Complexity of Network Environments Causes System Outages and Security Incidents

Organizations Manually Manage "Too Many Policies" in Complex Multi-vendor, Multi-device Environments; Believe Consolidation Simplifies Management

October 15, 2012

Roswell, GA – AlgoSec, the market leader for network security policy management, today announced the release of “The Dangers of Complexity in Network Security,” a report based on a survey of more than 125 IT security professionals that reveals complex network security policies, such as those found in multi-vendor environments, are directly related to system outages and security breaches.

The survey found that more than 50 percent of respondents reported a security breach, system outage, or both, due to complex policies. The report highlights that nearly 94 percent of organizations have deployed multi-vendor environments and nearly 75 percent of organizations manually manage network security, despite the popular belief from roughly half of the respondents that consolidation would simplify management.

“Information systems’ complexity has grown exponentially yet we continue down the same path – adding more and more layers of complexity,” said independent information security consultant Kevin Beaver of Principle Logic, LLC. “Many IT managers and administrators couldn’t tell you how secure their networks are because they simply don’t know what’s where and what’s currently at risk. Complexity – and failing to acknowledge the complexity – are core contributors to the network security problems we face today.”

Key findings from “The Dangers of Complexity in Network Security” survey include:

• Complexity Causes Risk – A majority of respondents reported that complex policies have caused a system outage or a security breach. Because of complex policies, 27.8 percent experienced a system outage, 14.3 percent experienced a security breach and 9.8 percent experienced both a system outage and a security breach.
• Network Environments Are Overwhelmingly Multi-vendor – According to the report, 93.9 percent of respondents have deployed solutions from multiple vendors in their environment with 56.5 percent having deployed solutions from four or more different vendors.
• Multi-vendor Environments Are Complex – “The Dangers of Complexity in Network Security” reveals that the greatest challenge of working with multiple vendors is the different expertise required (48.5 percent) while the greatest challenge of working with multiple devices is too many policies to manage (42.7 percent).
• Consolidation is Key to Simplifying Management – When asked, “What is the greatest benefit of consolidating network security vendors?” 48.8 percent responded, “Simplified management.” Conversely, 36.9 percent believe that consolidating vendors prevents selecting best-in-class solutions.

“Organizations that manually manage complex multi-device and multi-vendor environments are making it harder on themselves than necessary to enforce their desired security posture,” said Nimmy Reichenberg, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, AlgoSec. “The good news for information security teams is that security policy management automation enables organizations to simplify policy and consolidate the number of consoles to manage, in turn improving security operations and reducing risk – even in the most complex environments.”

About AlgoSec
AlgoSec is the market leader in network security policy management. AlgoSec enables security and operations teams to intelligently automate the policy management of firewalls, routers, VPNs, proxies and related security devices, improving operational efficiency, ensuring compliance and reducing risk.

More than 900 of the world’s leading enterprises, MSSPs, auditors and consultancies rely on AlgoSec Security Management Suite for unmatched automation of firewall operations, auditing and compliance, risk analysis and the security change workflow.

AlgoSec is committed to the success of every single customer, and offers the industry’s only money-back guarantee.

For more information, visit www.AlgoSec.com.