January 2021

Edge Networking: Your 4-Step Checklist to Becoming Future-Proof

by ZPE Systems | Jan 28, 2021 | Remote Network Management

Why you need to focus on edge networking

You may already be witnessing a shift toward more advanced edge networking. The industry is realizing the drawbacks of traditional core-to-edge configurations, such as high latency due to bottlenecking and increased workloads on the data center. Networks are becoming even more distributed and connected, which has ushered in the reimagining of conventional networking and processing.

According to Gartner, “more than 50% of enterprise-generated data will be created and processed outside the data center or cloud” by 2022.

You can no longer rely on edge locations to simply deliver all data to the core for processing. As more information is generated at distributed locations, your data center will become overwhelmed should you continue using a traditional approach. This is why it’s important to bolster your edge networks with processing and other capabilities that will help balance the workload.

What does the future of edge networking look like?

The future of edge networking will help you and your users realize benefits like:

Improved responsiveness due to decreased latency
Better, faster performance due to optimized bandwidth
Secure & reliable global access using modern technologies

Instead of waiting for data to be processed at the core, your edge users will get a more responsive experience. Both internal and external users will be able to take advantage of locally-stored & processed information that’s readily available when they need it. On top of this, you’ll be able to provide better global access using the latest methodologies & tech, which will keep users & information secure regardless of your expanded network presence.

#1 Get edgified

Better edge networking starts with laying sturdy groundwork. Build a strong platform using edgified hardware, software, and management capabilities that let you do more at the edge. Here’s more about these key areas:

Hardware

Choose appliances that make deployments easy, with features like zero touch provisioning over WAN. Even untrained staff can simply connect & boot these appliances, and automation configures the rest.
Look for multi-function, all-in-one devices that can perform networking and computing/storage tasks. All of these functions will be critical to your future edge.
Select secure hardware that comes with security built in. Make sure your boxes come with CPUs from trusted providers like Intel®, which allow you to maintain integrity of all your hardware & software integrations.

Software

Ensure your hardware comes with a powerful software layer capable of performing multiple critical functions. Don’t settle for purpose-built devices & simple operating systems.
Virtualized network functions (VNFs) are the future. Choose software that lets you deploy virtual solutions for SD-WAN, firewalls, IoT, and more, using a powerful hypervisor that supports Guest OS & Docker containers.
Optimize using automation. Your software should accommodate popular automation tools like Ansible, Puppet, RESTful, & others. This will help you automate deployments, troubleshooting, and more to provide better experiences for all your users.

Management

Make sure your management solution is comprehensive and gives you control of multiple layers.
Get remote out-of-band access to your networking solutions, regardless of which vendors they’re from.
Choose a remote out-of-band solution that also lets you control your infrastructure, so you can update firmware, patch configurations, etc.

#2 Get protected

Increasing your global network footprint helps you accommodate users into the future. But it also means increasing your vulnerability to attacks. Here are some ways to stay protected regardless of how distributed and complex your edge networks become:

Hardware

Carefully select edgified hardware that keeps your data secure before, during, and after deployments.
Gain the ability to track and secure your appliances. Get devices with built-in GPS tracking and geofencing, so you can know your investment’s location and ensure safe booting only after appliances reach their destination.
Get a secure platform that doesn’t require pre-configuring. Choose hardware that comes with secure boot, self-encrypted disk, signed OS, and trusted platform module.

Zero Trust Security

Implement a thorough zero trust security model that secures every point of network access. This means always verifying users & devices, even those already within your organization.
Deploy micro-segments and software-defined perimeters (SD-P) that let users access only resources they need for their job.
Use multi-factor authentication and network monitoring to protect interactions. This ensures your enterprise adheres to a proper identity-based approach to zero trust security.

#3 Become adaptable

Extensibility directly impacts your organization’s ability to adapt. Because edge networking is still a young landscape, leading vendors and technologies will continue to emerge. You can’t lock yourself into a single provider’s solution, and instead must remain flexible to the volatile edge networking market.

