack of security: The OM2200 includes TPM 2.0 security, SAML 2.0 support, and an embedded firewall. However, it does not include additional hardware security like geofencing, BIOS protection, or UEFI secure boot. This increases the risk that a stolen serial console could be used by cybercriminals to breach your OOB management network.

Both the Opengear IM7200 and OM2200 are Gen 2 serial console servers, which means they provide OOB management access as well as some automation functionality to simplify individual network management workflows. However, due to vendor lock-in and minimal hardware security, the OM series falls short of the end-to-end automation and security required for a Gen 3 serial console solution.

Opengear alternative options from ZPE Systems

Another migration option for EOL Opengear console servers is the Nodegrid solution from ZPE Systems. This Gen 3 OOB management platform includes a wide range of serial console servers and integrated branch services routers to choose from, with the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP), the Nodegrid Serial Console S Series, and the Noderid Net Services Router (NSR) serving as direct replacements for the IM7200.

Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)

The high-density Nodegrid Serial Console Plus comes in 16, 32, 48, and 96 serial RJ45 port configurations as well as providing 2 USB 3.0 ports for a total of 98 managed devices on a single 1RU solution. That means a single NSCP could replace up to 12 Opengear IM7200 serial consoles, saving on hardware costs and optimizing rack space.

Nodegrid Serial Console S Series

The Nodegrid S series, which comes in 16, 32, or 48-port configurations, uses auto-sensing ports to provide seamless management of modern, legacy, and mixed-vendor infrastructure. The S Series RS232 serial console switch is the perfect legacy modernization platform because it allows you to extend automation to end devices that otherwise wouldn’t support it.

Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR)

The Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR) is an all-in-one branch networking solution that delivers OOB, SD-WAN, and more in a single box. The NSR has a modular design that lets you customize your solution with extra terminal server capabilities, storage, processing power, or GbE Ethernet ports.

All Nodegrid devices are secured with on-board features like BIOS protection, geofencing, TPM 2.0, and UEFI Secure Boot. An embedded firewall provides additional functionality like multi-site IPSec VPN, advanced authentication, and 2FA and SAML 2.0.

Nodegrid’s hardware can also directly host VMs, Docker containers, and third-party security and automation applications. Plus, the Linux-based Nodegrid OS supports NetOps automation and orchestration via integrations with tools like Docker, Chef, Puppet, and Ansible. In addition, ZPE’s management software, which is available as an on-premises or web-based solution, provides vendor-neutral visibility and orchestration of all your data center and cloud infrastructure behind one pane of glass.

Nodegrid features & tech specs

	Nodegrid NSCP	Nodegrid S Series	Nodegrid NSR
Notable Serial Console Features	• SSH direct to consoles • Keystroke logging • Logging to ZPE Cloud, NFS, Local • Alert on cable disconnects • Text pattern match with scriptable actions • Multiple concurrent sessions • Automatic device name discovery • Session sharing for collaboration • IP address per serial port • Secure session logout enforcement • Power control hotkey on serial port • Configurable icon per serial port	• SSH direct to consoles • Keystroke logging • Logging to ZPE Cloud, NFS, Local • Alert on cable disconnects • Text pattern match with scriptable actions • Multiple concurrent sessions • Automatic device name discovery • Session sharing for collaboration • IP address per serial port • Secure session logout enforcement • Power control hotkey on serial port • Configurable icon per serial port	• SSH direct to consoles • Keystroke logging • Logging to ZPE Cloud, NFS, Local • Alert on cable disconnects • Text pattern match with scriptable actions • Multiple concurrent sessions • Automatic device name discovery • Session sharing for collaboration • IP address per serial port • Secure session logout enforcement • Power control hotkey on serial port • Configurable icon per serial port
OOB Managed Interfaces	• 16, 32, 48, 96 ports (1RU)	• 16, 32, 48 ports	• Up to 5 x 16-port RJ-45 Serial modules
Hardware	• Intel X86, 64-bit CPU optimized for running VMs and automation tools • Dual-SIM 5G/4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, and V.02 modem for OOB/Failover	• Intel X86, 64-bit CPU optimized for running VMs and automation tools • Dual-SIM 5G/4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, and V.02 modem for OOB/Failover	• Intel X86, 64-bit CPU optimized for running VMs and automation tools • Dual-SIM 5G/4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, and V.02 modem for OOB/Failover
Automation	• ZPE Cloud • Chef • Docker • Puppet • Python • Ruby • ShellScript • Node.js JavaScript • Red Hat Ansible • KVM Hypervisor	• ZPE Cloud • Chef • Docker • Puppet • Python • Ruby • ShellScript • Node.js JavaScript • Red Hat Ansible • KVM Hypervisor	• ZPE Cloud • Chef • Docker • Puppet • Python • Ruby • ShellScript • Node.js JavaScript • Red Hat Ansible • KVM Hypervisor
Automation for End Devices	• ZPE Cloud • Chef • Docker • Puppet • Python • Ruby • ShellScript • Node.js JavaScript • Red Hat Ansible • KVM Hypervisor	• ZPE Cloud • Chef • Docker • Puppet • Python • Ruby • ShellScript • Node.js JavaScript • Red Hat Ansible • KVM Hypervisor	• ZPE Cloud • Chef • Docker • Puppet • Python • Ruby • ShellScript • Node.js JavaScript • Red Hat Ansible • KVM Hypervisor
Guest OS	• VMs, Docker, Kubernetes, LXC	• VMs, Docker, Kubernetes, LXC	• VMs, Docker, Kubernetes, LXC
Power Management	• Supports major power strips manufacturers • Power management integrated with serial session (escape sequence in the serial session or power buttons in web serial session) • Power control of VMs • Access rights for users & user groups	• Supports major power strips manufacturers • Power management integrated with serial session (escape sequence in the serial session or power buttons in web serial session) • Power control of VMs • Access rights for users & user groups	• Supports major power strips manufacturers • Power management integrated with serial session (escape sequence in the serial session or power buttons in web serial session) • Power control of VMs • Access rights for users & user groups
Hardware Security	• TPM 2.0 • Encrypted solid-state disk • UEFI BIOS with protection • Secure Boot (signed OS • Geofencing	• TPM 2.0 • Encrypted solid-state disk • UEFI BIOS with protection • Secure Boot (signed OS • Geofencing	• TPM 2.0 • Encrypted solid-state disk • UEFI BIOS with protection • Secure Boot (signed OS • Geofencing
Form Factor	Fixed 1RU	Fixed 1RU	Modular 1RU

The Nodegrid Gen 3 serial console solution is an Opengear alternative that serves as a direct replacement for the IM7200 while delivering enhanced automation capabilities and complete vendor freedom.

Watch a free Nodegrid demo to see a Gen 3 console server solution in action.

