<img src="https://ws.zoominfo.com/pixel/6169bf9791429100154fc0a2" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;">
Curious about how StrongDM works? 🤔 Learn more here!
Search
Close icon
Search bar icon

SD-WAN vs. MPLS: What's the Difference?

StrongDM Team
Written by
Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Fazila Malik
Reviewed by
Sales Enablement Manager
Last updated on: June 28, 2023

Love ❤️ DevSecOps?
Get tips, guides, tutorials, & more in your inbox.

Many businesses have traditionally relied on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks to connect their remote sites and branch offices. However, Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) has emerged as a viable alternative to MPLS, offering greater flexibility, lower costs, and advanced security features. In this article, we will compare the benefits and drawbacks of SD-WAN and MPLS and help you determine which solution is best for your network needs.

Understanding SD-WAN and MPLS

To begin, it's important to understand what SD-WAN and MPLS are and how they operate. Both of these technologies are used to connect multiple locations within an organization, but they do so in different ways.

What is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN is a software-defined networking technology that uses intelligent routing to optimize traffic over multiple transport links, such as broadband and 4G LTE. By leveraging a central controller, SD-WAN simplifies network management and provides granular visibility into application performance.

One of the key benefits of SD-WAN is its ability to dynamically route traffic based on the performance of the underlying transport links. This means that if one link becomes congested or experiences high packet loss, SD-WAN can automatically route traffic over a different, less congested link. This helps ensure that critical applications and services are always available, even in the face of network congestion or outages.

SD-WAN also provides organizations with greater flexibility when it comes to choosing their network providers. Because SD-WAN can work with multiple transport links, organizations can choose to use a mix of providers to ensure they have the best possible coverage and redundancy.

What is MPLS?

MPLS is a networking protocol that uses labels to direct data packets along predefined routes between network nodes. MPLS offers quality of service (QoS) guarantees, ensuring that certain applications and data types receive priority treatment over the network.

MPLS is typically used by organizations that require a high degree of reliability and performance for their network traffic. This includes applications such as voice and video, which require low latency and minimal packet loss to function properly.

One of the key benefits of MPLS is its ability to provide end-to-end QoS guarantees. This means that organizations can ensure that critical applications receive the bandwidth and priority they need to function properly, even during times of high network congestion.

However, MPLS can be expensive compared to other networking technologies, and it can also be less flexible. Because MPLS requires dedicated circuits between each location, it can be difficult and time-consuming to add or remove locations from the network.

In summary, both SD-WAN and MPLS offer benefits and drawbacks depending on an organization's specific needs. SD-WAN provides greater flexibility and can be more cost-effective, while MPLS offers end-to-end QoS guarantees and is ideal for organizations that require high reliability and performance for their network traffic.

Key Differences Between SD-WAN and MPLS

While both SD-WAN and MPLS serve the same purpose of connecting geographically dispersed locations, the two technologies differ in several key areas. In this article, we will explore these differences in more detail to help you determine which technology is best suited for your organization's needs.

Cost and Pricing

MPLS is often more expensive than SD-WAN, particularly for larger networks with multiple sites. MPLS pricing is typically based on bandwidth usage, whereas SD-WAN offers a more predictable cost model with flat-rate pricing. With SD-WAN, you can easily scale your network up or down as needed without incurring additional costs. This can be particularly beneficial for organizations with fluctuating bandwidth requirements.

Performance and Reliability

MPLS networks typically offer better reliability and performance than SD-WAN, particularly for latency-sensitive applications such as VoIP and video conferencing. However, SD-WAN can provide comparable performance by leveraging multiple transport links and intelligent traffic management. SD-WAN can also offer better performance for cloud-based applications, which are becoming increasingly important for many organizations.

Scalability and Flexibility

SD-WAN offers greater flexibility and scalability than MPLS, as it can be deployed quickly and easily to new sites without requiring physical infrastructure changes. Additionally, SD-WAN can be easily integrated with cloud-based applications and services. This can be particularly beneficial for organizations that are rapidly expanding or have a distributed workforce.

