Akamai Technologies unveils Guardicore platform for improved network security

Akamai Technologies announced today the Akamai Guardicore Platform, a security platform that amalgamates Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and micro-segmentation. The novel platform promises businesses enhanced security against ransomware, compliance mandate fulfilment, and strengthened security for the hybrid workforce and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

The revolutionary platform delivers Zero Trust through a fully integrated assemblage of micro-segmentation, ZTNA, multi-factor authentication, DNS firewall, and threat hunting. In particular, the micro-segmentation aspect of the platform is garnering new improvements aimed at streamlining workflows and enhancing security posture, including multi-factor segmentation that includes authentication checks as part of micro-segmentation rules, a critical policy for quick implementation of researched and best practice–based policies and worksite integration to allow scoped delegation.

The Akamai Guardicore Platform capitalises on AI technology to simplify the user experience, vulnerability assessments, compliance and incident response. A standout feature is the AI assistant, which allows security professionals to ask queries in the natural language of their network instead of manually looking through logs, significantly quickening operations like compliance scoping and incident response. Additionally, network labelling, a historically difficult and time-consuming process, is simplified by AI, which examines asset behaviour and proposes labels – complete with a confidence score and explanation for its choice.

Across APJ (Asia Pacific and Japan), many security teams face the mounting challenge of deploying sophisticated solutions such as ZTNA and micro-segmentation with a lack of expertise and knowledge on these subjects. "Many security teams are facing challenges in deploying advanced solutions like ZTNA and microsegmentation because of the scarcity of expertise and knowledge around such solutions. As they navigate this challenge, there's a growing imperative for solutions like these to be much more streamlined and integrated, offering the key to bolster protection with greater ease and efficiency," said Reuben Koh, Director of Security Technology & Strategy, APJ, Akamai Technologies.

The Akamai Guardicore Platform facilitates the application of Zero Trust through a single agent, console and vendor for Zero Trust. It offers broad and rich visibility, enabling administrators to view all assets, users and their communication and access. Crucially, it also offers modular flexibility for businesses to harness only the modules they need while remaining prepared to incorporate more capabilities when appropriate.

This new platform serves as a rejection of older, perimeter-based security solutions such as traditional network firewalls and VPNs, with Pavel Gurvich, Senior Vice President and general manager, Enterprise Security at Akamai, explaining that "Security teams are under more pressure than ever as they face ransomware threats and manage stringent compliance standards, all while trying to consolidate vendors and manage budgets." He added, "As organisations are adopting Zero Trust, they are looking for simplified experiences that offer broad visibility and granular controls for all assets and access policies. Security professionals can deploy the Akamai Guardicore Platform as a single console to consolidate agents and implement Zero Trust principles across varied infrastructures."

This announcement from Akamai Technologies outlines a significant advancement in cybersecurity, offering businesses a cutting-edge solution to fortify their security posture in the face of an increasingly perilous and complex digital landscape.