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Opengear IM7200 migration SKUs:

Opengear IM7200 EOL SKU	In Scope Features	ZPE Replacement Product
IM7208-2-DAC IM7208-2-DDC	8 Serial ports, OOB management	Fixed Form Factor: ZPE-NSCP-T16R-STND-DAC ZPE-NSC-T16S-STND-DAC ZPE-NSCP-T16R-STND-DDC ZPE-NSC-T16S-STND-DDC   Modular Form Factor: ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 1 x 16 port serial module 1 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN ZPE-NSR-816-DDC with 1 x 16 port serial module 1 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN
IM7216-2-DAC IM7216-2-DDC	16 Serial ports, OOB management	Fixed Form Factor: ZPE-NSCP-T16R-STND-DAC ZPE-NSC-T16S-STND-DAC ZPE-NSCP-T16R-STND-DDC ZPE-NSC-T16S-STND-DDC   Modular Form Factor: ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 1 x 16 port serial module 1 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN ZPE-NSR-816-DDC with 1 x 16 port serial module 1 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN
IM7232-2-DAC IM7232-2-DDC	32 Serial ports, OOB management	Fixed Form Factor: ZPE-NSCP-T32R-STND-DAC ZPE-NSC-T32S-STND-DAC ZPE-NSCP-T32R-STND-DDC ZPE-NSC-T32S-STND-DDC   Modular Form Factor: ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 2 x 16 port serial module 2 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN ZPE-NSR-816-DDC with 2 x 16 port serial module 2 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN
IM7248-2-DAC IM7248-2-DDC	48 Serial ports, OOB management	Fixed Form Factor: ZPE-NSCP-T48R-STND-DAC ZPE-NSC-T48S-STND-DAC ZPE-NSCP-T48R-STND-DDC ZPE-NSC-T48S-STND-DDC   Modular Form Factor: ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 3 x 16 port serial module 3 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN ZPE-NSR-816-DDC with 3 x 16 port serial module 3 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN
96 port not available in IM or OM series	96 Serial ports, OOB management	ZPE-NSCP-T96R-STND-DAC ZPE-NSCP-T96R-STND-DDC

Ready to replace your EOL Opengear IM7200 with a Gen 3 out-of-band serial console solution?

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Environmental conditions – such as temperature, humidity, and air quality – have a significant impact on the performance and lifespan of electronic equipment. Data center network infrastructure, automated industrial machines, and other expensive and business-critical devices typically require a specific range of conditions in order to avoid failure. However, they’re frequently installed in remote or hard-to-access locations with little human interaction, which can make it difficult to monitor and maintain the environment.

An environment monitoring system gives operators the ability to view the conditions in remote facilities in real time without leaving the office. That means organizations can proactively address environmental concerns before remote equipment fails, preventing business interruption and extending the lifetime of expensive machinery.

Want to see an environment monitoring system in action? Request a free demo of the Nodegrid platform from ZPE Systems.

Why you need an environment monitoring system

Enterprise networks are large and highly distributed; critical infrastructure is hosted in remote data centers, branch offices, manufacturing sites, and other locations with little-to-no IT support presence such as remote oil pipelines, offshore oil rigs, and satellites. That means network administrators can’t physically see if a device has been tampered with, hear if the fans are running too hard, or feel that the network closet is too humid. Without a way to remotely monitor for environmental risks, organizations often don’t know there’s a problem until it’s brought a critical device offline.

An environment monitoring system uses a variety of sensors to collect data on the temperature, humidity, air quality, and other conditions in remote environments. These sensors report back to the monitoring software, giving administrators the ability to see and respond to changes. In essence, environmental monitoring provides network teams with a virtual presence in the remote facilities that house critical infrastructure.

Environment monitoring sensors are also used in conjunction with SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems that manage high-level machine automation. SCADA computers are operational technology (OT) controllers that are often used to control automated processes in dangerous and hard-to-reach environments such as water treatment plants, oil and gas pipelines, and even the International Space Station. Some environment monitoring systems can integrate with SCADA solutions to enable real-time data collection on conditions underwater, inside pipelines, and in other environments that humans can’t safely access.

What to look for in an environment monitoring system

A robust environment monitoring system should include the following features:

Cloud management

Since environment monitoring sensors are typically deployed in remote and hard-to-reach areas, it’s important to consider that operators may not access the monitoring system from the same LAN. In addition, an environmental emergency could occur at any time, including in the middle of the night or while an admin is on vacation. Cloud management access ensures that network teams can monitor and respond to environmental threats quickly and from anywhere in the world.

Enterprise-grade security

However, if the monitoring system is accessible from the public internet, it must be protected by enterprise-grade security features to mitigate the possibility of a breach. Even with an entirely on-premises system, steps must be taken to prevent a malicious actor from gaining access to sensitive and proprietary data from the monitoring platform. A secure environment monitoring system supports advanced authentication methods like RADIUS, integrates with SAML 2.0 solutions for SSO (single sign-on) and 2FA (two-factor authentication), and includes additional security features like data encryption and secure boot.

Vendor freedom

The administrators and operators who manage remote equipment have a lot of tasks and responsibilities. Business requirements are growing more complex every day, while the Covid-19 pandemic and recession cutbacks are forcing everyone to do more with fewer resources and staff. A vendor-neutral environment monitoring system can easily integrate with other hardware and software solutions, providing a single unified platform for admins to log in to. This simplifies remote management and ensures comprehensive coverage, reducing the risk of issues slipping between the cracks.

Plus, a vendor-neutral monitoring system supports the use of third-party and custom automation solutions. That means administrators can use the automation and orchestration tools they’re most comfortable with to automate management and remediation tasks. Not only does this make their jobs easier by reducing manual workflows but also ensures that environmental issues are addressed quickly, even when a human technician is unavailable. When a critical device is overheating, fast remediation times often make the difference between a minor performance hiccup and a complete network or plant outage.

Out-of-band management

Sometimes, even with the most robust environment monitoring solution, a device will still fail and need to be recovered. However, if that device failure brings down the LAN, the environmental sensors and on-premises monitoring system won’t be reachable on the main network. That means administrators won’t be able to see which device failed or what environmental conditions caused that failure, let alone fix the problem, without dispatching an expensive and time-consuming truck roll.

Out-of-band (OOB) management uses serial consoles with redundant network interfaces to provide continuous management access to remote equipment. An OOB serial console directly connects to remote devices including environmental sensors, SCADA computers, and servers. Administrators can then remotely access the serial console via a dedicated internet connection (often cellular LTE) and monitor, manage, and orchestrate all connected devices without relying on the primary ISP or LAN connection.

Using OOB management in conjunction with environment monitoring allows administrators to continue viewing and troubleshooting remote devices even when the network is offline, reducing the need for on-site repairs. If remote troubleshooting reveals that a problem must be fixed in person, technicians can be dispatched with the exact tools and parts they need, decreasing the risk of further delays and speeding up the time to recovery.

Key features of an environment monitoring system

Cloud management portal that admins can access from anywhere in the world Enterprise-grade security features like SSO, 2FA, and secure boot Vendor-neutral platform that supports easy integrations and automation OOB management to ensure 24/7 access and reduce recovery times

Why choose the Nodegrid environment monitoring system

Nodegrid rolls up environment monitoring, out-of-band management, and end-to-end infrastructure automation in a single platform. Nodegrid’s environmental sensors collect valuable data on conditions in your rack, with the ability to monitor for physical tampering, temperature, humidity, smoke, airflow, and dust & particulates. Connecting these USB sensors to a Nodegrid serial console or integrated branch gateway router gives you a powerful environment monitoring system with fast, reliable, and secure OOB management.

The Nodegrid platform provides complete vendor freedom, with the ability to directly host third-party solutions such as Docker containers, security solutions, and automation playbooks. This gives administrators a single pane of glass from which to manage every aspect of the network architecture. They can use Nodegrid to orchestrate automated workflows, view environmental and security monitoring data, deploy and maintain infrastructure, and so much more.