Security Features

SD-WAN offers advanced security features, including encryption and microsegmentation, which can enhance network security and protect against cyber threats. MPLS, by contrast, typically relies on physical security measures, such as private circuits and dedicated lines, to protect network traffic. With SD-WAN, you can ensure that your network is secure and protected against the latest cyber threats.

In conclusion, both SD-WAN and MPLS have their strengths and weaknesses. While MPLS offers better performance and reliability, SD-WAN offers greater flexibility, scalability, and advanced security features. Ultimately, the choice between these two technologies will depend on your organization's specific needs and requirements.

Pros and Cons of SD-WAN

Advantages of SD-WAN

SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide Area Networking, is a technology that is rapidly gaining popularity among businesses of all sizes. There are several advantages to using SD-WAN, including:

  • Low costs and predictable pricing: SD-WAN solutions are often less expensive than traditional WAN solutions, and they typically offer predictable pricing models that make budgeting easier.
  • Greater flexibility and scalability: SD-WAN solutions are highly adaptable and can be easily scaled up or down to meet changing business needs. This is particularly useful for businesses that are growing rapidly or have fluctuating bandwidth requirements.
  • Advanced security features: SD-WAN solutions often include advanced security features that help protect against cyber threats, such as malware and phishing attacks. This is especially important for businesses that handle sensitive data or operate in regulated industries.
  • Reliable performance through intelligent traffic management: SD-WAN solutions use intelligent traffic management to ensure that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and priority to operate smoothly. This helps prevent network congestion and ensures reliable performance for users.

Disadvantages of SD-WAN

While there are many advantages to using SD-WAN, there are also some potential disadvantages to consider, including:

  • Potentially lower reliability than MPLS, particularly for latency-sensitive applications: While SD-WAN solutions are generally reliable, they may not be as reliable as MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) for latency-sensitive applications. MPLS is a more established technology that has been around for longer, and it may be a better choice for businesses that require the highest levels of reliability.

Overall, SD-WAN is a powerful technology that can offer many benefits to businesses of all sizes. Whether you are looking to reduce costs, improve security, or increase flexibility, SD-WAN may be the right choice for your organization.

Pros and Cons of MPLS

MPLS or Multiprotocol Label Switching is a popular networking technology that is widely used by businesses and organizations to connect their different locations and provide secure and reliable connectivity. While MPLS offers many advantages, it also has some drawbacks. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of MPLS.

Advantages of MPLS

  • Superior reliability and performance: MPLS is known for its superior reliability and performance, particularly for latency-sensitive applications. With MPLS, traffic is routed along pre-determined paths, which helps to reduce packet loss and latency. This ensures that applications such as video conferencing and VoIP work seamlessly, without any delays or disruptions.
  • Advanced QoS guarantees: MPLS allows for advanced Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees, which means that you can prioritize traffic based on its importance. This is particularly useful for businesses that have critical applications that need to be given priority over other less important traffic. With MPLS, you can ensure that your critical applications always get the bandwidth they need.

Disadvantages of MPLS

  • Higher costs: MPLS can be more expensive than other networking technologies, particularly for larger networks. This is because MPLS requires specialized hardware and software, as well as dedicated lines, which can add to the overall cost of the network.
  • Less flexible and scalable than SD-WAN: MPLS is less flexible and scalable than SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking), which is a newer networking technology that is gaining popularity. With SD-WAN, you can use any type of connection, including broadband, LTE, and satellite, to connect your different locations. This makes it more flexible and scalable than MPLS.
  • Limited security features: MPLS has limited security features, which means that you may need to add additional security measures to protect your network from cyber threats. This can add to the overall cost and complexity of the network.

In conclusion, MPLS offers many advantages, including superior reliability and performance, and advanced QoS guarantees. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as higher costs, less flexibility and scalability than SD-WAN, and limited security features. When deciding whether to use MPLS or another networking technology, it's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully and choose the option that best meets your business needs.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the choice between SD-WAN and MPLS will depend on your network needs, budget, and desired level of performance and flexibility. By carefully assessing these factors, you can determine which solution is right for your network and ensure that your business remains connected and productive.


