Edge of Security – Revolutionizing Data Protection in a Hyper-Connected World

SUSE guest blog authored by:

Hubbert Smith, Founder & CEO at i4 Ops

Introduction

The journey of i4 Ops has been driven by a singular mission: to accelerate data-driven innovation, world wide. Data Driven innovation thrives only when the risk of data-in-use exfiltration is mitigated. What sets SUSE and i4 Ops apart is not just our commitment to security, but also our passion for innovation and collaboration.

The partnership between i4 Ops and SUSE marks a significant milestone in the evolution of cyber security and infrastructure management, empowering businesses to safeguard against evolving cyber risks while propelling themselves into the forefront of innovation.

The essence of data security is the prevention of data-in-use exfiltration. And in addressing this First Principles of data security, we revolutionize the way organizations handle data and innovate at the Edge. This article delves into the details of what makes this partnership so special and how it can benefit your organization.

The Insider Threat: A Growing Concern in Cybersecurity

Data breach is daily news. Cybersecurity risks come in many forms. The most frequent root cause of data breach involves valid ID. First insider threat – where employees with legitimate access to sensitive information use it for personal gain or malicious purposes. This type of attack is high impact, as insiders often have a deep understanding of an organization’s systems and processes. Additionally, sloppy or shared cloud credentials are cyber risks involving valid ID. Lastly, phishing harvests valid ID used to access and exfiltrate business data to be sold on dark web. In aggregate, more than 65% of all data breaches involve valid IDs, according to an IBM report on data breaches.
By preventing data breach, including valid ID, employees, contractors, 3rd parties, we significantly reduce cyber risk. By preventing data breach, we significantly improve Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) outcomes and avoid legal consequences. Alarming/alerting is inadequate, prevention is required.

Edge computing environments are especially vulnerable to insider threats due to their decentralized nature and lack of centralized control. As more devices come online and become connected to the internet, the potential for unauthorized data exfiltration increases exponentially. This is where SUSE Edge comes in – this market leading infrastructure management stack provides a robust foundation for securing edge deployments against even the most sophisticated attacks.

But what makes insider threats so challenging? For one thing, they often involve credentialed users (or valid ID abusers) who have approved access to sensitive information. This means that traditional security measures like firewalls and intrusion detection systems do not prevent authorized access. Moreover, insiders often know exactly where to look for vulnerabilities – making it difficult for even the most advanced threat detection tools to keep up.

That’s why i4 Ops has developed innovative solutions specifically designed to prevent unauthorized data exfiltration from credentialed users. Our technology is built on the principle that insider threats require real-time detection and prevention – not just after-the-fact analysis. By identifying anomalies in user behavior, flagging suspicious activity, and alerting security teams before any damage is done, we help businesses protect their most valuable assets: sensitive data.

We believe it’s essential to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to protecting against insider threats. That’s why our solutions are designed to prevent costly breaches. By working with i4 Ops, businesses can rest assured that they have a robust defense against even the most sophisticated insider attacks. 

Combining Expertise for a More Secure, Efficient Edge Experience

The i4 Zero Exfil deploys in minutes, not months. It is designed to be user-friendly for project managers and business unit data owners. All deployments come with exfiltration tests which confirm exfiltration is prevented. And, there’s no need for bespoke solutions from (usually) oversubscribed IT or Cybersec teams. 

The system utilizes a pre-engineered VM (kubevirt) secure workspace and Longhorn (SUSE Storage). The solution can run anywhere K3s runs – including on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments. This secure environment includes a data science toolbox that’s fully upgradable and supports GPU acceleration for AI/Data Sci workloads.

i4 Ops Exfil system architecture

i4 Ops has a seamless integration with the SUSE Edge stack. By leveraging the power of K3s and SLE Micro, we’re able to provide a robust and scalable edge computing platform that can handle even the most demanding workloads. With its comprehensive hardware support and flexible image builder capabilities, SUSE brings unparalleled customization options to businesses operating at the Edge. By combining i4 Ops’ expertise in cybersecurity solutions with SUSE’s innovative technology stack, a joint value proposition has been created that addresses both security and reliability concerns at the Edge.