Nodegrid’s vendor-neutral hardware and software allow you to create a fully integrated and highly customized platform containing all the tools and solutions you need to monitor, manage, orchestrate, and troubleshoot remote devices.

Ready to learn more?

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What is LTE failover?

LTE failover uses a cellular data connection – such as 4G or 5G – to provide backup internet access in the event that the primary connection goes down. Since LTE uses cellular infrastructure, it’s often unaffected by events that may cause a wired ISP network to go down, such as natural disasters, construction accidents, and power outages. When the cellular failover router detects that the primary internet connection is offline, it automatically takes over to ensure continuous network availability. The goal of LTE failover is to provide reliable, 24/7 internet access for production network resources and users. An automated failover solution reduces the impact of ISP outages by allowing businesses to continue operating as usual with a seamless experience for end users.

What is LTE out-of-band?

LTE out-of-band (OOB) management, on the other hand, uses a cellular data connection to provide continuous management access to remote network infrastructure. Cellular OOB solutions typically use serial consoles (i.e., console servers, serial switches, or serial routers) to directly connect to production network infrastructure such as servers, PDUs, and storage devices. Administrators remotely access these serial consoles using a dedicated cellular interface, and can then manage and orchestrate all connected infrastructure without relying on the primary ISP or LAN connection. The goal of LTE out-of-band is to ensure that administrators have high-speed, 24/7 access to remote network infrastructure even if there’s an ISP, WAN, or LAN outage. With LTE OOB, organizations can recover from outages faster and without dispatching costly truck rolls. Plus, engineers can employ resource-intensive automation and orchestration workflows on the dedicated OOB network without impacting the performance or reliability of the production network.

Comparing LTE failover vs. LTE out-of-band

 

LTE Failover	LTE Out-of-Band
Ensures continuous internet access for data, resources, workflows, and users on the production network Often installed as a secondary network interface on the primary gateway router Could be a separate router installed in the same rack as the primary gateway router Only works when the production LAN infrastructure is still functional	Ensures continuous management access to production network infrastructure on a dedicated OOB network Typically uses serial consoles to provide direct access to network devices via their serial ports Admins connect using cellular interfaces on the serial console Does not rely on production LAN infrastructure

LTE failover is essentially just a secondary internet connection that automatically kicks on when the primary internet goes down. It ensures that production network processes and workflows can continue functioning during ISP outages. However, LTE failover does not provide business continuity in the event of a LAN outage, for example when there’s an equipment failure, configuration error, or traffic bottleneck in the data center. When enterprise infrastructure issues bring down the network in a remote business site like a colocation data center or branch office, organizations need a way to remotely fix the issue, which is where LTE out-of-band comes into play. Since OOB serial consoles directly connect to the serial ports of network devices, administrators can still remotely access those devices without an IP address. This gives network teams the ability to remotely assess, diagnose, and fix many issues without dispatching anyone onsite, decreasing recovery time and reducing the cost of outages. While LTE failover is designed to provide seamless internet access in the event of an ISP outage, LTE out-of-band ensures continuous management and orchestration access to remote infrastructure even when there’s a LAN failure. These two technologies work together to improve the resiliency of enterprise networks, making them valuable components of business continuity and disaster recovery strategies.

Using LTE and automation for network resiliency

A resilient network continues to function when the unexpected occurs – whether it’s a hurricane taking down the ISP network, a firmware update crashing a critical remote device, or a global recession forcing a reduction in support staff. In addition to LTE failover and out-of-band management, automation is crucial to network resiliency because it reduces the amount of human intervention that’s required to maintain and troubleshoot enterprise networks and infrastructure.

Ready to learn more?

To learn more about the role of LTE failover, OOB management, and automation in building a more resilient enterprise network, download the Network Automation Blueprint from ZPE Systems.

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Software-defined wide area networking, or SD-WAN, has made it possible to efficiently control highly distributed WAN architectures using software abstraction and automation. SD-WAN adoption is increasing, partially due to the rise in remote work during the pandemic, with experts predicting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.2% between 2022 and 2028. However, while SD-WAN solves a lot of remote, edge, and branch networking problems, it also introduces security concerns that must be addressed. This definitive SD-WAN security checklist highlights the most important challenges and provides solutions for overcoming them. 

The definitive SD-WAN security checklist

Keeping an SD-WAN architecture secure requires several features to be successful. It’s vital to consider this comprehensive list. 

1. Frequent security patching

Outdated operating systems create a significant security risk. According to a 2016 Voke Media survey, about 80% of breaches or failed audits could have been prevented by patching outdated software or updating device configurations. An SD-WAN router with an outdated OS is more likely to have vulnerabilities, and the longer it goes unpatched, the more likely a hacker is to find and exploit those vulnerabilities.

However, SD-WAN architectures are often multi-vendor and highly distributed, making it challenging for administrators to monitor for vulnerabilities and stay on top of patch schedules. There are two primary ways to overcome this difficulty:

• Centralized SD-WAN management platforms provide a single pane of glass from which to monitor and update device software. The right platform is vendor-agnostic, so administrators can easily patch any and all vendor devices from one common interface.
• Automated patch management software helps keep OSes up to date by automatically applying new updates based on a predetermined schedule. Some solutions even perform automatic vulnerability scans or can monitor environments for missing patches and apply new updates that fall outside of the usual patch schedule.

Your ability to keep SD-WAN device software secure ultimately depends on the vendor’s patch schedule. Some providers are sluggish to patch known vulnerabilities in their software, either because they think they can keep said vulnerabilities a secret or because they don’t want to dedicate the time and resources needed to keep the OS up to date. That’s why you should look for SD-WAN hardware and software vendors who are transparent about vulnerabilities and who work diligently to release frequent patches and updates. 

2. Zero Trust Provisioning

SD-WAN platforms are software-based, but they still require underlying networking hardware at each remote site for connecting to the enterprise network. Deploying this hardware can be difficult, especially when SD-WAN sites are in hard-to-reach locations such as offshore oil rigs, remote weather stations, or nations experiencing disasters or active conflicts. Often, organizations opt to pre-stage devices in their home office and then ship them to remote sites so they can avoid costly or dangerous travel.

Pre-staging creates a security risk because a pre-configured device could be intercepted by hackers and used to access the enterprise network. Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) reduces the need for pre-staging by deploying new device configurations over the network. ZTP-enabled devices provision themselves by using DHCP or TFTP to find and download configuration files, which means administrators can ship factory-default hardware that doesn’t contain any exploitable information about the enterprise network.

However, ZTP also introduces some additional security challenges. Once they’ve created the configuration file, administrators generally don’t monitor the entire automatic provisioning process, so there’s a chance that a mistake in the configuration file could create a security vulnerability that goes unnoticed. And, since one ZTP configuration file is usually applied to multiple devices, a potential security vulnerability could affect several systems or locations without anyone knowing. In addition, hackers could intercept the transmission of the configuration file over the network if the connection isn’t strongly encrypted.

These challenges are overcome with a secure ZTP solution that follows zero trust security principles. This type of solution is often referred to as “Zero Trust Provisioning,” and it includes hardware-based security like TPM, BIOS protection, encryption modules, and an onboard firewall which protects the software layer (secure boot) and management layer (two-factor authentication). In addition, the ideal Zero Trust Provisioning solution supports integrations with automated configuration management tools like Chef and Ansible which can be set up to test and monitor ZTP configurations for mistakes and security vulnerabilities.