About the Author

, Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM), the StrongDM team is building and delivering a Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM), which delivers unparalleled precision in dynamic privileged action control for any type of infrastructure. The frustration-free access stops unsanctioned actions while ensuring continuous compliance.

More Glossary Terms

A
Access Control Lists (ACL)

Access control lists (ACL) control or restrict the flow of traffic through a digital environment. ACL rules grant or deny access in two general...

Ace Hardware Data Breach: What Happened and How to Prevent It

In October 2023, Ace Hardware, one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States, experienced a cybersecurity incident that overwhelmed several...

Active Directory (AD)

Active Directory (AD) is the proprietary directory service for Windows domain networks. It consists of a database and numerous services that connect users...

Active Directory (AD) Bridging

What is Active Directory (AD) Bridging? Active Directory Bridging is a technology in the field of networking that aims to enhance the communication...

Active Directory (AD) Security

Active Directory (AD) is a critical component for Windows based networks. It is a centralized authentication and authorization service that helps...

Active Directory Authentication

Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft’s proprietary directory service for Windows domain networks. Active Directory authentication is AD’s system for...

Advanced Threat Protection

Advanced threat protection is a type of cybersecurity dedicated to preventing pre-planned cyberattacks, such as malware or phishing. ATP combines cloud,...

Agentless Monitoring

Agentless monitoring is a form of IT monitoring that does not require the installation of a software agent. Agentless monitoring protocols or APIs collect...

Amex Data Breach: What Happened and How to Prevent It

In January and February 2024, American Express notified customers of several third-party data breaches impacting client account numbers. The data breaches...

Anomaly Detection

What Is Anomaly Detection? Anomaly detection is the process of analyzing company data to find data points that don’t align with a company's standard data...

Application Gateway

What is an Application Gateway (App Gateway)?An application gateway is a security measure that protects web applications. They replace traditional web...

Attack Surface

Your organization's attack surface is a collection of all the external points where someone could infiltrate your corporate network. Think of your attack...

Attack Surface Management vs. Vulnerability Management

As more and more data and critical systems go online, the risks associated with cyber threats magnify. One of the most important aspects of cybersecurity...

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

A runtime decision-making strategy for what features and/or data a user can access based on policies and user attributes.

Audit Log

An audit log is a document that records what is happening within an IT system.

Authentication (Authn)

Authentication is the process of verifying a user or device before allowing access to a system or resources.

Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

An authentication bypass vulnerability is a weak point in the user authentication process. A cybercriminal exploiting such a weakness circumvents...

Authentication vs. Authorization: What's the Difference?

When it comes to protecting sensitive data and ensuring systems security, two key concepts come into play - authentication and authorization. Although...

AWS CloudTrail vs. AWS CloudWatch: What's the Difference?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has emerged as one of the leading providers of cloud computing services, providing a wide range of management tools for...

AWS IAM User vs. IAM Role

The difference between an IAM role and a user is that a role can be temporarily or permanently applied to a user to give the user bulk permissions for a...

AWS NoSQL Databases: How to Choose the Best Option

Understanding NoSQL Databases Before we take a closer look at the various NoSQL databases provided by AWS, let's first understand what NoSQL databases...

B
Bastion Host

A bastion host is a server used to manage access to an internal or private network from an external network - sometimes called a jump box or jump server.

Behavior-Based Access Control (BBAC)

Behavior-Based Access Control (BBAC) is a security model that grants or denies access to resources based on the observed behavior of users or entities. It...

Brute Force Attack

A brute force attack is a cyber attack where a hacker guesses information, such as usernames and passwords, to access a private system. The hacker uses...

C
CASB

Software or hardware that is either hosted in the cloud or on-premises. It adds a layer of security between users and cloud service providers and often...

CI/CD Pipeline

CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous deployment) is a collection of practices for engineering, testing, and delivering software. A CI/CD pipeline is...

Cloud Application Security

What is Cloud Application Security? Cloud application security is a crucial aspect of modern business operations, especially as more organizations turn...

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM, pronounced “kim”) is a category of specialized software-as-a-service solutions that automate the...

Cloud Workload Security

What is Cloud Workload Security?Cloud workload security is the practice of securing applications and their composite workloads running in the cloud....

