What is Branch Office Security?

A Shift in Networking Strategy

Though traditional WAN topology is still used today, more organizations are updating their branch office security strategy in order to quickly and reliably reach the Internet, without passing through the data center first. Organizations do so by implementing SD-WAN, a new type of Software-Defined network that allows branches to connect directly to cloud applications, resources, and tools from a branch office. Gartner projects that by 2023, 90% of branches will implement SD-WAN instead of traditional routers¹. Many industries already, such as finance, healthcare, and retail, rely on this quick and secure method to access their cloud resources and better their branch office security.

Branch Office SD-WAN Security

Branch Office Security Challenges:

• Connecting directly to the internet from the branch exposes branch offices to Gen V attacks
• Branch security is lagging behind capacity demand and is inconsistent due to long upgrade cycles
• Multiple point solutions drive up administrative costs and create operational challenges
• Constantly changing compliance requirements

Benefits

• Enhanced Security. SD-WAN integrates with a centrally located web filtering service that offers malware protection and other cybersecurity measures to protect every branch and remote device in the company.
• Cost Effective. SD-WAN is much less expensive because it optimizes current network traffic, while also minimizing costs for infrastructure upgrades due to bandwidth usage increases.
• Independence in Transport. With SD-WAN, businesses and organizations are given more flexibility when transporting their assets.

Key Takeaways

When deciding on a security solution for your organization, securing your branch office is a crucial piece of the puzzle. A security architecture that is up-to-date, can quickly and reliably handle in-going and outgoing traffic to the Internet, and can be deployed consistently across all of your branch offices will help keep your organization safe from data breaches and cyber attacks.

¹Gartner 2018 MQ for WAN Edge Infrastructure