Zero Trust Provisioning is a key part of the SD-WAN security checklist because it prevents branch networking hardware from being intercepted and used in a cyberattack. It also ensures that automatic provisioning occurs over a secure, encrypted network connection, and allows integration with configuration management tools to prevent errors from introducing additional vulnerabilities. 

3. Secure out-of-band access

Many organizations use out-of-band (OOB) management to configure, control, and troubleshoot remote network infrastructure. OOB management uses a separate management plane, so resource-intensive network management and orchestration workflows don’t affect the performance or reliability of the production network. This may involve using a jump box to access an OOB network, which is an entirely separate management network architecture that runs parallel to the production network. However, a simpler solution is to use an OOB console server to achieve the same goal without the hassle of deploying a separate architecture.

OOB management improves the performance and reliability of production networks, and provides an alternative path to remote infrastructure (typically via cellular modem) in the event of an ISP outage or a network device failure. The issue with OOB management is that jump boxes and console servers are attractive targets to hackers. If a malicious actor manages to compromise the OOB network, they’ll gain complete control over the remote infrastructure.

To keep SD-WAN devices and other remote infrastructure secure, it’s best to use an OOB console server with advanced encryption for both the hardware and the management connections. In addition, the OOB solution should include Zero Trust features like MFA (multi-factor authentication) and RBAC (role-based access control). Just like the SD-WAN hardware, the OOB device(s) should run a fully patched OS and support Zero Trust Provisioning. For even greater protection, choose an OOB solution that supports integrations with third-party security solutions like next-generation firewalls (NGFW).

A secure out-of-band management solution gives network administrators 24/7 access to remote infrastructure on a dedicated, encrypted network connection using hardened OOB console server devices. This ensures that hackers can’t use the OOB network to hijack production infrastructure while also giving administrators the ability to quickly recover from outages, hardware failures, and cyberattacks.

4. Cloud-based security technology

As we’ve discussed above, it’s possible to run SD-WAN solutions on hardware with onboard firewall features. However, these basic firewalls often lack the advanced functionality needed to protect enterprise networks from sophisticated cyberattacks, which is why most organizations also use some form of stateful firewall or NGFW that resides in a central data center. This works well for a single, centralized enterprise network, but the addition of remote sites can create performance issues.

For the centralized firewall to inspect and protect SD-WAN traffic, that traffic must be backhauled through the central data center, even if the request is ultimately destined for the web. This inefficient routing causes bottlenecks, performance issues, and even dropped connections for on-premises and remote users alike. The obvious solution to this problem would be installing physical or virtual firewalls in each remote location, but this is expensive and disruptive and creates more management complexity for network administrators.

A better way to protect remote traffic while improving performance is through the use of cloud-based security solutions, such as Security Service Edge (SSE). SSE relies on SD-WAN’s intelligent routing capabilities to separate remote traffic that’s destined for web, cloud, and SaaS resources. This traffic bypasses the firewall and is instead routed through a cloud-based security stack, reducing the load on the enterprise network.

Ideally, the SD-WAN solution will tightly integrate with the SSE platform. This combination of SSE security with an SD-WAN on-ramp creates what’s known as SASE, or Secure Access Service Edge. This is most easily achieved using vendor-neutral branch networking platforms which can host or integrate with a wide variety of SD-WAN and SSE solutions. An integrated SASE architecture ensures comprehensive security while providing remote users and systems with fast, reliable access to cloud resources.

Nodegrid checks every box on your SD-WAN security checklist

Only one remote network management solution provides everything you need to keep your SD-WAN architecture secure: the Nodegrid platform from ZPE Systems. Nodegrid’s vendor-neutral routers, such as the 5-in-1 Hive SR branch gateway, can directly host or integrate with your chosen SD-WAN solution. Whether you enable SD-WAN with a Nodegrid device or by using ZPE Cloud’s SD-WAN application, you’ll get seamless access, centralized management, and state-of-the-art security.

1. Secure, up-to-date SD-WAN device OS

Nodegrid’s branch gateway routers run on the vendor-neutral, x86 Linux-based Nodegrid OS, which is constantly monitored for vulnerabilities and frequently patched to ensure security. Plus, with the ZPE Cloud orchestration platform, you can monitor and update all your SD-WAN devices from one convenient management portal—even if that hardware comes from another vendor.

2. Zero Trust Provisioning for branch networks

All Nodegrid devices support Zero Trust Provisioning, and they can extend this capability to any third-party devices managed by Nodegrid. That means administrators can securely configure all the multi-vendor devices in a remote branch network without the need for travel or pre-staging. Nodegrid ZTP is considered Zero Trust because it protects the hardware, software, and management layers with advanced security features like:

• Password-protected BIOS
• Current cryptographic modules
• SSO with SAML (Duo, Okta, Ping, and ADFS), MFA, and remote authentication
• Geofence perimeter crossing detection
• Onboard firewall, IPSec, and Fail2Ban intrusion protection
• Fine grain RBAC with strong password enforcement

Nodegrid also supports integrations with automated configuration management solutions like Ansible, Chef, and Puppet, so you can ensure every device is provisioned correctly.

3. Gen 3 secure out-of-band management

Nodegrid services routers provide reliable, Gen 3 OOB management access to any connected devices, including those from other vendors. This access is protected by a patched OS, onboard hardware security features, and current encryption modules. Plus, Nodegrid’s hardware and software can host or integrate with third-party security solutions like NGFWs for comprehensive OOB security. 

4. An SD-WAN onramp to SSE

The Nodegrid branch networking solution provides the ideal SD-WAN on-ramp to leading Security Service Edge providers. That’s because Nodegrid is a completely open platform that can host or integrate with any SSE and SD-WAN offering to provide a single, unified SASE solution. This gives administrators complete control over every aspect of branch network management and SD-WAN security from one convenient portal, reducing complexity and improving your security posture at the same time.

Wondering how ZPE’s Nodegrid solution checks all the boxes on your SD-WAN security checklist?

Contact ZPE Systems today to learn more

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O índice da bolsa de valores Dow caiu mais de 1000 pontos nesta última sexta-feira de agosto. O mesmo efeito ocorreu em todas as bolsas de valores do mundo. Companhias como Apple, Vale, Google e Netflix reduziram o número de contratações para este ano. Para CIOs, a mensagem é clara: tempos difíceis estão chegando e a recessão poderá vir junto.

Podemos considerar que as receitas das empresas estão ligadas aos serviços digitais e à qualidade da infraestrutura de TI. Em termos simples, rede fora do ar significa queda em receita. Então, quando a economia desacelera, as contratações são reduzidas e aumenta o trabalho das equipes de TI. Os CIOs precisam descobrir como “fazer mais com menos” para manter os mesmos níveis de serviço. Na realidade, todos esperam que o TI mantenha e suporte a estrutura mesmo durante um Apocalipse Zumbi.

Hoje, líderes estão se preparando para estes desafios que estão visíveis no horizonte, sem mencionar riscos de retorno de covid, entre outros. A preocupação é a mesma: manter a rede de dados e comunicações confiáveis, seguras e operando.

Os líderes estão inseguros sobre o futuro.