Comparing IOA and IOC: What's the Difference?

Input/Output (IO) is a fundamental aspect of modern computing systems. In order to effectively send and receive data between a computer and its...

Comparing Kubernetes and Mesos: Which One Is Right for You?

Container orchestration platforms are becoming increasingly popular with developers and businesses alike. They provide a way to manage and automate the...

Comparing MDR and MSSPs: What's the Difference?

In today's ever-evolving threat landscape, businesses must remain vigilant in defending their networks against potential attacks. As a result, Managed...

Comparing SDN and NFV: What's the Difference?

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) are two terms that frequently come up in discussions of modern networking....

Comparing SDN and SD-WAN: What's the Difference?

In the ever-changing technology landscape, software-defined networking (SDN) and software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) are two buzzwords that have...

Comparing SIEM and Log Management: What's the Difference?

Businesses operate in a data-driven world, handling data for different purposes. As more data is generated, companies seek ways to organize and manage...

Comparing SRE and DevOps: What Are the Differences?

In the realm of software development, there are two popular approaches to managing complex systems: Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and DevOps. While...

Comparing XDR, SIEM, and SOAR: What's the Difference?

As we continue to combat the increase in cybersecurity threats, it’s essential that businesses have a comprehensive plan in place to protect their assets....

Continuous Adaptive Risk and Trust Assessment (CARTA)

Continuous Adaptive Risk and Trust Assessment (CARTA) is an IT security framework that goes beyond traditional role-based access control (RBAC). By adding...

Credential Stuffing

Credential stuffing is a type of cyber attack that occurs when a person or bot steals account credentials, such as usernames and passwords, and tries to...

Credential Stuffing vs. Password Spraying: What's the Difference?

Online security risks are a constantly evolving concern. As we increasingly rely on digital platforms for everything from communication to banking and...

Cyber Insurance

Cyber insurance, also called cybersecurity insurance or cyber liability insurance, is an insurance policy that covers the losses a business might suffer...

D
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a series of tools and practices that help companies recognize and prevent data exposure by controlling the flow of...

Data Observability

Data observability is the ability to understand, diagnose, and manage data health across multiple IT tools throughout the data lifecycle. A data...

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM)

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) refers to the proactive and continuous assessment, monitoring, and enhancement of an organization's data security...

Defense-in-depth

What is Defense-in-depth?Defense-in-depth began as a military term for a layered approach to protection. The NSA has taken that military strategy and...

DevOps and DevSecOps: Understanding the Difference

In today's fast-paced business world, technology and software development have become crucial for organizations to stay ahead of the competition. With...

Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR)

Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) is a cybersecurity practice for identifying, investigating, and remediating cyberattacks. Computer security...

Directory Services

What Are Directory Services? A directory service is a database containing information about users, devices, and resources. This information, such as...

Dynamic Access Control (DAC)

What is Dynamic Access Control (DAC)? Dynamic Access Control (DAC) is a Windows Server feature that debuted in Windows Server 2012. It leverages...

E
EDR vs MDR vs XDR: What's the Difference?

In today's world, cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, and even the most robust security measures cannot guarantee total protection. As a...

Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM)

What is Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM)? Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM) is a critical process that ensures that users and applications have...

Enterprise Kubernetes

An enterprise Kubernetes (K8s) platform packages Kubernetes—an open source container orchestrator—into a simple-to-use product for companies. Container...

Enterprise Password Management

What is Enterprise Password Management? Enterprise Password Management is a system or software designed to securely store, manage, and control access to...

Ephemeral Environment

An ephemeral environment is a short-lived clone of the UAT (user acceptance testing) or production environment. Software teams create ephemeral...

Eye4Fraud Data Breach: What Happened and How to Prevent It

Eye4Fraud provides fraud protection services for online sellers. It examines their transactions to ensure every order is legitimate. Unfortunately, even a...

F
Federated Identity Management vs. Single Sign-On: What's the Difference?

Single sign-on (SSO) and federated identity management (FIM) are two popular methods of identity management that are commonly used to simplify...