Adopt a platform that offers wide-ranging extensibility. The more flexible you become, the better.
Choose truly vendor-neutral software that lets you extend capabilities with third-party & custom solutions — no matter which vendors they’re from.
Ensure extensibility that accommodates in-depth customization. The future of edge networking will require more unique environments than ever before, and you’ll need a platform that you can tailor to your exact requirements — regardless of how much they change.

#4 Evolve your data

Enormous amounts of data are coming your way (if they haven’t already). It will become critical to optimize your data processing and information lifecycle management capabilities. With valuable data being processed and available, you’ll be able to provide the appropriate information to all of your systems and users.

Place more processing and storage capabilities close to the edge. This will help you alleviate your stressed data center and help operations perform more efficiently in the future.
Deploy analytics and monitoring solutions at the edge. These solutions will be able to find data that’s valuable and ensure availability to appropriate systems and users, for more responsive user experiences.
Again, choose a platform that’s extensible and accommodates custom or third-party data management solutions. Your requirements will change and your capabilities will evolve, so it’s critical to have more room to adapt and grow.

Ready for the future?

Set up a Nodegrid demo and see how to get a head start on the future. You’ll see how Nodegrid’s hardware & software deliver all of the capabilities you need and meet the requirements outlined in this checklist.

How to Overcome 5 Challenges of Zero Trust Security

by ZPE Systems | Jan 25, 2021 | Improve Network Security, Zero Trust Security

Zero Trust Security protects your enterprise inside and out. By safeguarding connections with approaches like traffic segmentation and multi-factor authentication, you can ensure total network security. But implementing and maintaining a zero trust posture poses unique challenges that you must be ready to address.

In this post, we’ll cover five challenges of zero trust security and how to help your enterprise stay protected.

But first, here’s a recap about zero trust security.

Zero Trust Security: What is it, and why use it?

Zero trust security is a relatively new approach to protecting enterprise networks and data. Traditional methods follow a castle-and-moat structure, in which the enterprise is the castle and network security is the moat. When a user or device is granted access to the enterprise network (the castle), it is considered trusted and allowed past security (the moat). The problem with this is that it assumes everything that has access to the castle can be trusted, and also that threats only come from the outside.

It’s no secret that attacks are constantly evolving and can come from within an organization. Zero trust security was conceptualized to address vulnerabilities no matter where they may come from. It takes an ‘always verify, never trust’ approach to network security. This means that every user and device is always verified, regardless of whether they’ve had previously been granted access.

Because business is becoming more distributed, organizations are moving away from the castle-and-moat approach. Zero trust security is a potent and thorough security solution that addresses the need for total protection of global networks. For more about its advantages, read our other post about zero trust security.

Now let’s take a look at some major challenges that come with implementing this approach.

5 Challenges of Zero Trust Security

Zero Trust Security is not a turnkey solution

Implementing zero trust security does not mean deploying a single technology or solution. Instead, it’s a reimagining of your enterprise’s approach to network security. In order to achieve a zero trust environment, you need to take a holistic approach and start from the ground up. The biggest obstacle here is that you can be left with hidden gaps in your protection — especially if you’re replacing legacy security solutions.

It would be great if locking down your network was as simple as flipping a Zero Trust Security switch. But the reality is, you need to usher in a new security model. This means identifying users & devices, deploying monitoring tools, setting up access controls, and more. On top of this, you need secure hardware & software that keep your deployment and management efforts secure.

To overcome this obstacle, implement zero trust gradually. This helps you identify key areas that need immediate attention, and also helps you prevent gaps from going unnoticed or becoming significant vulnerabilities. This makes it easier to see and address issues as they arise, especially if you’re rolling back legacy solutions.

Zero Trust Security requires ongoing management

Some security solutions can be configured and deployed, and then left unmanaged for long periods of time. But because zero trust security is an approach (a mindset, if you will), it requires ongoing management to ensure ongoing protection.

