Category: Cybersecurity

The spread of telework has significantly changed the environment surrounding companies, and there is an increasing need to change security measures accordingly. In this context, one thing that is attracting attention is “SASE (SAS)”. In the future, the importance of SASE is expected to increase as the core of corporate security measures.
In this article, we will explain the overview and mechanism of SASE, as well as its advantages and disadvantages, its necessity, and the difference between it and zero trust.

What is SASE?

SASE is an abbreviation for “Secure Access service Edge,” and is a term that represents a cloud service that provides network functions and security functions as an integrated whole, or the idea or concept behind it. In recent years, the spread of cloud services for business purposes and teleworking has made it difficult to provide sufficient measures with traditional security. In 2019, Gartner, Inc. of the United States proposed SASE, and it has attracted attention as a new way of network security.

Differences and Relationships between SASE and Zero Trust

“Zero Trust” is a concept similar to SASE. Zero Trust is a concept that “eliminates the concept of internal and external network boundaries, and protects against threats by verifying the safety of all access to information assets that need to be protected without trusting them.”

Traditionally, internal networks were considered safe and external networks (such as the Internet) were considered dangerous, and security measures were implemented on the network boundary. However, in recent years, with the spread of cloud services and teleworking, the network boundary has become blurred, and traditional security measures are now considered insufficient.

As a result, the idea of ​​zero trust has begun to attract attention, and SASE is being used as a concrete mechanism and service for achieving zero trust.

The Need for SASE

Security is not the only issue that arises with the expansion of cloud services and teleworking. As network and security environments become more complex, the operation and management of hardware and systems that need to be managed can become complicated, and there is also a need to efficiently process large amounts of traffic.

By integrating network functions and security functions, SASE not only enhances security but also reduces the burden by making operation and management more efficient. It also enables efficient network design to prevent delays and deterioration of communication quality, which ultimately contributes to business efficiency.

For these reasons, SASE is needed.

How does SASE work?

SASE is provided as a cloud service and can be accessed and used from a corporate network or a telework environment such as at home. It is a system that allows you to use uniform network security functions by accessing the internet, data centers, etc. through SASE from various networks.

Security functions include SWG, CASB, FWaaS, ZTNA, etc., consolidating security measures that were previously implemented separately, enabling efficient network access.

• SWG (Secure Web Gateway): Provides proxy functionality as a cloud service
• CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker): Centralized management of cloud service utilization
• FWaaS (FireWall as a Service): Providing firewall functions as a cloud service
• ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access): Access management based on zero trust

Pros and Cons of SASE

There are many benefits to using SASE. The most representative benefits are as follows:

• Strengthening security measures
• Reduce costs
• Performance improvements
• Policy Consolidation

As explained above, security measures suited to today’s network environment can be implemented, and by centralizing operation and management as a cloud service, cost reductions and performance improvements can be expected. In addition, centralized management also makes it possible to integrate security policies.

However, because it is used as the starting point for all access, if a failure occurs in the SASE-related network, it may affect the entire business. Of course, it is rare for a system to be designed in such a way that a single point of failure can affect the entire business, but it is still a disadvantage to keep in mind.

SASE, which provides network and security functions as a cloud service, is a service and concept suited to the current environment, which is changing due to the spread of cloud services and teleworking. It is becoming difficult for companies to adequately respond to security measures with traditional perimeter security, and the need for zero trust thinking and SASE will increase.

If you would like to learn more about Zero Trust, check out the following articles:

Security measures based on the idea of ​​zero trust

Furthermore, traditional password-only authentication methods will no longer be sufficient in the future, and measures to improve security will be essential. Hitachi Solutions Create offers authentication services to protect companies from information leaks and unauthorized access. Why not consider introducing them to use in-house systems and cloud services more safely?

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Some people may have heard of the term zero trust security but don’t know what it specifically means. In order to protect companies from risks such as cyber attacks and information leaks, it is important to understand zero trust security. In
this article, we will explain the meaning of zero trust, why it is important, and how to incorporate zero trust security. Please refer to this article if you are involved in corporate security management.

What is Zero Trust?

Zero trust is a concept for improving information security. Zero trust means trusting nothing. The characteristic of zero trust is that it does not trust users or devices that attempt to access systems or databases, and always checks their safety.

