Protect Your Organisation's Vulnerable Edge Devices with Managed File Transfer

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has urged Australian organisations to ensure they employ effective logging and monitoring to detect potential threats on network edge devices.

Edge Devices

Edge devices are critical network components positioned at the periphery of an organisation’s internal network (i.e. "the edge"). They’re the critical interface between the organisation and the internet, performing essential functions such as managing data traffic, enforcing security policies and enabling seamless communication across network boundaries.

The most common edge devices across enterprise networks include enterprise routers, firewalls and VPN concentrators. Every organisation with a connection to the internet has at least one edge device.

Edge Vulnerability

Because edge devices can access other assets on the organisation’s network, they’re an appealing target for cyber criminals. Failing to secure them is like leaving a door open from the internet to internal networks.

Once inside, hackers can access sensitive data and disrupt business operations.

As they perform their important task in the background, it can be easy to overlook the security vulnerabilities that edge devices present. And the more edge devices an organisation uses, the greater the potential “threat surface”, and the greater challenge for IT staff to keep them secure.

Compromised edge devices can lead to data loss, intellectual property loss, financial loss, business disruption, reputational damage and legal liabilities.

Maintaining The Edge

The ASD says that, to protect their edge devices, organisations should focus on:

? capturing high-quality logs

? centralising logging in real time, and

? securing event log storage.

Automated Logs, Auditing and Reporting

Managed File Transfer (MFT) technology has a key role to play in monitoring data transfers, both within an organisation and to the outside world.

Leading MFT solutions such as GoAnywhere MFT automatically compile comprehensive audit reports of file transfer activity.? All file transfer activity is securely stored and easily searched. Reports and alerts can be automatically emailed to cyber security staff, who can instantly check files are only being sent where they should go, and by people appropriately authorised to send and receive them.

Further, any organisations required to report on file transfer activity can use GoAnywhere’s logs to comply with their industry’s cyber regulations.?

Heeding the ASD’s Advice

At Generic Systems Australia, we have decades of experience helping Australian and New Zealand organisations take advantage of the security and efficiency of MFT solutions.

And our Migration Service makes the transition easy for busy businesses who’d rather spend their time focusing on their customers than their IT systems.

If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how we could help you simply and affordably adopt an advanced MFT solution, please feel welcome to get in touch.?