Though it does provide hardened security across your distributed networks, zero trust security is not a ‘set it and forget it’ approach. Your business is constantly changing inside and out, whether it’s employees gaining different responsibilities, or adding new sites, staff, and customer accounts. Your network security requires ongoing administration to ensure that all of these activities are kept safe.

Imagine you recently adopted a zero trust model, but your newest deployment includes hardware with outdated & vulnerable firmware onboard. Or, one of your customers suffered a data breach and you suddenly need to protect their accounts from hackers. With zero trust, you need to make sure your devices are properly patched & secure, and you need to have monitoring tools in place to catch malicious activities.

To help with this challenge, it’s beneficial to implement routine maintenance tasks & checkups into your processes. This is where automation tools can come in handy to consistently check for firmware upgrades, or assist with security configuration changes. You can also use monitoring tools, alerts, and notifications to help you stay ahead of attacks.

Zero Trust Security can impact staff performance

Another challenge of zero trust security is the potential for losing productivity. In a way, this obstacle arises alongside the challenge of requiring ongoing management.

As you implement your zero trust posture and continue to manage it, you may unknowingly create issues with security settings. Imagine you adjust your firewall incorrectly or enter a typo into the CLI, which then inadvertently locks out an entire department of employees. Solving this problem may involve a quick fix, or it could take days. Meanwhile, your workers get set back and can’t perform optimally.

The best way to overcome this is, again, by gradually implementing your zero trust posture and routinely managing your solutions. As you make the transition away from your legacy systems, you can address setbacks like these as they come to you. You won’t have to deal with an array of issues all at once, and you can instead pinpoint specific areas that cause disruptions.

Zero Trust Security calls for secure hardware

Many purpose-built appliances come with some form of built-in safeguards. However, part of implementing a zero trust security framework involves securing your hardware. This means patching and updating your existing boxes, or deploying new devices altogether. Remember that if you don’t lock down your assets, including the physical appliances that make up your infrastructure, you remain open to attack.

When you deploy your hardware, there’s always a chance that it might get lost or stolen during shipment. Once it gets installed and set up, attacks could also come from on site, via additional hardware/software integrations, or over your network. The bottom line: you need devices that are secure inside & out.

Combat these vulnerabilities by choosing hardware with trusted CPUs, like those from Intel®, which make it easy to maintain system integrity. This means features like secure boot, signed OS, and trusted platform module that protect you at the lowest levels. Also, look out for features like GPS tracking and geofencing. These help you keep an eye on your devices during shipment, and allow only you to boot & provision once safely under your control.

Zero Trust Security requires flexible software

With security solutions spread across your networks, you run into challenges trying to manage it all. Every vendor has their unique tools and UIs, and there are different limitations in terms of features, capabilities, and integrations. Comprehensive management software goes a long way in giving you control of certain solutions. But you also need software that is flexible and can pull everything together under a simplified UI.

Consider everything that you need to manage, like user roles, access rights, firewall settings, device firmware, etc. Zero trust security is an all-encompassing approach that gives you more protection, but also more work. This is why it’s important to use software that is flexible and can accommodate third-party solutions, regardless of vendor.

One way to overcome this challenge is by using a complete tool like ZPE Cloud. This vendor-neutral cloud platform gives you secure remote access to both your solutions layer and your infrastructure layer — no matter which vendor solutions you deploy on your network. It also helps you connect seamlessly to third-party integrations like Palo Alto Panorama and Prisma Access. ZPE Cloud serves as a single gateway to keeping your network secure, whether you need to manage your next-gen virtual firewalls, or update device firmware with the latest security patches.

If you’d like to learn more, visit our Zero Trust Security page and see how you can deploy a secure network platform.

Why You Need to Adopt Edge Networking

by ZPE Systems | Jan 14, 2021 | SD-Branch

What does edge networking mean to your enterprise? Does it mean fast service delivery to hundreds of remote locations? Or smooth networking & security for your work-from-home staff?