Why Zero Trust Security is Needed

The reason for the need for zero trust security is the widespread use of cloud services and teleworking, which has led to an increase in the number of opportunities for risk to occur and a need for a more robust security model.

In traditional security, a model called perimeter security was mainstream. Perimeter security is a security model that separates internal and external networks at a boundary to protect against external threats. However, perimeter security cannot deal with threats that have infiltrated inside the boundary.

On the other hand, zero trust security has no concept of boundaries and verifies all targets. The reason zero trust security is attracting attention is that it can also handle threats such as malware that have infiltrated the internal network.

The pros and cons of zero trust security

Zero trust security has both advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to understand its characteristics when considering its implementation.

Benefit 1: Improved security

Implementing zero trust security can improve security. The advantage of zero trust security is that it can reduce the risk of unauthorized access, even if various cloud services are used in business. It can also deal with information leaks caused by internal fraud.

Advantage 2: Accessible from anywhere

Another benefit is that you can access it securely from anywhere, such as at home, in a co-working space, or in a satellite office. Zero trust security increases safety, especially for organizations that encourage remote work.

Disadvantages: High implementation costs

The disadvantage of zero trust security is the high implementation cost. Various efforts are required, such as reviewing the existing security system and selecting new solutions. In addition, education on the new security system and the preparation of manuals are also necessary. There are also costs involved in introducing and operating devices and systems to achieve zero trust security.

Disadvantages: Work efficiency may decrease

Another point to be aware of is the decrease in work efficiency. In a system that employs zero trust security, you must go through the login procedure every time. Depending on the content and method of work, the decrease in efficiency can be said to be a disadvantage of zero trust security.

How to adopt zero trust security

Zero Trust security can be adopted in the following ways:

Identity Management

Zero trust security requires a user ID to access a system or database. Unauthorized access is prevented by issuing a user ID and verifying it at the time of login.

In addition, by introducing a multi-factor authentication system using users’ own devices, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of user IDs.

Managing Access Rights

Even when using the same system, different users perform different tasks. Therefore, assigning different access permissions to each user is essential to achieving zero trust security.

For example, it is necessary to manage the data by giving only viewing permissions to contractor IDs, while giving both viewing and editing permissions to employee IDs.

Manage your activity history

By managing the behavioral history of users who accessed the system, it is possible to detect and analyze security risks. A system that acquires access logs and monitors them in real time can achieve zero trust security.

Zero trust security is a security model that does not trust any user or connection source and always verifies safety. It can also address risks such as malware infection and internal fraud that were difficult to prevent with the traditional border defense model.
If you want to achieve strong cybersecurity, why not try zero trust security?

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In today’s business environment, the use of cloud services is expanding rapidly, and the associated information security issues are also increasing. CASB (Computer Access Security Platform) is attracting attention in this situation. CASB is a general term for security solutions that allow companies to safely use cloud services, but how does it differ from SASE (Sydney Access Security Platform), which is also an important concept in security?

In this article, we will take a closer look at what CASB is, its key features, the benefits of adopting it, and how it differs from SASE.

What is a CASB?

CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) is a solution that ensures security and maintains compliance when companies use cloud services. In recent years, as the use of cloud services for business purposes has increased, managing and protecting them has become a challenge. CASB is a tool to address this issue, and plays a role in visualizing and controlling the use of cloud services.

Key features of a CASB

A CASB has four main functions:

・Visualization and monitoring

It provides visibility into all cloud services used by companies and monitors them in real time, making it possible to know which users are using which services and to detect abnormal activity early.

Data protection

It provides data classification and encryption, DLP (Data Loss Prevention) functions, and other features to prevent confidential information from leaking, and strengthens access control to ensure that only users with the appropriate permissions can access data.

Compliance management

Businesses must comply with various regulations, and CASBs provide the tools to meet compliance requirements in a cloud environment, helping businesses meet legal requirements and industry standards.

Threat prevention

It is equipped with security features such as malware detection and prevention, account hijacking prevention, and abnormal user behavior detection. It reduces security risks when using cloud services, and can also be used in combination with other features to deal with internal fraud.

The difference between CASB and SASE

When it comes to the topic of cloud security, SASE is frequently mentioned along with CASB. Understanding the difference between the two is important in taking appropriate security measures, so let’s take a look at the differences between them along with an overview of SASE.

