“Keep the malware, ya filthy animal” is NOT a line uttered in the 1990 Christmas Classic, Home Alone….but it should be! Well…not really. The internet was still in its infancy in 1990 and infection of computers and networks by malicious software was still a relatively new concept (the term “malware” was first coined only months before Home Alone’s theatrical release). The line would DEFINITELY apply today, however. As nearly everything is operated online, to some extent, and network security is becoming more important than ever! Thankfully, there are high-end tools we use today to ensure that we can control and monitor what devices are accessing our networks. Review how these devices are behaving while on the network. Give the ability to remove said devices if malicious activity is detected. Little Human ClearPass There are numerous blogs and articles that explain how the entire plot of Home Alone would not have occurred had the technology that we use today been available. I’m not going to go down that rabbit hole here. Instead I am going to use the film as an analogy for technology itself…namely HPE Aruba Networking’s security platform “ClearPass”. I’m doing this because I think it makes some of the nuances of the technology easier to understand and because I just feel like it, ok? So, sit back, grab a cheese pizza, and put on some after-shave…I’m about to tell you all about the story of Kevin McCallister, “The Little Human ClearPass”. For those of you that don’t know, HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass is a policy management platform that allows network admins to onboard new devices, grant varying access levels, and help keep their networks secure. It can be dissected into three primary security functions: Identify, Enforce and Protect. And I will use Kevin McCallister to demonstrate each process. Identify Much of Kevin’s success in thwarting full-grown men who are attempting to rob his parent’s house, stems from the fact that he is a very observant little fella. He notices the highly suspicious “Wet Bandits” following him. Kevin monitors their behavior and overhears their conversations. Preemptively, he defends his family home based on his findings. His observations operate in much the same way as ClearPass. ClearPass helps identify what devices are trying to access the network. These findings include where the devices are connecting from and device-specific information such as IP address, OS, type and model name etc. Enforce The key for the “Wet Bandits” to successfully loot all of the luxurious homes in Kevin’s neighborhood while they are all vacant for the holidays. If you’re a burglar…you’re not going to attempt to waltz into a house full of people and hope you go unnoticed, are you? Remember when Kevin turns on every single light in his house and makes it look like there’s an epic party occurring there? Bingo. The burglar policy seems to be: “if the place is occupied, don’t risk it.” Networks have policies too. Ones that can similarly prevent unwanted visitors. ClearPass allows you to enforce these network policies during the onboarding of new devices. Rules can be put into place that define what type of devices users can onboard, how many, and who may onboard a device. After this, access can be enforced in a number of ways. A simple portal can be used or the more secure method of using encryption in the authentication process. Protect The final area of focus in ClearPass security is “Protect”. With ClearPass OnGuard, one can define the “health level” a device must have in order to gain access to the network. The health of individual devices that are connected to the network is crucial to network security. If a device that is attempting to connect does not meet these requirements, it is not allowed on the network. Moreover, policy controls and threat remediation give real-time insight into the activity on the network, allowing threats to be quickly identified. This allows the IT staff to quickly block traffic or disconnect devices if unusual network behavior is detected. What does all that mean in layman’s terms and can I use a metaphor? Sure thing! If you see suspicious folks skulking around your residence, you better ice down your steps, heat your doorknobs and place Christmas ornaments by the windows to discourage unwanted entry. If those crafty villains still a manage to gain entry, you better have some Micro Machines strewn across the floor and have a tarantula handy. It worked for Kevin McCallister and it can work for you and your network! HPE Aruba Networking is just one of the many great vendors that ProCern works with daily. Contact us today for all of your IT needs. Including, but not limited to, cyber security. If you find yourself “home alone” just think, “what would Kevin do?”.
