Cisco Secure Access

Cisco Secure Access is a cloud-based security platform that acts as a shield against internet-based threats, providing users with secure access to the internet, Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, and private digital resources. Regardless of whether users are on the organization’s network or roaming, Cisco Secure Access safeguards their connection. The platform encompasses multiple levels of defense and security features, all managed through an intuitive cloud-based interface.

Cisco Secure Access Components

At its core, Cisco Secure Access serves as Cisco’s Secure Service Edge (SSE) solution. It brings together various security capabilities under one umbrella, delivered seamlessly from the cloud.

These capabilities include:

● Secure Web Gateway (SWG): This component empowers organizations to meticulously monitor and control internet access for both users and devices, bolstering their security posture.

● Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): CASB steps up the security of cloud applications by diligently enforcing policies, keeping a watchful eye on user activities, and shielding sensitive data from potential threats.

● Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): ZTNA embraces a “never trust, always verify” approach, granting secure access to applications and resources based on user identity and context, irrespective of location.

● Firewall as a Service (FWaaS): FWaaS extends firewall protection to the cloud, providing a robust defense against an array of network threats.

● Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Acting as a vigilant guardian, IPS sniffs out and neutralizes malicious network activity, fortifying overall network security.

● VPN as a Service (VPNaaS): VPNaaS establishes a secure tunnel for remote access to the organization’s network, employing robust encryption to shield data in transit.

● DNS Security: This feature forms a protective barrier against DNS-based attacks, effectively blocking malicious or undesirable domains.

● Data Loss Protection (DLP): DLP acts as a gatekeeper, preventing sensitive data from escaping the organization’s network and mitigating the risk of data breaches.

● Advanced Malware Protection: This capability proactively detects and blocks malware threats, safeguarding user devices and the organization’s network.

● Remote Browser Isolation (RBI): RBI creates a secure sandbox for web browsing activities, isolating them in a remote environment and shielding user devices from potentially harmful websites.

● Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM): Monitors the performance of endpoints, applications, and network connectivity, allowing IT and security teams to proactively address issues and optimize user productivity.

● Single Management and Reporting Console: Simplifies security management with a unified interface for policy creation, reporting, and log analysis.

The Cisco Secure Access dashboard offers administrators a centralized hub to oversee the organization’s security posture. It presents a clear overview of the system’s status, usage patterns, and key health metrics. This information empowers administrators to promptly address security threats and efficiently monitor system usage.

The dashboard is structured into three primary sections:

● Policy: This section encompasses essential policies, including the Access Policy and Data Loss Prevention Policy.

● Profiles: Here, administrators can define and manage various profiles such as Endpoint Posture Profiles, IPS Profiles, and Web Profiles.

● Settings: This section houses an array of components and options, including the Monitor (for logs), Admin, Accounts, Authentication, API Keys, Log Management, and Licensing.

Deployment & Access Methods: Focused Use?Cases

Zero Trust Network Access?(ZTNA)

Cisco Secure Access embraces the principles of Zero Trust with both client-based and clientless ZTNA solutions.

• Client-based ZTNA entails the installation of the Cisco Secure Client, which is built upon the foundation of Cisco AnyConnect, on the user’s device. Users are required to enroll in Zero-Trust Access through the Secure Client, a process that involves user authentication and retains its validity even after device reboots. Once enrolled, the client acts as an intermediary, intercepting traffic destined for permitted internal applications and seamlessly redirecting it to the Cisco Secure Access cloud. These client-based connections leverage the MASQUE protocol, which is built upon the QUIC framework, to forge a secure and reliable connection to the cloud. The Cisco Secure Access cloud can then subject the traffic to rigorous security inspections before relaying it to the intended application.
• Clientless ZTNA, on the other hand, eliminates the need for software installation on user devices, offering a frictionless path to access specific applications. Users simply initiate a connection through their web browser to a designated application-specific URL. The solution then establishes a secure link between the Cisco Secure Access cloud and the customer’s applications, employing either an IPsec Backhaul VPN tunnel or an App Connector. Cisco Secure Access extends robust support for clientless, browser-based access, fortified by granular user- and application-based access policies, streamlined SAML authentication, an integrated Identity Provider (IdP), and context-aware access control.