What is SASE?

SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a new approach to cloud security, a solution that integrates network and security. While traditional network security relies on physical boundaries, SASE is cloud-based, enabling flexible and scalable security.

For more information on SASE, please see this article:
→ ” What is SASE? Explaining the differences and relationship with Zero Trust “

The difference between CASB and SASE

SASE is not only a cloud security solution, but also a concept and way of thinking. While CASB is a tool for making cloud services safer, SASE integrates network and security.

The differences between the two can be easily summarised in the following table:

SASE and CASB may seem similar at first glance, but in reality, CASB is used as one of the functions and means to realize SASE.

Benefits of Introducing CASB

The benefits of implementing a CASB include:

• Strengthening security measures
• Flexible Access Management
• Maintaining Compliance
• Optimizing Cloud Usage
• Threat detection and response

CASB monitors the use of cloud services and prevents information leaks by providing data encryption and data loss prevention (DLP) functions. It also has the ability to detect abnormal activities in real time, allowing for rapid response. In addition, different access permissions can be set for each user, allowing access only to necessary data and services, enhancing security. These security measures are effective against the recent increase in the use of cloud services for business purposes and remote work.

In addition, CASBs provide the tools and capabilities to help companies comply with various regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, and they also provide visibility into cloud service usage, helping to reduce unnecessary costs and streamline operations.

In addition, the AI ​​function can detect attacks that could not be detected by conventional security solutions, significantly strengthening a company’s security system.

Incorporate a CASB into your security strategy

CASB is an essential security solution in today’s world where the use of cloud services is increasing. By implementing CASB, companies can effectively use cloud services while reducing security risks and maintaining compliance. By incorporating CASB into your security strategy, your company’s IT infrastructure will become safer and more efficient.

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In recent years, with the advancement of information technology, companies need to be careful about security incidents. Security incidents occur due to various factors such as cyber attacks, natural disasters, human error, and physical theft, and can have a significant impact on the survival of a company. Responding to security incidents has become essential for continuing corporate activities.

In this article, we will explain the basics of security incidents, including their overview, types, and the measures that companies should take against them.

What is a security incident?

A security incident is an event that materializes a threat to the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an information system. Simply put, it can be called a “security threat.”

Specifically, these include data leaks due to cyber attacks, system downtime, damage to data centers due to natural disasters, information leaks due to human error, and physical theft. The occurrence of security incidents can have a significant impact on a company’s operations and, in some cases, may even develop into legal issues. For this reason, in today’s information-driven society, responding to security incidents is essential regardless of industry or business type.

Main types of security incidents

Security incidents are classified into several types depending on the cause of their occurrence. Here we will provide an overview of each type.

Security incidents resulting from cyber attacks

Security incidents caused by cyber attacks are the most common and serious threat to companies. Major examples of cyber attacks include malware infection, ransomware attacks, and DoS attacks.

Malware infection:

A general term for malicious software such as computer viruses, spyware, and Trojan horses that invade systems and steal or destroy data. In recent years, there has been an increase in targeted attacks targeting important corporate data.

Ransomware attacks:

These attacks encrypt systems and demand a ransom to unlock them, often threatening to make data public or lose it forever if payment is not made, severely impacting the operations of companies.

Denial of Service attacks:

Also known as a denial of service attack, this is an attack that sends a large amount of traffic to a specific network or system, causing normal service to be halted. A DoS attack causes a website or online service to become temporarily unavailable.

Security incidents due to natural disasters

Cyberattacks are not the only cause of security incidents. They can also be caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and typhoons. Natural disasters can cause physical damage to data centers and server facilities, resulting in system downtime, data loss, and business interruptions. Japan is a country that is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes. Natural disasters are difficult to predict, and the damage they cause can be severe, so advance measures are important.

Security incidents caused by human error

Human error also contributes to security incidents, such as sending emails to the wrong person, accidentally deleting data, accidentally disclosing confidential information, etc. These errors can be prevented to some extent by educating employees and improving work processes.

In addition, there may be cases where employees cause security incidents with malicious intent. It is also important to be careful of man-made security incidents, such as employees obtaining unfair money through internal fraud or using confidential information to change jobs.

Other security incidents

Security incidents also include physical theft or vandalism, such as theft of computers or mobile devices from an office or unauthorized entry into a facility, which can be prevented through improved security measures and access management.