A incerteza está crescendo nestes dias por conta de possíveis abalos operacionais, como os que ocorreram no início da pandemia em 2020, impulsionada por duas possibilidades:

• Recessão, a qual os economistas estão prevendo como possível, mais do que apenas um aumento de inflação nos Estados Unidos e no mundo. Isso irá forçar os líderes a congelar contratações e serem obrigados a manter as redes de dados operando com pessoal reduzido.
• A volta da Covid, que pode incorrer em novos lockdowns com milhões de casos em todo o mundo. Reduzindo a população ativa devido a contaminação de covid. Proporcionalmente teremos menos especialistas, técnicos de campo e de manutenção em atividade, incorrendo em quedas de serviços e queda de receita. Ao CIO perguntarão como ele planeja aumentar a receita de primeira linha, apesar da recessão, com número limitado de funcionários e dificuldade de locomoção. Isso significa que ele precisará de respostas sólidas para três perguntas críticas que surgirão em sua próxima reunião do conselho.

Três perguntas para ajudar os CIOs a sobreviverem aos “Tempos Turbulentos”.

Se eu não posso contratar, como eu posso manter o SLA de nossos serviços de TI internos e para os clientes?

A quantidade de processos e trabalho do time de TI está crescendo exponencialmente desde a mudança de centralizado (ou no escritório) para descentralizado (home office). Existe uma grande quantidade de equipamentos distribuídos por vários Data Centers e escritórios remotos, desde servidores, roteadores, gateways, sensores, infraestrutura de estruturas inteligentes, aplicações de usuários, e claro, firewalls. Além disso, estão levando conteúdo para computação de borda/edge e estruturas de redes 5G que irão necessitar de mais micro e nano datacenters que devem ser mantidos, geralmente remotamente. E com o time de TI já reduzido e carregado de atividades do dia a dia, como gerenciamento de configurações, troubleshooting e recuperação de equipamentos, ficará cada vez mais difícil e estressante receber funções e trabalhos adicionais nestes períodos.

Se o time de TI não consegue acessar fisicamente o equipamento, como manter a disponibilidade?

Como observado no início da pandemia de Covid, as companhias tiveram dificuldades para normalizar a operação das redes até conseguir habilitar todos para um trabalho remoto. Porém, muitas companhias não estavam preparadas e ainda sofrem os efeitos disso. Em um artigo reportado em 2021 sobre empresas de TI, a prioridade era permitir trabalho remoto, porém, 66% delas não estavam conseguindo suportar as atividades e o nível de serviço neste ambiente de trabalho remoto.

As empresas de TI devem estar preparadas para acomodar trabalho flexível para o futuro com qualidade, mas isso normalmente implica em ter pessoal no local, parceiros de serviços, e soluções remotas que inflam os custos operacionais. Desconsiderando lockdowns, acesso físico já é um desafio quando os equipamentos se encontram em locais remotos ou de acesso perigoso ou difícil.

Será que seremos capazes de estar em “compliance” e manter os sistemas seguros?

Muitas quebras de segurança ocorrem, não porque não existem patches ou upgrades, mas porque instalando estes patches podemos incorrer em outros problemas desconhecidos. Muitas empresas continuam rodando softwares muito antigos e sem updates de revisão. Ao mesmo tempo, esperam que estas vulnerabilidades não vão ser exploradas e acabam gerando penalidades e multas para as empresas não preparadas. Em termos gerais, os sistemas sobrevivem sem upgrades, e as vulnerabilidades aumentam com o tempo. A mudança pode trazer perigos que ninguém está disposto a correr sob o risco de não conseguir restabelecer o serviço. Este problema aumenta em caso de menor equipe on-site e acesso ou deslocamento restrito.

Grandes empresas de tecnologia conseguiram resolver este desafio.

As grandes empresas de tecnologia sempre conseguem despontar durante as crises e emergir mais fortes. Como? Porque elas compreendem que precisam dar poderes as áreas de TI para se prepararem para estes desafios que sempre ocorrem. De acordo com o Gartner, o melhor jeito de se preparar é investindo na transformação digital do ambiente de trabalho. Mas o que quer dizer exatamente isso? Como CIO, você tem uma grande distribuição de equipe para abraçar toda a infraestrutura. Com isso, fica difícil definir os passos estratégicos e táticos. Respondendo as três questões abaixo, seu time de TI saberá como conseguir se preparar.

O Grande Segredo das Grandes: Plano para Automação de Rede.

Muito melhor do que tentar descobrir ou inventar a sua própria estratégia de resiliência, existe um modelo que as grandes empresas de tecnologia usam durante os períodos recessivos. Ele é composto de duas soluções que podem ser combinadas inteligentemente, que incluem:

• Um nível de orquestração da rede de dados, que serve como meio de automação básico, intermediário e entreprise das tarefas de TI.
• Um nível de automação de infraestrutura, que permite aos engenheiros de suporte executarem remotamente gerência e serviços de automação que normalmente requerem presença física no site.

Existem mais de 10 componentes de automação e orquestração requeridos para efetivamente implementar esta modelagem da automação de rede. Mas os times de TI já estão acostumados com estes modelos e processos. Isso inclui atividades como controle de versão de sistemas, orquestração, pre-stagging de servidores, conectividade out of band e controle de alimentação de energia, entre outros.

Mas a parte mais importante está na modelagem, respondendo a três questões que vão aparecer durante as reuniões de diretoria, e definem exatamente como atingir a resiliência e confiabilidade da rede.

Se eu precisar congelar as contratações, conseguiremos manter os serviços de TI confiáveis?

Resposta: Nível de Orquestração – Isso é fundamental para reduzir as atividades manuais de TI, mas a maioria das companhias está relutante em usar automação porque eles não têm as ferramentas apropriadas que podem ajudá-los em se recuperar em caso de erros catastróficos. A chave para isso é possuir o nível de orquestração colocado no topo do nível de automação de infraestrutura.

Isso irá ajudar a diminuir o trabalho do time de TI e servir como um gatilho de segurança contra erros de automação.

Se TI não consegue acessar o equipamento fisicamente, como manter a disponibilidade?

Resposta: Nível de Automação de Infraestrutura – Gerência fora da banda IP (Out-of-band /OOB) é um componente crucial deste nível. OOB não é uma tecnologia nova, porém disponibiliza serviços permitindo aos engenheiros de TI terem uma completa presença virtual muito além do padrão de acesso na porta serial. As novas funcionalidades do OOB são detalhadas no modelamento, e incluem acesso adicional 4G/5G ou WIFI, com QoS & SD-WAN, múltiplos tipos de interfaces para se conectar em todos os equipamentos dos sites, e controlar logicamente as portas de alimentação permitindo executar um ciclo remoto desliga/liga.

Seremos capazes de estar em “compliance” e manter as atualizações de segurança em dia?

Resposta: Níveis de Infraestrutura de Orquestração e Automação trabalhando juntos para atingir as necessidades, automaticamente instalando updates de segurança e patches em toda a infraestrutura de redes.

Fazendo isso, garante que o time de TI possa verificar as configurações antes e depois delas serem implementadas, sem precisar de pessoal no local. Com os scripts e controles de alimentação OOB os engenheiros podem fazer o update de SW dos equipamentos remotamente para manter o “compliance”, mesmo em arquiteturas de rede distribuídas. Performando esta função via Out of Band (OOB), remove-se a ansiedade em se usar automação, pois patches com comportamentos estranhos podem ser desinstalados e trazer a infraestrutura ao estado online anterior.

Modern enterprise networks are no longer contained to a single building or LAN. They’re highly distributed, with branch offices, remote employees, and global data centers that communicate and work together. That’s why traditional enterprise network security software—designed for on-premises infrastructure and castle-and-moat protection strategies—often struggles to secure the edge.

