Sharpen Your Edge by Securing Every Device

Often touted as the “next big thing,” edge technology has started to become common practice in many industries thanks to the introduction of new technology, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and its various devices, as well as 5G networks. With IoT devices capable of processing data closer to the source and 5G increasing network speed, there is a myriad of exciting possibilities for edge solutions. 

On top of this, the massive shift to remote work due to the Covid-19 pandemic has also expedited the growth and use of edge technology. With so many employees now working over a wider area across a vast amount of devices, the need to bring data processing and delivery capabilities closer to home networks has many companies turning to the edge. 

Unfortunately, along with the spread of edge solutions and the technology driving its acceptance amongst industries and remote work comes the increase in volume and sophistication of potential cyber-attacks.  

During the quarantine, malware attacks rose 358 percent, while ransomware rose 435 percent, with a victim succumbing to a ransomware attack on average every 10 seconds in 2020. Phishing also rose drastically, with Google registering 2,145,013 phishing sites as of Jan 17, 2021, up 27 percent from the previous year. 

Defending against such a vast array of possible cyber threats is no easy task for companies, especially when trying to leverage as much new technology as possible to keep up with the competition. And considering all it takes is one small access point for a cybercriminal to exploit, the proliferation of IoT devices and the increase in remote workers using unsecured networks have given businesses a handful when attempting to secure their data. 

In order to keep their data protected, many organizations are turning to Privileged Access Management (PAM) technology.  

PAM consists of the cybersecurity strategies and technologies for exerting control over the elevated or “privileged” access and permissions for users, accounts, processes, and systems across an IT environment.  Alternatively referred to as privileged account management, privileged identity management (PIM), or just privilege management, PAM is considered by many analysts and technologists as one of the most important security projects for reducing cyber risk and achieving high-security ROI. 

Privileged access is a term used to designate special access or abilities above and beyond that of a standard user and can be associated with human users as well as non-human users, such as applications and machine identities. A privileged account is considered to be any account that provides access and privileges beyond those of non-privileged accounts, while a privileged user is any user currently leveraging privileged access, such as through a privileged account. 

When it comes to securing a company’s most valuable data, be it theirs or their customers’, PAM solutions offer a myriad of benefits.   

One major differentiator between PAM and other types of security technologies is that PAM can dismantle multiple points of the cyberattack chain, providing protection against both external attacks as well as attacks that make it within networks and systems. 

Another benefit is that PAM solutions are grounded in the principle of least privilege, wherein users only receive the minimum levels of access required to perform their job functions. The principle of least privilege is widely considered to be a cybersecurity best practice and is a fundamental step in protecting privileged access to high-value data and assets. 

Finally, PAM technology reduces malware infection and propagation. Many varieties of malware need elevated privileges to install or execute. By removing excessive privileges, such as through least privilege enforcement across the enterprise, PAM can prevent malware from gaining a foothold or reduce its spread if it does. 

At Ironsphere, we understand the importance of cybersecurity while using edge technology, which is why we offer IT managers and network admins the tools necessary to efficiently gain secure access, control configurations, and indisputably record all activities to guard against internal and external threats. 

Our PAM solutions protect an enterprise’s most valuable assets, allowing organizations to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy to protect against the threats posed by credential theft and privilege misuse. Used as an engineering access, information security, and governance tool to prevent internal data breaches and malfeasance using privileged accounts, our solution allows companies to ditch traditional methods of securing the perimeter, and leverage all the new technology at their disposal, while being assured their data is secure from would-be cybercriminals. 

While cybercrime saw its main boost from the shift to remote work during the pandemic, the recent boom isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, unfortunately. With 30% of the workforce expected to continue working from home after the pandemic, cybercriminals will continue to have a variety of endpoints and weak spots to take advantage of when trying to access a company’s most valuable data. 

And with more innovative devices being introduced almost daily at this point, as the world pushes further into the digital age, enhanced cybersecurity by protecting end-users anywhere, on any device, and over any network will only become more critical. This makes Ironsphere’s PAM solution essential moving forward for organizations who want to be able to keep pace, not only with their competitors but with whatever cyber threats lie in the shadows of the internet.

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