When your organization uses strong edge networking capabilities, you can adapt well into the future no matter how much you need to scale. This allows you to save time & money, allocate resources efficiently, and provide reliable connectivity across your enterprise.

Click the link below to hear John Paul Kang, one of ZPE Systems’ Solutions Architects, discussing edge networking and the benefits it brings to business.

095 – The Next Revolution: Networking at the Edge

If you’re short on time, read this post for a glimpse of what’s in the podcast.

What exactly is edge networking?

Edge networking is how distributed locations connect back to an enterprise’s main systems.

Traditional enterprise network setups employ a main data center, which is at the core of the network, and then distributed locations, which are at the edge. Edge networking refers to the systems and infrastructure that connect these edge locations back to the core.

If you think about a centralized network, the edge is what is located at the fringe or periphery.

Is edge networking different from edge computing?

Absolutely.

Again, looking at a traditional, centralized enterprise network, you can see that all of the computing and storage happens at the core. This core is what processes all of the information, including everything that comes from the enterprise’s edge networks.

Edge computing, however, is essentially distributing some of the core’s processes to the edge, in order to alleviate the core’s workload. Instead of having all computing workloads, application services, and data storage take place at the core, these processes (or parts of them) are handled near the edge. Once the edge computing systems process the information, it’s then the job of edge networking to transfer the information back to the core (if necessary).

Use edge networking & computing to overcome challenges

Edge networking brings a lot of benefits to the business, and it’s easy to understand why organizations are evolving their edge capabilities. The easiest way to realize its advantages is by comparing it to the conventional methods of centralized networking.

In traditional network configurations, you put a lot of strain on your core systems. This is because you have to backhaul all of your edge traffic to the core for processing. The results? Bottlenecking, slowdowns, and increased risk of bringing your network (and business) to a standstill.

Just imagine you and some friends using a funnel to fill a bucket with marbles. To represent traditional networking, all of you would essentially put your marbles into the same funnel. This would lead to plenty of waiting and likely cause a jam or stoppage, which would require you to manually troubleshoot and fix.

But with better edge networking, you can decentralize and redistribute your workload. Using this cloud-based model, you no longer need to backhaul traffic or bog down your core systems. You can move your critical networking and security functions to the edge. Paired with edge computing, you get more balanced workloads and efficient bandwidth usage for faster speeds, more responsiveness, and improved performance across the board.

Back to the bucket of marbles analogy. To represent better edge networking, you would not only have a single funnel at the core, but also individual funnels around the periphery. Instead of dumping all the marbles into the center, you would be able to take advantage of the outer funnels to achieve a more efficient system free of frequent stoppages.

Having better edge networking capabilities means you can overcome a lot of the challenges of a centralized system.

Edge networking comes with some obstacles

Implementing more robust edge networking isn’t without hurdles. You’ll need to face a few challenges associated with:

Physical distance — It can be difficult to put people and equipment on site when locations are isolated. This becomes increasingly challenging when you have very remote branches.
Staff limitations — Response times can drag on for days or weeks depending on the staff (or lack thereof) you have. You may have very few skilled IT team members on site, or even none at all.
Accessibility & downtime — Edge networks can be incredibly difficult to access, which means downtime comes with more risk and potentially severe consequences.

Get over these obstacles using new technologies

To improve your edge networking capabilities and get past the inherent challenges, use some of the latest and most innovative technologies:

Secure Access Service Edge — SASE puts networking and security in the cloud, so you can give your workers reliable network access even from thousands of miles away.
Zero touch provisioning — Use this in conjunction with the cloud, and you can significantly decrease the need for any staff presence at your remote sites. Zero touch provisioning uses automation to help scale and provision without manual input, and with the cloud, you can respond instantly to troubleshoot issues, perform configuration management tasks, provision, and more — no matter how far away you are from the site.
Remote out-of-band — If you deploy a comprehensive out-of-band management solution, you get peace of mind knowing that you can access your sites with ease. Use a solution that lets you achieve redundancy through connections like broadband, cellular, satellite, and others, and that also gives you in-depth control of your branch networks.

