1. Vendor Review: Before selecting a vendor to provide SD-WAN services, it is important to thoroughly review the credentials and capabilities of that vendor. It is also wise to investigate previous customer experiences with the vendor, as this will provide an insight into how secure their services actually are. Choosing a vendor who can demonstrate a commitment to security and regularly tests and updates their security protocols could help keep your organization’s data safe.
2. Secure Activation Process: It is essential to ensure that the entire activation process is secure in order to prevent any malicious attacks or unauthorized access. When configuring the initial settings for your SD-WAN deployment, there are several steps that you should take to ensure that the process is as secure as possible. These include verifying the setup with a unique passphrase, encrypting the management traffic, and ensuring that the firewall settings are properly configured.
3. Data Encryption: Encrypting data is crucial to preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information. Depending on the level of security required, various types of encryption can be used, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), or Secure Hash Algorithms (SHA). In addition, the use of a virtual private network (VPN) can further ensure that data is encrypted while in transit.
4. Network Monitoring: A good way to detect potential threats is to monitor the network for suspicious activity. This includes monitoring traffic patterns, unusual network activity, and other suspicious behaviors. By using an intrusion detection system (IDS) or a network packet analyzer, it is possible to detect and block malicious traffic before it reaches its destination.
5. Software Updates: It is also important to keep all software up to date in order to ensure that any security flaws or vulnerabilities are fixed and protected against. This includes firmware updates for the SD-WAN devices as well as software updates for the applications being used on the system. Regularly patching the system can go a long way towards keeping it secure.
6. Access Controls: Access control lists (ACLs) are an effective way to restrict access to specific areas of the network. This includes restricting access to certain IP addresses, subnets, or even specific users. By only allowing specific users or machines to access certain parts of the network, it will be much more difficult for an unauthorized user to gain access.
7. Physical Security: Securing the physical SD-WAN devices is also important for protecting them from any unauthorised access. This includes locking down any switches, routers, gateways, and other hardware in a secure location and installing cameras and alarms for additional security.
By taking these security measures when deploying SD-WAN technology, organizations can reduce the risk of malicious attacks and protect their networks from any possible threats. By selecting the right vendor, configuring the activation process properly, encrypting data, monitoring the network, and physically securing the devices, organizations can be sure that their networks are as secure as possible.