In the dynamic world of network technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are more than just buzzwords; they’re forces propelling us toward a future where networks have the power to self-regulate and self-improve. With advanced algorithms that can learn from data, identify patterns, and make decisions with minimal human intervention, these groundbreaking technologies are revolutionizing the way networks are managed, offering unprecedented levels of efficiency, security, and performance optimization. With AI and ML-powered network management, businesses benefit from: Efficient and superior network performance for a seamless user experience Today’s modern network infrastructure requires intelligent connectivity. To keep up, networks must be able to learn from data to optimize performance, secure data and communications, and streamline operations. AI and ML are the driving forces behind this evolution. With the ability to handle massive data flows, these technologies offer a sophisticated analytical engine that can analyze traffic to anticipate and resolve bottlenecks, prioritize data delivery, and automatically adapt to network conditions on a continuous basis. With the ability to self-adjust, predict needs, and thwart security threats autonomously, AI and ML offer a proactive approach to network management that facilitates seamless operations, which leads to reduced latency and a superior user experience. Proactive troubleshooting and maintenance Before AI and ML, network teams would scramble to identify and rectify problems reactively as they arose, disrupting business and placing strain on resources. AI and ML technology is revolutionizing this approach, with the power to analyze trends and identify anomalies in real-time—transforming the network into a self-optimizing entity that forecasts and mitigates potential issues before they occur. The resulting efficiencies give network teams more breathing room to focus on strategic initiatives that support business goals rather than putting out fires. Related: How Intelligent Insights and AI are Simplifying Network Management Dynamic network security that puts sophisticated cyber threats in their place As cyber threats become more complex, traditional security measures can’t keep up. Cyberattacks are too sophisticated and evolving too quickly. AI and ML introduce dynamic and intelligent network security capable of identifying, detecting, and even predicting and preventing advanced, previously unseen attacks. With a security posture that is both resilient and adaptive, businesses can focus on growth and innovation, confident that their network security is equipped to handle new and highly sophisticated threats as they pop up. A more manageable framework to support modern connectivity Modern networks are complex, supporting a myriad of interconnected devices and applications, each with its own demands for bandwidth, security, and latency. At the same time, they must accommodate the rapid pace of digital advancement and the growing expectations for uninterrupted connectivity. AI and ML simplify this complexity by automating routine tasks such as configuration, deployment, and network device management, allowing IT staff to concentrate on strategic initiatives. This highly streamlined approach transforms network management from a daily grind into a strategic asset. Navigating the intricate web of today’s modern network infrastructure requires a shift from manual processes to automated intelligence. AI and ML stand as pillars in this transformation, offering a more manageable framework that simplifies intricate processes of configuring, deploying, and managing network devices. With an AI-driven network management solution like HPE Aruba Networking SD-WAN, ProCern can help you harness the full potential of AI and ML to transform your network infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance, enhanced security, and streamlined management that aligns with the evolving complexities of your modern connectivity needs. For more information about HPE Aruba Networking SD-WAN, contact us here.
As technology, information, and edge computing continue to accelerate, so do the complexities of managing a modern network. Network administrators need to find new and innovative ways to orchestrate their systems efficiently and securely. They need to balance agility, security, and performance while keeping up with the moving needle of demands in a highly complicated landscape. Without advanced tools and strategies that streamline network management and threat response, you risk falling behind in both performance and protection. This can potentially lead to system failures and security breaches. Intelligent predictive analytics and AI-powered tools have the power to streamline complex network operations. This enables a proactive approach to management that anticipates and mitigates issues before they escalate. Five Ways AI and Intelligent Insights are Simplifying Network Management to Create Strategic Value: Proactively detects issues: Using AI algorithms, network management platforms can scrutinize network behavior, anticipating and alerting administrators to potential disruptions. By proactively detecting and preventing problems before they impact network functionality and user experience, they can keep business operations running smoothly and without interruption. Automates security measures: AI-powered security systems can continuously monitor network traffic to proactively detect and mitigate security threats, such as unusual network patterns and potential breach attempts. By spending less time on routine surveillance and more time on strategic initiatives, network administrators can simplify their day-to-day operations while enhancing network security and efficiency. Optimizes network traffic: Using intelligent insights, network systems can dynamically adjust traffic priorities and routing to optimize data flow and bandwidth usage. This allows for a more efficient and effective use of network resources. This active network management not only boosts overall performance but also aligns with business needs, ensuring that critical operations have the bandwidth they need when they need it. Creates self-healing networks: When networks are equipped with AI-driven monitoring and configuration tools, they can automatically troubleshoot and solve certain problems without human intervention. This self-healing capability reduces the time and effort required for troubleshooting and maintenance. This means network administrators can focus less on reactive problem-solving and more on strategic initiatives. Supports Smarter Resource Management: Predictive analytics and AI-powered tools allow networks to foresee network needs automatically and adjust to meet those demands. This not only enhances the overall efficiency of the network but also streamlines the workload for administrators, intelligently guiding maintenance and resource allocation decisions. Predictive Foresight Integrating AI and predictive analytics into network management isn’t just about addressing immediate issues; it’s about predictive foresight. This preemptive approach can prevent network congestion before it happens to maintain productivity and user satisfaction. Plus, with the ability to perform predictive maintenance, where the system schedules repairs and updates during low-usage hours, you minimize disruption and optimize network longevity. AI and predictive analytics are the future of modern network management. ProCern is pleased to offer HPE Aruba Networking AOS 10, a forerunner of this innovative shift. Aruba AOS 10 offers a network operating system designed to provide secure, AI-powered wired and wireless networking for enterprises of all sizes. Let us help you turn network management from a chore into a strategic asset. We help your business stay agile, secure, and ahead of the curve.