In a connected world where information is the key asset and data are knowingly or unknowingly transferred, we often face the threat of a security breach where an organization’s data are exposed to prying eyes. Most mobile devices hold integral data and simple firewall can always be brought down from inside the network, thus exposing your device to vicious and malicious attacks and data thefts compromising safety for all. Many big organizations, such as Anthem, Sony Pictures, Ashley Madison and Financial institution such as the Bangladeshi Bank who got affected in February 2016 have also proved to be vulnerable and been subjected
to data breaches .
SnoopWall, the global leader in breach prevention, is the world’s first counter surveillance security company focused on protecting all computing devices connected to a network. Highly valuable confidential information hidden behind firewalls and on mobile devices are protected with a patented cloaking technology, which aims to detect and block all rogue network access, remote control, spying and eavesdropping mechanisms with the next generation of technology.
The company’s products range is extensive, with NetSHIELD, a patented intranet intrusion prevention products deployed in 32 countries, and patented mobile security software named mobileSHEILD, WinSHEILD and App SHEILD SDK, a software Developer toolkit used by over 100 financial institutions globally. Snoowall offers the complete range of essential end to end requirement of network security Gary Miliefsky, CEO of snoopwall and a co-inventor of the company’s innovative breach prevention technologies, a founding member of the US Department of Homeland Security , the National Information Security Group,and part of the OVAL advisory board of SnoopWall’s worldwide channels; and Nishan Wimalachandra, CEO of Exiretechnologies, the local partner for Sri lanka and Maldives sat down with Echelon to stress the importance and growing need for network security
Nishan Wimalachandra
Chief Executive – Exire Technologies
Gary S. Milliefsky
Chief Executive -SnoopWall
Mark Bermingham
Vice President -SnoopWall
> Does Network Security in Sri Lanka Need Immediate attention?
Wimalachandra : Yes, Until I Saw how SnoopWall’ NetSHIELD work, I didn’t know that the ICT infrastructure of Sri lankan companies was Alarmingly vulnerable including the financial institutions that recently introduced mobile apps. Many local incidents reported were internal security breaches, which could have been prevented if the right technology was deployed.
> With Srilanka being a global IT hub, why is it important that a company takes steps to protect their networks?
Miliefsky : Today, 95% of security breaches occur from within the company regardless of whether they have firewalls or virus guards.
Information security is an integral part to an organization’s success, and the technology introduced by SnoopWall can protect an organization’s integral ICT infrastructure even from its own employees.
> How exactly is NetSHEILD an effective intranet intrusion product for a local company?
Bermingham : company intranets are large and it’s hard to keep a track of who’s on it. NetSHEILD is a family of networks Access Control (NAC) appliances from SnoopWall, which ensure that only authorised devices gain access to your network. It works with existing hardware and in conjunction with firewalls to protect the company’s intranet, and allows for each connected device to be treated individually. In the case of an untrusted device, it will shut it down immediately, leaving other trusted
devices to work as necessary, if you have visitors who wants to use their own laptops or smartphones to access the internet,
NetSHIELD can grant them access to only the internet while restricting them from your organization’s intranet, NetSHEILD NAC’s deal with issues that firewalls do not address, eliminating internal threats.
> Is the NAC similar to a firewall?
Bermingham : The NetSHEILD solution is available as a hardware appliance, which scales from 25 to 10,000 protected assets per appliances. In addition, it runs as an embedded command center, allowing administrators to manage up to 1000 remote sites, which makes it far superior to a firewall; but for a complete security plans, you do need both because they protect from the edge of your network (keeping away hackers and malware) while snoopwall’s NAC protects the network from within, keeping an eye on computers and mobile devices connected.
> How big of an issue is Cybercrime and how do mobile/laptops and wireless devices form the larger part of the security problem ?
Miliefsky : Cyber Crime has already surpassed all other forms of crime this year, reaching $600 billion in 2016, according to a world bank report. Most of it due to the Bring Your Own Device(BYOD)/ Wear Your Own Device(WYOD) policy in many organization and open Wi-Fi network, which opens these networks, as the devices logged on are susceptible to threats. SnoopWall’s patented MobileSHEILD agent is deployed via the NetSHEILD command centre and enables control. So that the network can be used without compromising the security of the rest of the devices connected. BYOD/WYOD users are are usually employees, Guests or contractors who are like to disable certain security settings and downloads apps on their devices that are virulent in nature. Therefore, as non-corporate assets, they should be steered away or detected to not pass on the breach to the network or compromise the safety of the organization’s data. If not, this can be detrimental to the organization’s intranet or network.
> How big of an issue is Cybercrime and how do mobile/laptops and wireless devices form the larger part of the security problem ?
Miliefsky : Cyber Crime has already surpassed all other forms of crime this year, reaching $600 billion in 2016, according to a world bank report. Most of it due to the Bring Your Own Device(BYOD)/ Wear Your Own Device(WYOD) policy in many organization and open Wi-Fi network, which opens these networks, as the devices logged on are susceptible to threats. SnoopWall’s patented MobileSHEILD agent is deployed via the NetSHEILD command centre and enables control. So that the network can be used without compromising the security of the rest of the devices connected. BYOD/WYOD users are are usually employees, Guests or contractors who are like to disable certain security settings and downloads apps on their devices that are virulent in nature. Therefore, as non-corporate assets, they should be steered away or detected to not pass on the breach to the network or compromise the safety of the organization’s data. If not, this can be detrimental to the organization’s intranet or network.
> Does NetSHEILD and products like MobileSHEILD provide real-time security?
Wimalachandra : Yes, SnoopWall’s NetSHIELD is agentless, and provides rock-solid, real-time security in an easy-to-deploy appliance. it allows blackholing and VLAN quarantining of entrusted assets, and detects malware and phishing attempts from infected devices. Adding ISO 27001 compliance to reporting and enforcement make NetSHEILD NAC and MobileSHEILD, and the rest of SnoopWalls products, a comprehensive and compelling offering.
SnoopWall and Exire Technologies plans to secure the IT Infrastructure in Sri Lankan organizations, as trends of device usage are changing due to the digital transformation. Today, network security has become far more important than before, As Cyber-attacks are increasing in frequency and in complexity, companies have to ensure they secure their data. With snoopWall’s technologies advance products, these issue can now be addressed, giving firms an edge over the ever-growing threats in the Cyberspace.
Sometimes your network is full of Cyber criminals. zero-day malware, ransomware, rogue devices and malicious insiders. we can’t help you with the eels in your hovercraft, but we can now help you with your intranet security. preventing breaches in Sri Lanka. we are honoured to have this opportunity to bring our award- wining, cost-effective, patented solution NetSHIELD into the Sri Lankan market.