FIDO2

FIDO2 is the newest set of specifications from the FIDO Alliance. It enables the use of common devices to authenticate to online services on both mobile...

H
HIPAA

Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) means adhering to the rules and regulations that impact what, how, and...

HITRUST

HITRUST is a non-profit company that delivers data protection standards and certification programs to help organizations safeguard sensitive information,...

Honeypot

A honeypot is a phony digital asset designed to look like a poorly-guarded, valuable asset. The goal is to trick cyber attackers into targeting the...

I
Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Identity and access management (IAM or IdAM) is a framework containing the tools and policies a company uses to verify a user’s identity, authorize...

Identity as a Service (IDaaS)

Identity as a Service (IDaaS) is an identity and access management (IAM) solution delivered in a cloud-based service that is hosted by a trusted third...

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)

Identity governance and administration (IGA), also called identity security, is a set of policies that allow firms to mitigate cyber risk and comply with...

Identity Lifecycle Management

What is Identity Lifecycle Management?Identity lifecycle management is the process of managing user identities and access privileges for all members of an...

Identity Security

Identity security refers to the tools and processes intended to secure identities within an organization. Based upon the Zero Trust model, identity...

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)

What is Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)? Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) refers to a range of tools and processes designed to...

IGA vs. IAM: Understanding the Difference

While there's an overlap between IGA and IAM, key differences distinguish the two. IAM focuses on authenticating and authorizing user access, primarily...

Indicator of Attack (IOA) Security

An indicator of attack (IOA) is digital or physical evidence of a cyberattacker’s intent to attack. IOA detection focuses specifically on an adversary’s...

Insider Threat

An insider threat is a threat to an organization that occurs when a person with authorized access—such as an employee, contractor, or business...

ISO 27001 Compliance

ISO/IEC 27001, or ISO 27001, is the international standard that defines best practices for implementing and managing information security controls within...

ISO 27002

ISO 27002, or ISO/IEC 27002:2022, provides guidance on the selection, implementation, and management of security controls based on an organization's...

ISO 27003

ISO 27003, also called ISO/IEC 27003:2017, provides guidance for implementing an ISMS based on ISO 27001.

J
Just-in-Time (JIT) Access

Just-in-time (JIT) access is a feature of privileged access management (PAM) solutions to grant users access to accounts and resources for a limited time...

K
Kubernetes Governance

Kubernetes governance refers to the policies and procedures for managing Kubernetes in an organization. Governance applies to technical units (such as...

L
Lateral Movement

Lateral movement is when an attacker gains initial access to one part of a network and then attempts to move deeper into the rest of the network —...

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)

Lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) is an open-standard and vendor-agnostic application protocol for both verifying users' identities and giving...

Log Analysis

Log analysis is the practice of examining event logs in order to investigate bugs, security risks, or other issues. Analyzing automatically generated log...

Log Management

Log data—from system, application, and security log files, for example—help IT staff identify technical issues, troubleshoot, improve performance, and...

M
Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is a cyber attack in which a threat actor puts themselves in the middle of two parties, typically a user and an...

Microsegmentation

Microsegmentation is a network security practice that creates secure zones within data center environments by segmenting application workloads into...

Monitoring

Monitoring is the collection and analysis of data pulled from IT systems. DevOps monitoring uses dashboards— often developed by your internal team—to...

Mr. Cooper Data Breach: What Happened and How to Prevent It

On Oct. 31, 2023, Mr. Cooper Group, a leading non-bank mortgage loan servicer, experienced a large-scale data breach. An unauthorized third party gained...

N
Network Segmentation

Network segmentation (also known as network partitioning or network isolation) is the practice of dividing a computer network into multiple subnetworks in...

NIST

NIST compliance broadly means adhering to the NIST security standards and best practices set forth by the government agency for the protection of data...

O
Observability

Observability is defined as a measure of how well the internal states of a system can be inferred from knowledge of its external outputs.

Open Authorization (OAuth)

OAuth (OAuth 2.0 since 2013) is an authentication standard that allows a resource owner logged-in to one system to delegate limited access to protected...

OpenID Connect (OIDC)

OpenID Connect (OIDC) is an authentication layer built on top of the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework. OIDC allows third-party applications to obtain...

Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) Explained

The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) is a non-profit consortium that develops and promotes open standards for...

P
Pass-the-Hash (PtH) Attack

What is Pass-the-Hash (PtH) Attack? Pass-the-hash (PtH) attacks are a type of network attack that involves stealing hashed credentials from one computer...

Password Rotation

What is Password Rotation? Password rotation is a security practice that involves changing passwords regularly to prevent unauthorized access to personal...

Password Vaulting

What is Password Vaulting? Password vaulting is a technique used to store passwords in a central location and protect them with encryption. The primary...

Passwordless Authentication

Passwordless authentication is a verification method in which a user gains access to a network, application, or other system without a knowledge-based...

PayPal Data Breach: What Happened and How to Prevent It

Hackers accessed thousands of PayPal user accounts between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, 2022. The attack exposed customers' personal information, opening them up to...

PCI Compliance

PCI compliance—or payment card industry compliance—is the process businesses follow to meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Policy Decision Point (PDP) Explained

A Policy Decision Point (PDP) is a component in a system that makes decisions based on policies that have been defined within that system. It is a crucial...

Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC)

Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC) is another access management strategy that focuses on authorization. Whereas RBAC restricts user access based on static...

Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)

‍In network security, least privilege is the practice of restricting account creation and permission levels to only the resources a user requires to...

Privileged Access Management

Privileged access management (PAM) encompasses the policies, strategies, and technologies used to control, monitor, and secure elevated access to critical...

Privileged Access Management as a Service (PAMaaS)

Cloud privileged access management is cloud-based PAM consumed as a service, or PAMaaS. Companies can replace their on-premises PAM technology with a...

Privileged Account

A privileged account is a user account with greater privileges than those of ordinary user accounts. Privileged accounts may access important data or...

Privileged Session Management

What is Privileged Session Management? Privileged session management (PSM) is an IT security process that monitors and records the sessions of privileged...

Public vs. Private Clouds: What's the Difference?

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way businesses and organizations operate, allowing them to store, access, and manage data and applications in...

R
Rainbow Table Attack Explained

A Rainbow Table Attack is a cryptographic attack method that uses precomputed tables of hash values to quickly reverse-engineer plaintext passwords from...

Red Team vs. Blue Team

“Red team vs. blue team” is a cybersecurity drill during which one group, dubbed the “red team,” simulates the activities of cyberattackers. A separate...

Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC) Explained

ReBAC is a model that extends the traditional Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) models by considering the...

Remote Access Security

What is Remote Access Security? Remote access is the ability to access resources, data, and applications on a network from a location other than the...

Remote Code Execution (RCE)

Remote code execution (RCE) is a cyberattack in which an attacker remotely executes commands to place malicious code on a computing device. Input or...

Reverse Proxy and Load Balancer: Understanding the Difference

With the increase in online traffic and the need for secure and fast network connections, reverse proxies and load balancers have become integral...

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Security

What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Security? Robotic process automation (RPA) is software that mimics human actions to automate digital tasks....

Role-based access control (RBAC)

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a security approach that authorizes and restricts system access to users based on their role(s) within an organization.

S
SAML

SAML is a popular online security protocol that verifies a user’s identity and privileges. It enables single sign-on (SSO), allowing users to access...

SAML vs. SSO

SAML enables SSO by defining how organizations can offer both authentication and authorization services as part of their infrastructure access strategy....

SD-WAN vs. MPLS: What's the Difference?

Many businesses have traditionally relied on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks to connect their remote sites and branch offices. However,...

Secrets Management

Secrets management is a cybersecurity best practice for securing digital authentication credentials. It relies on various tools and methods to store,...

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Secure Access Service Edge (more commonly known by the SASE acronym) is a cloud architecture model that combines network and security-as-a-service...

Security Incident Response Policy (SIRP)

A Security Incident Response Policy (SIRP) establishes that your organization has the necessary controls to detect security vulnerabilities and incidents,...

Security Operations (SecOps)

Security Operations (SecOps) is a methodology that fuses IT operations and information security. Its goal is to reduce security risks and vulnerabilities...

