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Unsecure IoT devices are leaving organisations vulnerable
The use of IoT devices is growing at a tremendous rate as organisations embrace Digital transformation to enable better operational efficiency .
According to Gartner , ‘ Internet of Things endpoints will grow at a 32 % CAGR from 2016 through 2021 , reaching an installed base of 25.1 billion units ’. The sheer volume of devices – including IoT , corporate and BYOD – seeking wired and wireless network access are exponentially enlarging the attack surface and raising internal provisioning , management and compliance costs .
The responsibility of connecting and securing access has shifted from a network-led issue to a security-led one and poses a challenge for organisations . Security managers need to secure every single device every single time , while cybercriminals only need one open port , one compromised or unknown device or one uncontained threat to circumvent all of the effort going into securing the network .
FortiNAC secures networks accessed by unsecure devices
Fortinet ’ s new network access controller , FortiNAC , diminishes the security risks associated with unsecured devices accessing the network by giving organisations total visibility of endpoints , users , trusted and untrusted devices and applications .
Once visibility has been achieved , FortiNAC establishes dynamic controls that ensure that all devices , whether wired or wirelessly connected , are authenticated or authorised and are subject to a context-driven policy that defines who , what , when and where connectivity is permitted . This ensures that only the appropriate people and devices can connect to and access appropriate applications , infrastructure and assets . Additionally , FortiNAC can enforce company policies on device patching and firmware version .
FortiNAC also contains powerful network orchestration capabilities for delivering automated responses to identified threats and can perform threat containment in seconds , where a manual process could take days or weeks .
Networks are in constant flux , with new devices connecting and disconnecting ; controlling the network by controlling access to any device seeking access is a key part for ensuring the integrity of a network .
Such an approach – where no unknown devices ever gain access to the corporate infrastructure , permitted devices are automatically segmented based on policies and roles and connected devices that begin to violate profiles are immediately quarantined from the network – becomes the foundation for a comprehensive security posture .
Furthermore , the FortiNAC network access control solution is cost-effective and highly scalable , extending visibility and protection to an unlimited number of devices and eliminating the need for deployment at every location of a multi-site installation .
NAC and IoT security solutions bolster the Fortinet security fabric
Fortinet has strengthened its security fabric by extending its ability to engage network devices beyond the Fabric-Ready Partner Program to a wider multi-vendor environment , including third-party firewalls , switches , wireless access points and endpoints .
FortiNAC is also integrated with the FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall , FortiSwitch , FortiWLC Wireless Controllers , FortiSIEM and
FortiAP to minimise the risk and impact of cyberthreats broader visibility and security for complex networks .
Rob Fountaine , Manager of Information Security at Atrius Health , said : “ If you do not know about a device , there is no way to monitor and protect it . FortiNAC gives us a clear picture of the network and enables us to quickly find assets and shut down individual network ports .
“ Adding this layer of visibility has helped us protect against data loss and ensure HIPAA compliance . I equate FortiNAC to having a lock on the doors and windows of your house . Without it , you are leaving your house wide open . We also no longer have to worry about lateral malware infections as we can just kill the port . Now , only authorised devices can connect to the network , and every port can be located and controlled .”
Zeus Kerravala , ZK Research , said : “ The network access control ( NAC ) market is seeing double digit growth in revenue , which is being driven by the need for device visibility in the network and concerns over IoT security . FortiNAC is a great enhancement to the Fortinet Security Fabric because it delivers an effective solution to IoT security risks and provides a compelling combination of multi-vendor support for enhanced detection and enforcement , as well as efficient and effective scalability for cost-effective deployment .” •
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