Edge computing has made its way to some of the biggest industries today, and it’s not showing any signs of stopping. It operates outside of the data center (sometimes even out on the plant floor) close to where the data is collected, saved and used for real-time analytics and decision making. And, as companies navigate the benefits of edge computing they will be challenged with properly implementing an Edge security strategy.
Cyber-attacks have been and remain prevalent in today’s IT climate. These attacks are increasing in complexity and frequency, making security a top priority for IT and operational technology (OT) professionals. Threats such as data breaches and decreased system performance can ultimately affect a company’s bottom line. These potential threats highlight the need to implement proper Edge security strategies as edge deployments increase.
Before implementing complex security systems, it’s essential for organizations to put a plan together to keep these systems up-to-date. Software is the foundation of edge deployments so it’s necessary to have a plan in place for ongoing updates to ensure applications don’t become obsolete or outdated.
Building an Edge Security Strategy
Cyber Security
OT security software is a great first step to kick off your Edge security. Edge computing makes security programs more effective with its ability to protect data collection and analysis points. It decreases the time it takes for programs to register and process security threats. For cases where IT departments are unable to prevent a breach through Edge devices (whether due to lack of capabilities or resources), OT security software can provide companies a proper level of protection.
Prior to deployment, companies must secure their computing solutions in both cyber and physical security aspects. Both can have dangerous impacts on bottom line and cost companies a great deal if not secured correctly. Thankfully, most edge computing plans have physical protection in place as well when possible internal risks like human error occur.
Physical Security
Physical security is traditionally thought to be a lower-profile problem when compared to potential malware attacks. However, some of the largest industrial security breaches could have been prevented by simply locking a cabinet or USB port. One security measure many companies use is to employ identity control measures that prevent hackers from getting access to sensitive areas on a physical device.
The best edge security strategies for successful and full protection will have a hybrid of cyber and physical points of security.
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