Want to learn more about the edge? Browse our blog
Take a look at some of our other posts to learn more about edge networking. Get a closer look at SASE, zero touch provisioning, and remote out-of-band, and see how you can strengthen your edge capabilities.

Optimize Edge Networking With This Free Guide to Out-of-Band, SD-Branch, & More

by ZPE Systems | Jan 12, 2021 | Out of Band Management, SD-Branch, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Edge networking continues to grow as a vital component to business. With more people working remotely, whether from home, in the field, or on the road, it’s now critical to have a network that goes wherever your people go. And achieving that kind of connectivity is becoming easier by the day, as companies like ZPE Systems carry on innovating new technologies to accommodate secure, on-the-go networking.

Traditional network architectures are becoming obsolete, simply because they can’t offer flexibility at the edge. Their rigid systems and protocols restrict both IT and non-IT staff from accessing the resources they need, when they need them. This has only spurred the evolution of better edge networking, and now many companies operate remotely 100-percent of the time.

Even if your goal isn’t to fully migrate your workforce out of the office, you can reap major benefits from strengthening your edge networking capabilities. That’s why you need to get our free Gorilla Guide to Deploying, Maintaining, and Maximizing Branch & Edge Networking. Keep reading to learn more.

What are some crucial edge networking capabilities & their benefits?

Think of a few ideal capabilities you’d like your business network to have.

Do you want to give full remote access to IT and network staff?
Do you want to gain in-depth visibility & control of branch networks?
Do you want to deliver safe, reliable connectivity where your workers go?

The good news is, you can get all these and more when you use an open, cloud-enabled edge networking platform like Nodegrid. Here’s how you can benefit:

You can make easy work of every deployment thanks to cloud-based provisioning. If you need to set up a new branch network, even at a very isolated location such as an offshore drilling platform, the cloud gives you push-button simplicity. You don’t have to preconfigure devices or put staff on-site to manually provision the stack. You can ship boxes that are 100% unconfigured, which gives you complete security, and then simply boot your devices. The cloud does everything for you using zero touch provisioning, so you can sit back and watch your network build itself.
You don’t have to put IT staff on-site in order to troubleshoot network issues, fix configuration errors, and restore uptime. You can take advantage of remote out-of-band management and cloud-based provisioning. These allow you to fulfill all of your network administration duties from afar. When a router goes offline or a software version needs to be rolled back, you can respond quickly and remediate the problem — even from thousands of miles away. These technologies work together so you can maintain branch networks without breaking a sweat.
You can optimize your branch networks by taking advantage of software-defined branch (SD-Branch) capabilities. Traditionally, SD-WAN gives you control of only what goes to and from your branch networks. But with SD-Branch, you can see and control WANs and LANs, with comprehensive capabilities that let you access what goes on inside each location. SD-Branch lets you manage at a granular level. Not only can you adjust traffic priorities and specific device settings, but you can also manage all the clients connected to your network. This means that you don’t need to dispatch support teams for troubleshooting or management, so you can save time & money on operations.
You can deliver pick-up-and-go networking by using Secure Access Service Edge. SASE is a new model that combines networking and security in the cloud, and delivers them to users wherever they need secure network access. It’s also identity driven to provide even more flexibility. For remote and on-the-go workers, you no longer need to allocate resources to configure company laptops or other devices. Because SASE ties network access to a user’s identity, you can let them connect from anywhere using any device. With SASE, business can continue seamlessly no matter what change you need to adapt to.

Why download our free guide?

