What can the SDN network offer in terms of security?
One of the most interesting solutions in the complex world of virtualization is software-defined networking (SDN). It is a technology that has proved to be highly effective because it allows for an automated infrastructure to reduce administrative costs and speed up service delivery.
SDN also has several essential qualities to establish a safer environment. The point is that by automating processes, troubleshooting and threats is much easier.
Today, the situation of network management is much more complicated if we are to take into account the constant mobility of users and access to various Cloud services. This puts IT administrators under pressure to ensure the users’ privacy and data security.
It is undeniable that cyber threats are becoming more robust and often manage to dodge encryption algorithms, content inspection technologies, tunnels and firewalls. However, SDN networks might reverse the issue.
In the following four points, we explain why the integral security management in SDN networking is possible:
- 1. Global monitoring: Visibility over network traffic is paramount to detect potential threats. The architecture proposed by SDN networks allows for an automated and centralized control, so it is much easier to manage on the basis of a global view of the network. In software-defined networking it is possible to apply security policies directly on the users’ actions (the files they use or URLs that are connected can be monitored).
- 2. Automatization: One of the main advantages of SDN is the ability to automate management functions, allowing implementing of network security policies in a programmable way to avoid human intervention, which often is the cause for many faults.
- 3. Advanced Features: A proven aspect of software-defined networking is its ability to respond adaptively to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). This way it is much easier to face any situation quickly. For example, in the case of a DDoS, administrators can redirect data packets in order to stop the large traffic flow that could cripple the network due to an overload on the server.
This technology has other advanced features, such as IPS / IDS systems to detect intruders by means of abnormal patterns, URL filtering measures and sandboxing systems for smart identification of threats.
SDN can compete with many of the basic functions of a firewall. Dedicated SDN controllers offer a higher level of packet granularity analysis. They also run command sequences able to update port filtering in order to offer a fast response. Thus, other network devices are not overloaded by large amounts of traffic to be handled.
- 4. Traffic Management: Another great advantage of SDN for security is their ability to actively manage traffic flows. In the design proposed by the Software-Defined Networking, several network elements are protected. So, if the logic routing levels can be programmed, it is possible to reprogram the network in case of incidents.
Essential for the demands of your corporate environment are programmable Juniper EX9200 SDN programmable switches. This type of switch is based on the MX router and it is offered in three chassis configurations with 4, 8 and 14 slots.
Juniper’s SDN Programmable switches support 240G slots and interface cards of 40xGigabit Ethernet, 32x10G, 4x40G and 2x100G. The programming features, along with ASIC Juniper One, include a set of Netconf and XML automation tools, Puppet, Python and OpenFlow interfaces.
Many analysts say SDN Networks are the future, but all indicates that they are revolutionizing the present. The management of Software-Based Networks has proved that it is possible to simplify and make the work environment more flexible in the data center.
Still have your doubts? Watch in this demo how Juniper’s SDN programmable switches work
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