Many companies are moving away from centralized environments based on a server or data center. Instead, they are transitioning to edge computing, in which infrastructure relies on decentralized devices. While this has been beneficial for increasing speed and reliability, it is not always ideal for security.
Decentralization makes it more difficult for security professionals to inventory and control endpoints and edge devices. The edge creates a very large attack surface as well, leading to many potential vulnerabilities. Because there are so many weaknesses, a Web Application Firewall is an essential security tool.
Challenges of Securing Edge Applications
Unlike more traditional computing models, edge computing avoids centralized data centers. Instead, edge computing focuses on distributing resources and activity across processors in close proximity to the user. The advantage of this is increased speed and more robust connectivity. However, there are novel security risks unique to edge computing that you need to consider.
- Cloud vulnerabilities. Because edge computing relies on local devices connecting to the cloud, security teams must protect a large attack surface and large numbers of potential vulnerabilities.
- Reduced visibility. There are multiple devices and points of connectivity at the edge, which can make controlling and monitoring activity challenging. When you don’t have full visibility in your environment, it is easier for attacks to slip past your defenses.
- Limited resources on edge devices. A central data center has large numbers of servers, which means there are substantial resources available for responding to requests and other essential functions. Decentralized devices do not have this advantage, which can make them more vulnerable to threats like DDoS attacks.
- Maintenance and monitoring challenges. Because edge computing is decentralized, it can be difficult to keep an updated, accurate inventory of all the devices connected to your network. This makes it more challenging for security teams to check all of the security boxes and effectively monitor for unusual activity.
- Data security. Edge environments have a large attack surface, which means there are a lot of potential vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit. This puts your data at risk of compromise, especially if your visibility into your environment is already low.
While there are advantages, edge computing comes with some security drawbacks. However, the right solutions can mitigate these risks.
Adapting WAF Architectures for Edge Environments
One effective way to improve edge environment security is a modern web application firewall (WAF) solution. WAFs use preset rules to identify malicious traffic. So, if there is an atypical pattern of user behavior, the WAF is able to match that pattern to known attack patterns and then block the unusual activity. A highly desirable trait of the WAF is that it can do this without limiting your desirable traffic.
Lightweight WAF implementations prioritize security without requiring a lot of resources. This is imperative for keeping your edge devices secure and functional. Older WAFs that are designed for more centralized environments tend to slow down response times. While they may be able to stop attacks, these older models are not ideal because they discourage your legitimate traffic from continuing to use your website or application.
If you plan to implement a WAF solution to improve your security, look for edge-native security policies. Security should be based on the edge devices. Your protection must filter and block potential attacks at the exposed points on the network to be effective.
The most significant difference this makes is speed. When security tools like a WAF can respond quickly to unusual activity, the risk of a successful attack is lowered. Additionally, quick responses at the edge can limit an attacker’s reach. Ideally, malicious activity will be limited to the edge and not permitted access to other parts of your infrastructure.
Integrating WAFs with Edge Orchestration Platforms
Minimizing resource consumption and implementing solutions at the edge are important for a WAF solution that effectively secures your edge environment. However, they are not enough on their own. To maximize your security, you should also consider an edge orchestration platform. It should integrate fully with your WAF solution, which will ensure seamless deployment across edge nodes, centralized management, and policy distribution.
Centralized management enables much faster deployment than a decentralized model. Your security team can send patches and updates to all devices and nodes more easily with a single, central management platform. Automated monitoring and alerts, available with some WAF tools, can be deployed as well, giving you improved visibility into your environment.
Additionally, these integrated solutions allow you to keep the low latency of edge environments. They are also better equipped for support from security teams. A centralized security space that serves decentralized devices is an optimal solution. It enables your teams to service all of the devices connected to your network with full visibility.
For fast, accurate threat mitigation, your organization will benefit from a lightweight, modern WAF. Ideally, the WAF will be integrated with a centralized platform. This combination will detect and block unwanted and malicious traffic outside of your edge environment, which protects your devices and your sensitive data.