For details about how you can improve your edge networking abilities, get our free Gorilla Guide to Deploying, Maintaining, and Maximizing Branch & Edge Networking. It shows you:

Why you need cloud provisioning — Discover how a cloud-based approach to provisioning gives you valuable benefits, such as hardened security and effortless deployments.
How the cloud makes out-of-band better — See how to easily maintain branch locations with the cloud on your side, from remote troubleshooting to configuration management.
Best practices for optimizing branch networks — Learn how to deploy and optimize your distributed networks, and take advantage of in-depth SD-Branch for total network control.
Why you need to get SASE — Explore Secure Access Service Edge and how it transforms the edge with nimble networking & security, for business that goes wherever your employees go.

It’s never been more critical to give your edge networking capabilities a boost. Now’s your chance to improve business agility with a free download, the Gorilla Guide to Deploying, Maintaining, and Maximizing Branch & Edge Networking.

Get the guide today!

ZPE Systems Recognized as 2020-2021 Intel Winners’ Circle Member

by ZPE Systems | Jan 11, 2021 | News & Announcements, Press Releases, Remote Network Management

Fremont, CA, January 11, 2021 – ZPE Systems, Inc., a leading provider of network infrastructure management solutions, has been recognized by Intel Corporation as a 2020-2021 Winners’ Circle Member for driving digital innovations that simplify and accelerate network transformation. This partnership furthers both companies’ commitment to bringing advancements to networking, and demonstrates an aligned vision to strengthen the capabilities offered to end users.

ZPE Systems met the Winners’ Circle recognition criteria by: demonstrating a commitment to network transformation and digitization; packaging joint solutions that are primed for go-to-market deployments; partnering with other networking ecosystem members to foster growth and success; and discovering market insights and trends. To fulfill these criteria, ZPE Systems has continued broadening its strategic alliances with partners such as Palo Alto Networks, who is also a Winners’ Circle Member. Palo Alto Networks’ applications such as Prisma Access and VM-Series virtual firewalls have been pre-validated for seamless integration with ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid solutions.

All of ZPE Systems’ devices come standard with multi-core Intel CPUs. This includes the Nodegrid Serial Console, which is the industry’s fastest serial device capable of supporting third-party applications, automation, and 1,000+ concurrent sessions. ZPE Systems also uses Intel CPUs in the Nodegrid SR family of services routers, including in the Nodegrid Services Router (NSR). The NSR is an open-infrastructure device that supports network function virtualization, Docker containers, out-of-band management, and other functions, with Intel-powered compute expansion modules that allow customers to scale their capabilities exactly to their requirements.

“When we decided to enter the hardware market, choosing Intel for our products was a no-brainer,” says ZPE Systems’ CEO and Co-founder, Arnaldo Zimmermann. “The ability to quickly run many simultaneous tasks is one of the reasons why we continue to put Intel technology in our devices. This new partnership will allow us to accelerate innovation for our hardware and software offerings.”

To discover more about ZPE Systems’ partnership with Intel and Palo Alto Networks, register for our free webinar. On January 12, see how our combined offering delivers flexible, secure edge networking & SD-Branch capabilities.

Read the official press release here.

About ZPE Systems, Inc.

ZPE Systems frees enterprises from today’s networking challenges.

Intel-based serial consoles & modular services routers deliver unparalleled power to datacenter & branch applications, while the Linux-based Nodegrid OS replaces vendor lock-in with limitless flexibility. With ZPE Cloud for fast & secure provisioning, it’s the only networking platform to streamline the stack using virtualization, prevent downtime using automation, and offer convenience using in-depth remote management capabilities.

ZPE collaborates with best-in-class technology partners, to add value by integrating with SD-WAN, firewall, IoT, and other solutions. The world’s top companies trust ZPE Systems to provide advanced out-of-band management, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platforms, and SD-Branch networking.

Based in Fremont, California, and with offices in Ireland, India, and Brazil, ZPE Systems is ready to help enterprises take the work out of networking.

Visit the ZPE Systems website to explore Nodegrid.

www.zpesystems.com

About Intel Corporation

Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.

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