Remote Browser Isolation (RBI)

RBI functions as a protective shield for users, mitigating potential threats posed by malware and other online dangers when accessing specific online destinations. It achieves this by intelligently redirecting browsing activity to a cloud-based host, effectively isolating the user’s device from direct interaction with potentially harmful websites. For instance, if an administrator configures isolation for a specific website like example.com, any client attempting to access this site will have the website loaded within the cloud environment. Despite this redirection, the end user’s browsing experience remains seamless and unaffected.

To enable RBI, specific prerequisites must be met:

● Decryption must be activated within the designated web profile.

● The target destination must be excluded from both the bypass list and the do-not-decrypt list.

Secure Web Gateway?(SWG)

SWG serves as a critical security pillar within Cisco Secure Access, safeguarding internet access for users and devices. It Prevents access to malicious websites and filters web content based on predefined policies.

Tunnel Redundancy

Cisco Secure Access prioritizes continuous connectivity and resilience by incorporating redundant tunnels for accessing private resources. This is achieved through the establishment of a primary and secondary hub for each tunnel group, effectively providing a failover mechanism should one hub become unavailable. This built-in redundancy ensures seamless connectivity and minimizes downtime.

Integration & Automation

Cisco Secure Access integrates seamlessly with Cisco ThousandEyes, a network performance monitoring solution that provides in-depth visibility into the digital delivery chain8. This integration enables organizations to gain comprehensive insights into user experience and proactively address performance issues, ensuring smooth and secure access to applications and services.

Segmentation and Micro-segmentation

Segmentation, in the context of networking, involves partitioning a network into smaller, isolated segments to enhance security and optimize performance. Micro-segmentation takes this concept further by creating highly granular segments, often at the application or workload level. While the sources do not explicitly mention segmentation or micro-segmentation, their integration with Cisco Secure Access could potentially yield significant security benefits.

By combining Cisco Secure Access with a robust segmentation solution, organizations could:

● Extend ZTNA to Individual Segments: ZTNA principles could be applied to each segment, ensuring that only authorized users and devices gain access to specific applications and resources within those segments.

● Reduce the Attack Surface: Segmentation inherently limits the lateral movement of threats. By isolating sensitive applications and data into smaller segments, the potential damage from a security breach can be significantly contained.

● Enhance Compliance: Microsegmentation can play a vital role in meeting regulatory compliance requirements, such as PCI DSS or HIPAA, by providing granular control over access to sensitive data.

What about users? Isn’t Secure Access is All about users accessing application securely from anywhere?

User Provisioning Options in Cisco Secure?Access

Cisco Secure Access provides administrators with the flexibility to provision users through three distinct methods:

● Manual Provisioning: Users can be added individually, meticulously entering their details, or imported in bulk using a CSV file.

● Azure Active Directory Integration: By leveraging the power of SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management), users can be efficiently provided with Azure AD.

● Active Directory Integration: The OpenDNS connector facilitates seamless user provisioning from an on-premises Active Directory environment.

Each provisioning method has its own set of prerequisites and configuration steps, which are comprehensively detailed in the sources. For instance, manually importing users via a CSV file might inadvertently lead to user overriding issues, necessitating adjustments within the import process. After successful provisioning, both users and user groups can be incorporated into access rules to precisely control access to valuable resources.

Troubleshoot & Debugging

The debugging methods employed within the Cisco Secure Access environment.

● Troubleshooting TLS errors: A common scenario arises when users encounter TLS errors while attempting to access private applications through browser-based zero trust access. To rectify this, administrators need to meticulously verify and configure the correct protocol (either HTTP or HTTPS) for the target private application within the resource configuration settings.

● Addressing VPN errors: Another prevalent issue involves VPN errors stemming from disabled VPN establishment capability. Resolving this typically involves editing the VPN profile and enabling “All Remote Users” for Windows VPN establishment within the client settings.

● Collecting DART bundles: You can extract DART bundles from the Cisco Secure Client, which prove instrumental in troubleshooting endeavors. These bundles encapsulate valuable diagnostic information that can be readily shared with Cisco technical support to expedite issue resolution.

Conclusion

Cisco Secure Access delivers a robust, cloud-based security platform that safeguards users, devices, and data from a constantly evolving threat landscape. Its comprehensive security features, flexible deployment options, and powerful integration capabilities make it an ideal solution for organizations of all sizes looking to enhance their security posture, simplify management, and improve user experience.

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