The challenge of traditional enterprise network security software at the edge

For years, enterprise network security followed the castle-and-moat approach. All the enterprise’s valuable systems and data are kept on the internal network (a.k.a. the castle), and a firewall creates a security perimeter (a.k.a. the moat) around those resources. This is easier to do when everything is housed in the same location. This becomes challenging (if not impossible) when those resources are spread across large geographical and logical distances.

For example, organizations may have a hard time extending their enterprise security policies to users, devices, and applications that aren’t on the main network. That goes beyond remote workers to also include cloud platforms and remote edge data centers. Some teams overcome this challenge by creating separate policies, but then they’re left with the logistical nightmare of updating and maintaining these policies across many different systems and locations. Due to errors or negligence, inconsistent security policies can leave gaps in your network security coverage.

In addition, traditional network security requires all remote traffic to be backhauled through the main firewall for inspection, creating a network bottleneck. That means all network requests worldwide must travel to the central data center, even if the traffic is ultimately destined for remote or cloud resources. This added network load can cause latency, timeouts, and other performance issues for the entire enterprise.

Challenges like these led to the evolution of enterprise network security software for edge deployments.

How enterprise network security software has evolved for the edge

Edge computing is all about moving resources closer to the users, systems, and applications that need them. Enterprise network security software for the edge does the same thing—it places security policies and controls in the cloud or small regional data centers, so remote systems and users don’t need to be routed back to the central network. The leading solution for edge security is Security Service Edge, or SSE.

SSE rolls up multiple security technologies into one integrated, cloud-based platform. Traffic from the edge is routed through the SSE security stack using SD-WAN (software-defined wide area networking). If that traffic is bound for cloud- or web-based resources, it’s allowed to bypass the central network entirely. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) ensures safe and secure access if the traffic is destined for resources on the enterprise network.

Let’s discuss the specific technology that makes SSE the best solution for edge network security.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

Zero Trust Network Access allows remote users and systems to access resources on the enterprise network, similar to a VPN. ZTNA is more secure than VPNs because it only gives users access to one specific resource at a time. They cannot jump around the network without re-authenticating and re-verifying trust. That means the lateral movement of a compromised account is limited, with malicious actors needing to re-verify their identity repeatedly, increasing their chances of getting caught.

ZTNA gives edge users and devices seamless access to the enterprise resources they need while reducing the risk of remote connections. It allows you to apply zero trust security principles to your network’s edge to ensure consistent security across your enterprise.

Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)

Firewall as a Service delivers network firewall capabilities as a cloud-based service. Incoming and outgoing edge traffic is routed through the FWaaS instead of the physical firewall in the data center, reducing the load on the enterprise network. FWaaS solutions for SSE typically include features like:

• ❖URL/IP filtering
• ❖Intrusion detection and prevention
• ❖Network monitoring
• ❖Deep packet inspection (DPI)

A Firewall as a Service is entirely cloud-based, which means you don’t need to deploy any additional hardware to edge locations. This also makes FWaaS easily scalable, allowing you to protect new branch offices or add additional features with the click of a button. FWaaS delivers powerful firewall functionality to the edge without expensive hardware or network bottlenecks.

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

A Cloud Access Security Broker allows you to extend your enterprise security policies to cloud resources and traffic. The CASB acts as a gatekeeper between your enterprise network and the cloud, enforcing zero trust policies on any traffic flowing between the two. In an SSE solution, the CASB performs many functions, such as:

• → Analyzing the behavior of users and entities to determine if they’re trustworthy before allowing access to cloud resources. This is also known as User and Entity Behavior Analytics, or UEBA.
• → Using firewall and antivirus technology to detect malicious software (malware) and block it from entering the enterprise network
• → Using enterprise data governance policies to prevent data exfiltration, which is known as Data Loss Prevention (DLP).
• → Discovering, identifying, and analyzing all the enterprise’s cloud resources to determine relative risk. This is known as Cloud Discovery.

The CASB is what an SSE solution uses to extend your enterprise security policies to remote and cloud-based systems. This allows you to maintain precise and consistent zero trust policies across your distributed infrastructure, so your edge doesn’t become a weakness in your defense strategy.

SSE is powerful because it combines a complete security stack into one cloud-based service. That means you don’t have to force your edge resources into the perimeter created by traditional enterprise network security software.

Connecting your edge to SSE solutions

There’s still one critical component that’s missing: the technology that connects your edge resources and traffic to the SSE stack in the cloud. The most reliable and efficient on-ramp to an SSE solution is SD-WAN technology. SD-WAN creates a virtual overlay network on top of your WAN hardware, which enables automation and orchestration of remote, edge traffic management. SD-WAN uses intelligent routing to automatically separate edge traffic destined for the cloud, allowing it to bypass your firewall and flow through your SSE stack instead.

For example, the Nodegrid SD-WAN solution from ZPE Systems allows seamless integrations with SSE solutions. Placing Nodegrid Services Routers in your edge locations creates an access on-ramp to SSE and provides powerful branch networking functionality.

Learn more about securing your edge with SSE:

→ Top Security Service Edge Use Cases & Benefits for Enterprises
→ Security Service Edge (SSE) Implementation Guide for Enterprises
→ SSE Magic Quadrant: Key Takeaways of the 2022 Report

Want to learn more about network security software?

Watch a free demo of Nodegrid in action to see for yourself how enterprise network security software has evolved for the edge. Or get in contact with us!

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Edge computing is poised as the next critical technology to propel a business into the future. Edge computing delivers greater speed and reliability by decentralizing enterprise resources and placing them closer to their employees, partners, and/or customers. However, some unique challenges are involved in managing and securing this kind of highly-distributed network architecture. In this blog, we’ll explain how to overcome these hurdles so you can actualize edge computing benefits in your enterprise.

Edge computing benefits, challenges, and solutions

Edge computing involves moving critical resources and digital workflows out of the centralized data center and closer to the people and devices who use them. Edge computing often occurs in remote locations far from the main data center, such as manufacturing plants in developing nations, oil rigs in the deep ocean, or hospitals in rural areas. Edge computing places the processing power needed for applications and analytics closer to these remote endpoints, which provides the following benefits.

Main edge computing benefits

• ★ Reduced latency: Users and devices in remote locations are physically and logically closer to the resources they need, reducing latency and improving performance.
• ★ Increased bandwidth: Less remote traffic is routed through the centralized data center, so more bandwidth is available to the edge locations and the main enterprise.
• ★ Simplified compliance: Individual locations may have different regulatory requirements, and edge computing allows you to store and process data locally, making it easier to ensure compliance.

Edge computing challenges

On its face, edge computing seems relatively simple—all you have to do is install some servers and GPUs in a remote, edge location. However, the edge’s very nature creates challenges you can’t ignore. Many edge locations do feel like the edge of the world. They may be hard to reach, have inhospitable weather conditions, or even sit in an active warzone. Deploying engineers for equipment installations, troubleshooting, or even simple maintenance is complex. It also means you’re not guaranteed to have a reliable internet connection to access and manage edge resources. Remote edge technology is also harder to monitor, which increases the risk of tampering by malicious actors. Plus, extreme weather or collateral damage from warfare could physically damage your infrastructure. These factors could cause you to lose expensive equipment and valuable data.