Security incident countermeasures that companies should take

Dealing with security incidents requires both technical and organizational/operational measures.

Technical countermeasures

Technical measures refer to specific means to protect systems and data. For example, “strengthening network security” by introducing firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to prevent unauthorized access from outside is one example. In addition, it is also important to provide secure remote access using VPNs.

Other effective measures include data encryption and access management to prevent easy access to confidential information and to make it difficult to decipher even if it is leaked.

Organizational and operational measures

In addition to technical measures, it is also important to have unified security operation measures across the entire organization. First of all, regularly provide education and training to raise employees’ security awareness. This will help prevent human error and internal fraud while learning new security knowledge.

It is also important to consider how to respond after a security incident occurs. Decide in advance how your organization will respond to an incident, such as by formulating an incident response plan and an emergency communication plan, and share this information within the company.

Security incidents are an unavoidable threat to companies, but the risk can be minimized by taking appropriate measures. It is important to combine technical measures with organizational and operational measures to raise security awareness throughout the company. Considering the possibility that new threats will continue to emerge in the future, we should always collect the latest information and consider how to respond to security incidents.

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In recent years, with the advancement of information technology, companies need to be careful about security incidents. Security incidents occur due to various factors such as cyber attacks, natural disasters, human error, and physical theft, and can have a significant impact on the survival of a company. Responding to security incidents has become essential for continuing corporate activities.

In this article, we will explain the basics of security incidents, including their overview, types, and the measures that companies should take against them.

What is a security incident?

A security incident is an event that materializes a threat to the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an information system. Simply put, it can be called a “security threat.”

Specifically, these include data leaks due to cyber attacks, system downtime, damage to data centers due to natural disasters, information leaks due to human error, and physical theft. The occurrence of security incidents can have a significant impact on a company’s operations and, in some cases, may even develop into legal issues. For this reason, in today’s information-driven society, responding to security incidents is essential regardless of industry or business type.

Main types of security incidents

Security incidents are classified into several types depending on the cause of their occurrence. Here we will provide an overview of each type.

Security incidents resulting from cyber attacks

Security incidents caused by cyber attacks are the most common and serious threat to companies. Major examples of cyber attacks include malware infection, ransomware attacks, and DoS attacks.

Malware infection:

A general term for malicious software such as computer viruses, spyware, and Trojan horses that invade systems and steal or destroy data. In recent years, there has been an increase in targeted attacks targeting important corporate data.

Ransomware attacks:

These attacks encrypt systems and demand a ransom to unlock them, often threatening to make data public or lose it forever if payment is not made, severely impacting the operations of companies.

Denial of Service attacks:

Also known as a denial of service attack, this is an attack that sends a large amount of traffic to a specific network or system, causing normal service to be halted. A DoS attack causes a website or online service to become temporarily unavailable.

Security incidents due to natural disasters

Cyberattacks are not the only cause of security incidents. They can also be caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and typhoons. Natural disasters can cause physical damage to data centers and server facilities, resulting in system downtime, data loss, and business interruptions. Japan is a country that is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes. Natural disasters are difficult to predict, and the damage they cause can be severe, so advance measures are important.

Security incidents caused by human error

Human error also contributes to security incidents, such as sending emails to the wrong person, accidentally deleting data, accidentally disclosing confidential information, etc. These errors can be prevented to some extent by educating employees and improving work processes.

In addition, there may be cases where employees cause security incidents with malicious intent. It is also important to be careful of man-made security incidents, such as employees obtaining unfair money through internal fraud or using confidential information to change jobs.

Other security incidents

Security incidents also include physical theft or vandalism, such as theft of computers or mobile devices from an office or unauthorized entry into a facility, which can be prevented through improved security measures and access management.

Security incident countermeasures that companies should take

Dealing with security incidents requires both technical and organizational/operational measures.

Technical countermeasures

Technical measures refer to specific means to protect systems and data. For example, “strengthening network security” by introducing firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to prevent unauthorized access from outside is one example. In addition, it is also important to provide secure remote access using VPNs.

Other effective measures include data encryption and access management to prevent easy access to confidential information and to make it difficult to decipher even if it is leaked.