Separation of Duties (SoD)

Separation of duties (SoD) is the division of tasks among organization members to prevent abuse, fraud, or security breaches. SoD encompasses a set of...

Shadow IT

What is Shadow IT? Shadow IT is software or hardware in use in an organization without the knowledge of the IT department. Business units or individuals...

Shoulder Surfing Explained

Shoulder surfing is a form of social engineering where an attacker obtains sensitive information by observing the victim's screen or keyboard inputs,...

Single-Factor Authentication (SFA)

Single-factor authentication (SFA) or one-factor authentication involves matching one credential to gain access to a system (i.e., a username and a...

SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) vs. Microservices

When it comes to modern software development, two terms that are often used interchangeably are Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Microservices....

SOC 2

SOC 2 stands for “Systems and Organizations Controls 2” and is sometimes referred to as SOC II. It is a framework designed to help software vendors and...

Software-Defined Network (SDN)

With a software-defined network, networking devices directly connect to applications through application programming interfaces (APIs), making SDN...

Sony Data Breach: What Happened and How to Prevent It

In April 2011, Sony experienced one of the most notorious data breaches in history when hackers infiltrated the PlayStation Network (PSN). This...

SOX Compliance

SOX compliance is an annual obligation derived from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) that requires publicly traded companies doing business in the U.S. to...

Spear Phishing and Phishing: Understanding the Difference

In today's digital age, many individuals and organizations rely on technology for communication, transactions, and data storage. However, with this...

Spoofing vs Phishing: What's the Difference?

In today's digital age, there are many cybercrimes that individuals and organizations need to be aware of. Two of the most common cybercrimes are spoofing...

SQL vs. NoSQL Databases: Which One to Choose?

Understanding SQL and NoSQL Databases When it comes to managing data, there are two main types of databases: SQL and NoSQL. While both types of databases...

T
Technical Debt

Technical debt is any software code which achieves a short-term goal at the cost of some future drawback. It commonly takes the form of code that...

Telemetry

Derived from the Greek roots tele ("remote") and metron ("measure”), telemetry is the process by which data is gathered from across disparate systems to...

Threat Actor

What Is a Threat Actor? A threat actor is any individual or group that has the intent and capability to exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems,...

Threat Hunting

Threat hunting is the cyber defense practice of proactively searching for threats within a network. Threat hunters look for threats that may have evaded...

Threat Intelligence

The ultimate findings from cyberthreat analyses are referred to as threat intelligence. Producing threat intelligence involves a cycle of collecting data...

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second layer of protection to your access points. Instead of just one authentication factor, 2FA requires two...

U
Understanding the Difference Between CRUD and REST

In the world of web development, CRUD and REST are two terms that are frequently used, but often misunderstood. While both are important and have their...

United Healthcare Data Breach Explained (How to Prevent It)

On February 21, 2024, United Healthcare was hacked in a ransomware data breach that impacted its Change Healthcare (CHC) unit. The data breach affected...

V
Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability management (VM) is the proactive, cyclical practice of identifying and fixing security gaps. It typically leverages scanning software to...

Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

What is a Vulnerability Management Lifecycle? The vulnerability management lifecycle involves continuous monitoring and assessment of systems, regular...

W
WebAuthn

WebAuthn is the API standard that allows servers, applications, websites, and other systems to manage and verify registered users with passwordless...

What is a Human Firewall? Definition, Examples & More

A human firewall refers to employees trained to recognize and prevent cyber threats, such as phishing attacks and malware. By fostering cybersecurity...

What Is a Policy Administration Point (PAP)?

A Policy Administration Point (PAP) is a crucial component in access control systems, responsible for defining and managing policies that regulate user...

What Is a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP)?

A Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) is a component in a security framework that enforces access control policies. It regulates and monitors access to...

What Is a Policy Engine?

A policy engine is a software component that allows an organization to manage, enforce, and audit rules across their system. It is designed to provide a...

What Is a Policy Information Point (PIP)?

A Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) is a component in a security framework that enforces access control policies. It regulates and monitors access to...

What is Access Discovery?