Edge computing solutions

To actualize edge computing benefits in your enterprise, you need to anticipate the above challenges by implementing the following solutions:

• Out-of-band (OOB) management OOB management provides an alternative path to your critical remote infrastructure when the primary network is down. An OOB management solution for edge computing uses a high-speed wireless connection (such as 4G/5G cellular) which is less likely to be affected by extreme weather or the destruction of underground infrastructure.

• SD-WAN SD-WAN (or software-defined wide area networking) provides a resilient connection between your edge computing resources and enterprise network. SD-WAN helps ensure constant availability at the edge by using intelligent routing that automatically redirects traffic to available resources during an outage.

• Automation Automation makes it easier to deploy and manage infrastructure at the edge. For example, Zero Touch Provisioning allows administrators to automatically deploy device configurations over the WAN, reducing the need for on-site technicians.

• Virtual presence A virtual presence allows you to monitor your edge infrastructure’s condition remotely. For instance, environmental monitoring sensors provide data on temperature, humidity, and airflow so you can prevent damage to your valuable equipment. Proximity and tampering sensors can also alert you if an unauthorized individual attempts to access your hardware.

• Security You must implement local security when you move compute resources to the edge. For example, an edge firewall will enable traffic inspection and intrusion detection without the need to route all edge traffic through the security stack in your central data center. Often, it’s easiest to run security applications as a VM on an edge system.

OOB management, SD-WAN, automation, a virtual presence, and edge security are critical for the success of edge computing. However, that doesn’t mean you must buy five new solutions for each edge location. Ideally, you’ll use a consolidated edge networking solution that rolls up all the functionality you need in one compact device. This will allow you to easily deploy and manage your edge computing resources while reducing your technology footprint in remote locations where space and budgets may be limited.

Unlock edge computing benefits with Nodegrid

Every edge computing use case is different. You may have several small data centers worldwide with dozens of racks. Or, you might have many nano data centers, each with a single device running all your edge compute applications. No matter what your edge architecture looks like, ZPE Systems has a solution to help you unlock edge computing benefits. For example, the Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR) is a compact, all-in-one edge networking solution that’s customizable to your requirements. With swappable modules for OOB management, 5G/4G cellular, storage, and compute, you can run an entire edge computing deployment from one device. Nodegrid’s vendor-neutral platform supports integrations with your choice of third-party automation, orchestration, and security providers. Or, you can host applications for automation, SD-WAN, security, and more on a single device. You can even run VMs directly from your NSR to further streamline your edge operations. Plus, you can connect Nodegrid’s environmental monitoring sensors to any Nodegrid device. You can maintain visibility on your critical remote infrastructure with sensors for temperature, humidity, proximity, airflow, smoke, and particulates.

Want to learn more about computing benefits with Nodegrid?

Nodegrid is a consolidated, all-in-one device, so you can enable edge computing benefits without buying many separate solutions. Contact us today or call 1-844-4ZPE-SYS for a free demo.
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In a previous blog, we discussed the differences between out-of-band (OOB) networks and out-of-band (OOB) management. An OOB network is a separate network used to manage, orchestrate, and troubleshoot the primary production network. OOB management is the term for the network management that occurs on the out-of-band network. This differs from in-band management, which takes place on the main network alongside production traffic.

In this blog, we’ll compare In-band vs out-of-band management and explain why modern enterprise networks need out-of-band.

What is In-band management?

In-band management is the network management that occurs on the same channel as data communications. Network administrators connect to the device they want to manage (e.g., a router, switch, etc.) using protocols like Telnet/SSH or SNMP. In-band management requires the administrator to connect over the primary LAN interface—or the WAN, for remote network management.

The in-band network management workflow must compete with production traffic for bandwidth since they use the same network architecture. In addition, if the primary LAN, WAN, or ISP experiences problems or goes offline, administrators lose the ability to connect to network devices for troubleshooting remotely. That means they need to physically connect to the serial ports on affected devices, which could be hundreds or thousands of miles away.

What is OOB management?

Out-of-band (OOB) management takes place on a separate channel known as an out-of-band network. This keeps management and orchestration workflows from adding latency to the production network. It can also provide a redundant connection to manage remote network infrastructure in case the primary WAN, LAN, and/or ISP goes down.

An OOB network may have its own LAN architecture, with a jump box (also known as a jump server) providing management access. This box connects to both the In-band and OOB network, so administrators can remotely connect to the jump server from the primary LAN and use it to access OOB management. Ideally, this secondary LAN is wholly isolated from the primary, with its own DNS, DHCP, and other critical network services. This will allow engineers to troubleshoot even if those services are unavailable on the primary LAN. However, administrators will be cut off if any of these services goes down on the OOB network.

Another approach to OOB management uses serial consoles (also known as console servers, serial console routers, serial console switches, or terminal servers). Serial consoles connect to the networking infrastructures via managed serial ports, giving administrators management access to many different devices from one centralized system. Unlike a jump box, serial consoles have a direct serial connection to the devices they manage, which means administrators can still view and troubleshoot this infrastructure even if critical network services are down.

An OOB serial console provides two or more network interfaces, so you can connect them to the primary ISP/WAN and a secondary network (such as a DSL, dial-up, or cellular connection). This secondary network acts as a failover if the primary goes down, giving engineers an alternative path to critical infrastructure. It also creates a dedicated out-of-band network for management and orchestration, leaving the production network free for critical business traffic.

Comparing In-band vs Out-of-band management

Many organizations still use In-band management simply because it’s easier and doesn’t require any extra hardware. To get out-of-band management, you must purchase, configure, and install dedicated hardware on top of your in-band infrastructure. However, while sticking with In-band management may save you some time and money now, it’s sure to cost you in the long run. In-band management negatively impacts the performance of the production network and doesn’t provide access to remote equipment if the primary LAN or WAN goes down.

Why you need OOB management

Modern businesses expect 24/7 availability of network resources. When an outage occurs, your engineers need to be able to quickly troubleshoot and restore services so you can keep your SLAs and avoid lost business. This is especially difficult when your critical infrastructure is housed off-site in remote data centers.

As your enterprise network grows in size, complexity, and geographic distribution, there is a need for greater automation and orchestration so engineers can keep up. Automation reduces the risk of human error, improving the network’s reliability and security.

However, complex network automation and orchestration workflows often require more resources and bandwidth. Running network automation tasks through In-band management creates performance issues on the production network, such as an increase in latency and dropped packets. OOB management is required if you want to take advantage of automation without negatively impacting the speed and reliability of your primary network.

When using In-band management, a WAN outage or remote equipment failure means wasting valuable time and money on truck rolls or on-site managed services. Out-of-band management gives network administrators a dedicated, redundant path to remote equipment so they can diagnose and fix issues without ever leaving the office. They can begin troubleshooting as soon as a failure occurs, allowing your organization to recover quickly and reducing the negative impact of an outage on customers and shareholders.

Learn more about In-band vs Out-of-band management

OOB management is superior to In-band management because it allows for resource-intensive network automation and orchestration without impacting production performance. OOB management also empowers network administrators to remotely troubleshoot and recover from outages, even if the primary WAN or LAN is offline.

Read more about OOB management:

→   How to Choose Secure Out-of-Band Management
→   Why Out-of-Band Remote Access is Critical for Branch Networking
→   Why You Need a Next-Gen OOB Console Server

Want to learn more about In-band vs Out-of-band management?