SUSE Edge architecture

In terms of deployment, i4 Ops uses Longhorn to provide encrypted storage at rest and in motion – safeguarding against unauthorized data breaches. This means that your sensitive data is protected from the moment it’s stored, eliminating risks associated with stale demo account vulnerabilities or data-stealing malware. And because our solution supports local SSD, remote cloud volume, or private cloud NFS volumes, you can choose the deployment model that best fits your needs.

But what really sets us apart is our commitment to simplicity and ease of use. With i4 Ops and SUSE, there’s no need for complex IT or Cybersec teams – just deploy in minutes, configure as needed, and get back to business. Our solution is designed with project managers and data owners in mind, making it easy to manage your edge devices at scale without sacrificing security or performance.

Securing Data-in-Use for the Digital Oilfield: Secure Telematics Data for data-driven efficiency.

In today’s rapidly evolving oil and gas industry, data-driven decision-making is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and maximizing production. Oil field telematics systems generate vast amounts of valuable information, but the challenge lies in making this data accessible to the right people while protecting unencrypted data-in-use from “walking away”.

The Oilfield Data Dilemma

Imagine you’re the production manager of a large oilfield operation, responsible for overseeing multiple well sites across a vast geographical area. You need real-time information on well performance, equipment status, and production rates to make informed decisions.

The result is unencrypted data-in-use. And that un-encrypted data-in-use is at risk of “walking away.”
This risk is both high-impact and high-probability considering today’s workplace with AI/Data Science teams of contractors, consultants, 3rd parties and high employee turnover.

The solution is a secure cloud-native digital workspace, where up-to-date sensitive data exfiltration is prevented (including users with valid IDs); while enabling data-driven efficiencies with cloud-native AI/Data Sci tools.

i4 Zero Exfil prevents un-encrypted data-in-use from walking away (including users with valid IDs).

By implementing this secure (exfiltration prevented), self-service access to oilfield telematics data. Production managers avoid risk; and additionally, make timely adjustments to well operations, optimize production rates, and respond quickly to potential issues.

Conclusion

By combining the power of i4 Zero Exfil with the SUSE Edge stack, we’re able to provide a truly unique solution that’s tailored to meet the needs of modern businesses. The joint solution provides a robust foundation for securing edge deployments against even the most sophisticated attacks, while also detecting anomalies in user behavior that may indicate an insider threat. By targeting use cases in industries such as Energy, Supply Logistics and others, organizations can now protect their sensitive information and systems from insider threats more effectively than ever before.

The benefits of adopting this technology stack are numerous:

• Improved Security: With the joint solution’s robust security features, organizations can ensure that their edge deployments are protected against even the most sophisticated attacks.
• Enhanced Visibility: The solution provides real-time visibility into user behavior and system activity, enabling organizations to detect anomalies and insider threats before they become major issues.
• Increased Efficiency: By automating many of the tasks associated with security and compliance, organizations can free up resources for more strategic initiatives.

Overall, the joint solution offered by SUSE and i4 Ops provides a powerful combination of security, visibility, and efficiency. By adopting this technology stack for Edge deployments, organizations can ensure that they are protected against insider threats and other types of attacks, while also staying ahead of their competitors in terms of innovation.

Get started by visiting our website or reach out to one of our experts for guidance on implementing a solution that meets your needs. Together, we can ensure that your organization is protected against insider threats and other types of attacks.

Author: Hubbert Smith, Founder & CEO at i4 Ops

With over 30 years of experience in cloud and enterprise technology, Hubbert brings a wealth of expertise to data security. As founder of i4 Ops, he recognized an unmet need in the market and created a platform that enables companies to access top talent while protecting their sensitive data. A seasoned leader with roles at Samsung, Intel, Western Digital, Netapp, and more, Hubbert’s passion for problem-solving has led to 12 patents related to data use, storage, and security.

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