Access Discovery is the process of identifying and verifying available pathways to digital resources or information within a system or network. It...

What Is Active Directory (AD) Bridging?

Active Directory (AD) bridging lets users log into non-Windows systems with their Microsoft Active Directory account credentials. This extends AD benefits...

What Is an Open Policy Agent (OPA)?

Open Policy Agent (OPA) is an open-source, general-purpose policy engine that enables policy-as-code across diverse software stacks. It provides a unified...

What Is Continuous Authorization?

Continuous Authorization is a security concept ensuring ongoing validation of users' access rights within a system. Employing real-time session monitoring...

What is Continuous Monitoring?

What is Continuous Monitoring? Continuous monitoring is a systematic and ongoing process that uses automated tools and technologies to monitor the...

What is Customer Identity Access Management (CIAM)?

Customer Identity Access Management (CIAM) is a specialized branch of identity and access management designed to facilitate secure and seamless customer...

What is Cyber Threat Hunting?

Threat hunting is the cyber defense practice of proactively searching for threats within a network. Threat hunters look for threats that may have evaded...

What is Deprovisioning?

Deprovisioning removes the access rights and deletes the accounts associated with a user on a network. When an organization offboards an individual, it’s...

What Is Disaster Recovery Policy (DRP)?

Disaster Recovery Policy is a strategic framework outlining procedures and resources to swiftly restore essential business functions after a disruptive...

What Is eXtensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML)?

eXtensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML) is a standard for specifying and exchanging access control policies in computer systems. It provides a...

What Is Fine-Grain Access Controls?

Fine-grain access controls are a type of access control that enables granular access to systems, applications, and data. Access is based on specific...

What Is Group-Based Access Control (GBAC)?

Group-Based Access Control (GBAC) is a security model that regulates access to resources by assigning permissions based on user group membership. It...

What Is Identity Fabric?

Identity Fabric refers to an integrated set of identity and access management services that provide seamless and secure user access across a diverse range...

What Is Kerberoasting? Attack Explained and How It Works

Kerberoasting is a post-compromise attack technique for cracking passwords associated with service accounts in Microsoft Active Directory. The attacker...

What Is NoSQL Injection? Examples, Prevention, and More

What is NoSQL Injection? NoSQL Injection is a type of injection attack that exploits vulnerabilities in NoSQL databases by injecting malicious code into...

What is OTP? One-Time Password Explained

A One-Time Password (OTP) is a security feature that generates a unique, temporary password for a single transaction or login session. Unlike static...

What Is Policy-as-Code? Tools, Examples, Implementation

Policy-as-Code refers to the practice of managing and implementing policy decisions through code, making them enforceable and verifiable within IT...

What Is Privileged Identity Management (PIM)?

Privileged identity management is the process companies use to manage which privileged users—including human users and machine users—have access to which...

What is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?

What is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)? Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft that allows users to remotely...

What Is Segregation of Duties (SoD)?

Segregation of Duties (SoD) is a risk management principle that ensures critical tasks are divided among different individuals to prevent conflicts of...

What is Vendor Privileged Access Management (VPAM)?

Vendor Privileged Access Management (VPAM) is a cybersecurity strategy that focuses on controlling and securing third-party access to an organization's...

What Is Zero Trust Data Protection?

Zero Trust Data Protection is a security framework that assumes no inherent trust, requiring verification from anyone trying to access data, regardless of...

X
X11 Forwarding: What Is It, Why Use It, How to Set It Up

X11 Forwarding is a feature of the X Window System that allows a user to run graphical applications on a remote server while displaying them locally. This...

Z
Zero Trust

Zero Trust is a modern security model founded on the design principle “Never trust, always verify.” It requires all devices and users, regardless of...

Zero Trust vs. the Principle of Least Privilege: What's the Differences?

As cyber attacks become more advanced and frequent, organizations are realizing the importance of enhancing their cybersecurity strategies. Two approaches...

Zombie Accounts

Zombie accounts: forgotten accounts that open the door to bad actors looking to insert malware, steal data, and damage your internal systems.

StrongDM People-first Infrastructure Access Wizard

See StrongDM in Action