Contact ZPE Systems at 1-844-4ZPE-SYS to see a live demo of how Nodegrid OOB management solution makes OOB easy to deploy on top of existing infrastructure, with hardware/software that help automatically configure networks, and more.

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Serial consoles have been used to manage business networks since the 80s, but things have changed significantly since then. What is a serial console’s role in modern enterprise networks? In this blog, we discuss the history and evolution of serial consoles as well as the exciting functionality provided by the latest generation.

What is a serial console?

A serial console—a console server, terminal server, serial console router, or serial console switch—is a networking device used to manage other devices. It connects to servers, switches, routers, and other equipment using the serial port (hence the name). Network administrators can then use the serial console to access all connected devices in the data center, server room, or network closet in which it’s installed.

Serial consoles allow admins to manage critical infrastructure without needing to log in to each separate device individually. A serial console also provides out-of-band (OOB) management, creating a completely separate network that’s dedicated to infrastructure management and troubleshooting. OOB management allows you to remotely troubleshoot, monitor, and administer your infrastructure, and more.

How serial consoles have evolved over time

A basic serial console—also called a Generation 1 serial console—provides consolidated remote access to critical infrastructure. It uses a secondary network connection (such as a dial-up modem or cellular SIM card) so admins can control and troubleshoot equipment without relying on the main production network. Using a Gen 1 serial console, admins can access each connected device’s CLI (command line interface).

Gen 1 serial consoles are relatively limited in control, security, and automation. For example, many Gen 1 serial consoles can only manage devices from the same vendor (or a small pool of supported manufacturers). A Gen 1 serial console also lacks in-depth security features like hardware encryption, and generally can’t integrate with third-party Zero Trust Security policies and controls. Plus, most Gen 1s completely lack automation capabilities, or limit you to basic CLI scripts for single tasks.

Gen 2 serial consoles

Frustration over these limitations led to significant advancements in the second generation of serial consoles, or Gen 2. With Gen 2 serial consoles, admins get more control, added security features, and expanded automation capabilities.

For instance, most Gen 2 consoles offer management functionality for third-party devices. These serial consoles also have some built-in security features like Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and frequently support advanced authentication methods like AD/LDAP, Kerberos, and RADIUS. Gen 2 serial consoles also allow for greater automation using Python scripts, APIs, and zero touch provisioning (ZTP).

While Gen 2 serial consoles offer more multi-vendor support than their extremely limited predecessors, they still fall short of true vendor neutrality. For instance, managing third-party and legacy devices often requires expensive adapters or complicated configuration tweaks. Many Gen 2 serial consoles also lack support for Zero Trust integrations such as SAML 2.0 (e.g., Okta, Ping, DUO), making it impossible to completely secure your out-of-band network.

Finally, while Gen 2 serial consoles introduce more automation capabilities, their closed architectures make it impossible to implement end-to-end NetDevOps automation. For example, you might only be able to use one specific scripting language or an approved set of playbooks. It’s also common for Gen 2 serial consoles to only support ZTP of connected devices from the same vendor, so you’re either limited in your automated provisioning capabilities or your choice of infrastructure solutions.

Gen 1 serial consoles provide remote, out-of-band management of multiple devices using CLI commands and scripts over a serial connection. Gen 2 evolved to incorporate more devices, more security features, and more automation capabilities. However, the serial console needed to develop even further to handle the needs of a modern enterprise network.

What is a serial console’s role in modern enterprise networks?

Today’s enterprise network is larger, more complex, and more distributed than Gen 1 serial console developers could have possibly imagined. Network administrators and engineers need to monitor, manage, and troubleshoot infrastructure devices from many different vendors in many different locations. Networks are also constantly threatened by cybercriminals using sophisticated hacking techniques and state-of-the-art malware. Plus, modern businesses must ensure near-constant availability and optimal network performance to stay competitive. Gen 1 and Gen 2 serial consoles simply can’t deliver the control, security, and resilience required by enterprise networks today.

The new Gen 3 serial console addresses older generations’ limitations through true vendor neutrality, multi-layered zero trust security, and end-to-end automation capabilities.

Total infrastructure control

Gen 3’s complete vendor neutrality makes it possible to extend your automation capabilities—including zero touch provisioning—to every physical and virtual asset in your environment, regardless of manufacturer. Gen 3 serial consoles also give network administrators a virtual presence in remote network locations (like data centers and branch offices) through which they can monitor environmental conditions in the rack, power-cycle and enter the BIOS menu of devices, manage power load distribution, and more.

This control is delivered via high-speed OOB (such as a 5G/4G cellular SIM card), giving you 24/7 remote access to critical enterprise infrastructure, even during an ISP outage. Plus, Gen 3 serial consoles use centralized cloud management, which means engineers can manage and troubleshoot remote infrastructure from anywhere, anytime.

A Gen 3 serial console is based on an open architecture, x86 OS, that supports integrations with your choice of infrastructure solutions, cloud services, and automation toolkits. It also includes flexible port configurations and legacy pinouts to control a variety of devices, such as PDUs, IPMI devices, and environmental monitoring sensors.

Comprehensive security

On a hardware level, Gen 3 serial consoles use features like encrypted disks, UEFI secure boot, and TPM 2.0 to ensure unauthorized users can’t access management functionality. Additionally, the OS is frequently updated and patched against new security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. The Gen 3 serial console also automatically checks the integrity of all newly integrated hardware and software to ensure there are no backdoor vulnerabilities.

A Gen 3 serial console’s vendor-neutral platform supports easy integrations with a variety of zero trust security controls. For instance, you can manage user access to a Gen 3 serial console through third-party Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions, allowing you to follow zero trust best practices like 2FA, SSO, and dynamic trust verification. A Gen 3 serial console can also integrate with on-premises and cloud-based network security solutions such as next-generation firewalls (NGFW), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and Security Service Edge (SSE).

A Gen 3 console includes robust onboard security features, which reduces the risk of an attacker using a stolen serial console to access your management network (and ultimately, your production systems and data). Its open architecture also enables integration with zero trust security controls and providers.

End-to-end automation

The open architecture of a Gen 3 serial console makes it possible to integrate with your choice of infrastructure automation and orchestration tools, or directly host VMs and Docker containers so you can run your own tools. With a Gen 3 serial console, you can use solutions like Ansible, Chef, Puppet, or Kubernetes to automate deployments. You can also use any API you want to automate any workload you need to, no matter how complex.

Gen 3’s advanced automation capabilities enable full pipeline automation so you can achieve NetDevOps transformation. Gen 3 serial consoles also facilitate immutable infrastructure, allowing faster and more agile deployments, updates, and replacements of critical network resources.

With a Gen 3 serial console, you can create a fully-automated network environment. This allows engineers to work more efficiently and reduces the risk of human error causing an outage or security breach.

Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)

A Gen 3 serial console, like the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP), gives you complete remote control over every component of your network infrastructure, regardless of location or manufacturer. Nodegrid also secures your OOB management network using zero trust security best practices and comprehensive onboard features. Finally, the Gen 3 NSCP allows you to automate whatever tools you want to use, so you can efficiently manage a complex enterprise network without sacrificing speed, security, or control.

 

Learn more about Gen 3 serial consoles:

→   Comparing the Best Console Servers for Data Centers in 2022
→   What Makes a Gen 3 Serial Console?
→   Why You Need a Next-Gen OOB Console Server

What is a serial console’s role in modern enterprise networks?

Schedule a demo of the Gen 3 Nodegrid Serial Console Plus to see for yourself!

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