With the expansion of operations, every enterprise faces responsibility of tightly securing its resources as well as sensitive data from several network security threats. Threat from hackers, spywares, phishing, pharming, virus attacks, unauthorized intrusions and other security threats always looms large on Enterprises. In such environment, lack of a comprehensive network security management solution can seriously compromise the data security and affect the efficiency of the business.
Unified Threat Management (UTM) provides an integrated network security solution to provide protection against a wide range of internal as well as external security threats. UTM solution includes an assortment of security appliances like firewall, virtual private network (VPN), intrusion prevention system, Anti-Virus & Anti-spam, content filtering, bandwidth management, IM Archiving & Controls, On-Appliance reporting and much more.
UTM devices offer enterprises with flexibility to manage an array of network security appliances through a single centralized platform to form a consolidated security network. UTM removes the necessity to individually manage and upgrade each point solution as a single UTM device dons the role of entire security hardware and software and they can be upgraded instantly. But as security threats continue to evolve in intensity and complexity, the UTM has transitioned from integrated solutions to identity-based integrated UTM solutions.
Securing the Network
Legacy point based solutions that have been traditionally used to combat network security threats require regular upgradation, maintenance, and lead to significant operational and overhead costs for the enterprise.
However, UTM solutions provide an integrated approach towards securing the entire enterprise network through its security appliances operating across the network. Also, UTM solution can provide seamless security network even when devices are deployed at remote locations.
Identity-based UTM solution
Every enterprise or organization is taking active steps to safeguard its sensitive data and prevent malicious intrusions, unauthorized access, security breaches, information leakages etc. Apart from outside security threats like phishing, pharming, viruses, worms, Trojans, and more, there is a growing concern among the enterprises towards security threats from ‘insider’ source. Ignoring the insider security threats can seriously harm the enterprise financially and tarnish its reputation in the market.
Hackers with malicious intent are always on the lookout to take advantage of insider loopholes or threats to compromise network security and gain access to sensitive and competitive data. Rapidly changing technology also makes its necessary to continuously upgrade individual single-point device.
Identity-based UTM solution is an advanced form of UTM solution offering a strategic network security against blended threats. Blended threats have become complex and deep thus raising the need to have a comprehensive network security solution with rich security features. Even efficient reporting mechanism is being sought to report in case events of security breach take place to enable fast action and recovery.
Identity-based UTM solution lays emphasis on each user in the system while traditional UTM solution identifies users through IP addresses in the system. Each user in Identity-based UTM solution is identified through specific information. Identity-based UTM solution allows forming network access policies based on individual users and network log data is maintained for these users. Thus, the enterprise can gain a complete track of network log activities of the users thereby preventing possible unauthorized access, intrusions, and any other inside or outside threats. Identity-based UTM solutions give enterprises the capability to manage logging and monitoring activities across its network security appliances to better streamline them.
Enterprises can actively deploy identity-based Unified Threat Management solution to improve employee productivity, eliminate cost and time in managing point security devices, protect system from external threats (virus, worms, Trojans etc) and internal threats ( hackers, malicious employees etc who want to steal proprietary or competitive data), and system downtime.
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