One of the cybersecurity challenges that organisations and businesses face is finding the most effective solution for blocking unauthorised users from connecting to their internal networks and other resources, including servers. The most common solution that several organisations have been using for years is to develop a network architecture that disconnects the external world from the organisation’s internal network.
With this kind of architecture, firewalls were used to block any users attempting to log into the network from the outside. The major flaw with this solution is that it assumes all the security risks came from the outside, which is not the case. Using Software Defined Perimeter (SDP) and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are among the new solutions that several organisations and businesses are starting to adopt to enable their teams to securely connect to their internal networks and other useful resources.
If you are keen to learn more about SDPs and how they are related to VPNs, this article is for you. We will discuss everything you need to know about the Software Defined Perimeter solution and whether it can be used to replace VPNs.
What is a Software Defined Perimeter?
A software-defined perimeter is a security methodology that hides an organisation’s Internet-connected infrastructure, which may include servers, routers, operating systems, and more, from hackers and other external parties. Even when the application or Operating system is running on a cloud-based server, a software-defined perimeter can still hide it from unauthorised external parties.
This approach is sometimes referred to as the black cloud since it blocks out all outsiders from getting access to the organisation’s resources. One of the major benefits of using the software-defined perimeter is that it is easier to deploy since it is just a piece of software. The cost of implementation is also lower when compared to the alternative hardware solutions that most organisations used in the past.
Some of the popular examples of SDP software include the following;
- Perimeter 81 SDP
- NordLayer
- Twingate SDP
- GoodAccess
- NetMotion SDP
- Appgate SDP
- Cisco Software Defined Access (SDA)
- Wandera SDP
SDP and zero-trust security
The zero-trust security model assumes that no person, device, or network should be trusted by default. So, before getting access to the network, all devices, applications, or devices need to go through a complex authentication procedure to ensure that only authorised users are given access.
Instead of giving access based on the user’s device IP address, zero-trust security systems require every user to input an authentication password or use the supported biometric authentication before accessing the network. Using the Software Define Perimeter makes it much easier to implement the zero-trust security approach.
Once the SDP tools are deployed, every device that tries to get access to the network goes through the standard authentication process, eliminating all the chances of unauthorised access. So, even if a hacker gets access to any employee’s device, they won’t be allowed to access the network if they don’t have the authentication details of that employee.
The SDP procedure
Any device or user that tries to access the network goes through the following steps before being given access to the network.
1. Sophisticated user authentication
This stage involves verifying whether the user trying to access the network is authorised. At this level, a user needs to input their login details, which include a username and password. In addition, some SDP systems involve multi-factor authentication (MFA) and a hardware token, which adds an extra layer of security to the network.
2. Device verification
After verifying the user’s login details, the next step is verifying their device. At this stage, the device’s operating system is checked to determine if it is patched, running the latest software version and whether it is affected by any recognisable malware. This stage also involves checking the device’s storage drive to determine if it is encrypted. The goal of this stage is to ensure that all devices given access to the network meet the organisation’s security policies.
3. Approval by the admin
After verifying the user and their device, the network admin determines whether to give access or deny them from accessing the network. Once the admin approves the user and their device, the SDP gateway is opened, allowing users to access all the resources they are entitled to.
Relationship between an SDP and a VPN
As we shared earlier, some businesses are using the SDP approach as an alternative to VPNs. However, these two solutions have a couple of differences that you may need to be aware of before choosing which one to use. Some of these differences include the following;
Scope of network access
VPNs allow users to access the whole network, whereas SDPs do not share network connections. This makes SDPs more secure if you want each user connected to the network to access a specific section of the network.
Authorisation
VPNs give users access based on the IP address of the device. On the other SDPs give access to users based on identity. The approach used by SDPs is much more secure as it only allows users with verified login credentials to access the organisation’s network.
Protocol supported
VPNs are still superior when it comes to the number of protocols they support. SDPs support most of the protocols, but many still don’t support certain protocols, including support peer-to-peer (P2P) protocols, Voice over IP (VoIP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), or Signaling System 7 (SS7). However, this could change in the near future as SDPs get more advanced.
Final thoughts
Overall, when it comes to ensuring secure access to an organisation’s network, SDPs can be used instead of VPNs. They offer more secure authentication since they require every user to input their login details instead of simply checking their device’s IP address. The good news is that SDPs are also software-based, so they are much easier to implement than older solutions that require installing certain hardware devices to secure the network.
