The dangers of DIY network security policy management

Network security is a top priority for organisations seeking to protect their sensitive data, defend against cyber threats and ensure compliance with industry regulations. And rightly so: in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, network security is of the utmost importance. 74% of all security breaches involve a human element (DBIR Verizon, 2023), and tools such as Network Security Policy Management (NSPM) solutions drastically reduce that likelihood.

An efficient NSPM solution is essential to keeping an organisation's network running smoothly while mitigating risk effectively. While some organisations may be tempted to develop their own in-house system for managing security policies, opting for a specialised and proven solution such as FireMon offers numerous advantages.

1. A lack of expertise and experience creates opportunities for errors: Established NSPM vendors such as FireMon have spent years refining their solutions and have gathered valuable experience in the field of network security. They understand the complexity and the subtleties of managing security policies effectively, and their solutions are designed to meet the unique challenges of modern organisations. Building an in-house NSPM solution requires a high degree of expertise, research and ongoing maintenance, which can be both time-consuming and costly.

2. Unable to respond quickly to changes in the environment: Proven NSPM solutions come with a comprehensive feature set that meets the varied requirements of organisations. These features include policy analysis, risk assessment, compliance reporting, change management and automation tools, among others. Developing a feature-rich in-house solution that matches the capabilities of proven vendors would demand considerable resources and time, and may not be feasible for every organisation.

3. Inefficiency in time and cost: Building an NSPM solution from scratch requires extensive resources, including hiring specialist staff and ongoing development work. This process can be highly time-consuming and divert focus away from core business activities. By contrast, purchasing an NSPM solution allows organisations to deploy a ready-to-use system quickly, saving valuable time and reducing the costs associated with development, testing and maintenance.

4. Inability to scale: As organisations grow and expand their network infrastructure, the demands placed on their NSPM solution grow too. NSPM vendors design their solutions with scalability in mind, adapting them seamlessly to the evolving requirements of organisations. Building an in-house solution that can scale effectively can prove difficult and lead to potential inefficiencies and higher costs.

5. Inadequate updates and support: Network security is a constantly changing landscape in which new threats emerge regularly. Reliable NSPM vendors provide regular updates to their solutions for new devices, software versions and features, ensuring that organisations are equipped with the latest security measures. In addition, reputable vendors offer continuous support and assistance so that organisations can resolve issues quickly and efficiently. Developing and maintaining an in-house system with the same level of continuous updates and support can be daunting and resource-intensive.

6. Lack of integration and compatibility: Organisations typically use a range of security tools and devices to protect their network. NSPM solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with various components of the security infrastructure, providing a unified and coherent security management environment. Developing an in-house solution that works in harmony with existing tools and devices can be complex and lead to compatibility problems.

7. Unproven security and reliability: Proven NSPM solutions undergo rigorous testing and validation procedures to ensure they meet industry standards for security and reliability. Vendors prioritise data protection and deploy robust security measures to safeguard sensitive information. Building an in-house solution that meets the same high standards could be a challenge, and security gaps could have serious consequences for the organisation.

8. Time-consuming training and development: The talent you have today may not be the talent you have tomorrow. This means the effort involved in continuously training new teams who have never seen the system is considerable. Building a robust and secure NSPM solution requires expertise in network security, software development and policy management. If the organisation lacks these skills, the result can be vulnerabilities and ineffective security controls.

While building your own network security policy management solution may seem appealing to some organisations, the benefits of a trusted, specialised solution far outweigh the drawbacks. NSPM vendors provide expertise, a comprehensive feature set, scalability, continuous updates, integration support and dependable security measures. By choosing a proven NSPM solution, organisations can concentrate on their core business objectives while ensuring their network remains secure and compliant and is protected against emerging cyber threats.

FireMon provides expertise, efficiency, scalability, continuous support and compliance capabilities that enable organisations to improve their network security effectively. By choosing FireMon, organisations can focus on their core business objectives while protecting their network against constantly evolving cyber threats.