Organizational and operational measures

In addition to technical measures, it is also important to have unified security operation measures across the entire organization. First of all, regularly provide education and training to raise employees’ security awareness. This will help prevent human error and internal fraud while learning new security knowledge.

It is also important to consider how to respond after a security incident occurs. Decide in advance how your organization will respond to an incident, such as by formulating an incident response plan and an emergency communication plan, and share this information within the company.

Security incidents are an unavoidable threat to companies, but the risk can be minimized by taking appropriate measures. It is important to combine technical measures with organizational and operational measures to raise security awareness throughout the company. Considering the possibility that new threats will continue to emerge in the future, we should always collect the latest information and consider how to respond to security incidents.

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In recent years, with the advancement of information technology, companies need to be careful about security incidents. Security incidents occur due to various factors such as cyber attacks, natural disasters, human error, and physical theft, and can have a significant impact on the survival of a company. Responding to security incidents has become essential for continuing corporate activities.

In this article, we will explain the basics of security incidents, including their overview, types, and the measures that companies should take against them.

What is a security incident?

A security incident is an event that materializes a threat to the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an information system. Simply put, it can be called a “security threat.”

Specifically, these include data leaks due to cyber attacks, system downtime, damage to data centers due to natural disasters, information leaks due to human error, and physical theft. The occurrence of security incidents can have a significant impact on a company’s operations and, in some cases, may even develop into legal issues. For this reason, in today’s information-driven society, responding to security incidents is essential regardless of industry or business type.

Main types of security incidents

Security incidents are classified into several types depending on the cause of their occurrence. Here we will provide an overview of each type.

Security incidents resulting from cyber attacks

Security incidents caused by cyber attacks are the most common and serious threat to companies. Major examples of cyber attacks include malware infection, ransomware attacks, and DoS attacks.

Malware infection:

A general term for malicious software such as computer viruses, spyware, and Trojan horses that invade systems and steal or destroy data. In recent years, there has been an increase in targeted attacks targeting important corporate data.

Ransomware attacks:

These attacks encrypt systems and demand a ransom to unlock them, often threatening to make data public or lose it forever if payment is not made, severely impacting the operations of companies.

Denial of Service attacks:

Also known as a denial of service attack, this is an attack that sends a large amount of traffic to a specific network or system, causing normal service to be halted. A DoS attack causes a website or online service to become temporarily unavailable.

Security incidents due to natural disasters

Cyberattacks are not the only cause of security incidents. They can also be caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and typhoons. Natural disasters can cause physical damage to data centers and server facilities, resulting in system downtime, data loss, and business interruptions. Japan is a country that is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes. Natural disasters are difficult to predict, and the damage they cause can be severe, so advance measures are important.

Security incidents caused by human error

Human error also contributes to security incidents, such as sending emails to the wrong person, accidentally deleting data, accidentally disclosing confidential information, etc. These errors can be prevented to some extent by educating employees and improving work processes.

In addition, there may be cases where employees cause security incidents with malicious intent. It is also important to be careful of man-made security incidents, such as employees obtaining unfair money through internal fraud or using confidential information to change jobs.

Other security incidents

Security incidents also include physical theft or vandalism, such as theft of computers or mobile devices from an office or unauthorized entry into a facility, which can be prevented through improved security measures and access management.

Security incident countermeasures that companies should take

Dealing with security incidents requires both technical and organizational/operational measures.

Technical countermeasures

Technical measures refer to specific means to protect systems and data. For example, “strengthening network security” by introducing firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to prevent unauthorized access from outside is one example. In addition, it is also important to provide secure remote access using VPNs.

Other effective measures include data encryption and access management to prevent easy access to confidential information and to make it difficult to decipher even if it is leaked.

Organizational and operational measures

In addition to technical measures, it is also important to have unified security operation measures across the entire organization. First of all, regularly provide education and training to raise employees’ security awareness. This will help prevent human error and internal fraud while learning new security knowledge.

It is also important to consider how to respond after a security incident occurs. Decide in advance how your organization will respond to an incident, such as by formulating an incident response plan and an emergency communication plan, and share this information within the company.

Security incidents are an unavoidable threat to companies, but the risk can be minimized by taking appropriate measures. It is important to combine technical measures with organizational and operational measures to raise security awareness throughout the company. Considering the possibility that new threats will continue to emerge in the future, we should always collect the latest information and consider how to respond to security incidents.

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