Large organizations operate vast networks with countless interconnected endpoints and devices, governed by thousands of firewall rules, each representing a potential risk. Like the proverbial butterfly’s wings, a single misconfiguration often triggers a cascade of unintended consequences. This “Butterfly Effect” is a constant drain on skilled resources.
A recent research report, The Network Butterfly Effect: The Hidden Cost of Network Security Policy Management identifies the hidden cost of performing manual network security management tasks.
Hidden cost of misconfigurations
The report shows that correcting errors in network security and firewall configurations, identifying every possible connection, and addressing any unintended consequences requires what network and security professionals need the most — time.
In fact, network professionals spend an average of 40% of their workweek performing manual tasks, with a further 10% spent fixing misconfigurations. The challenge is magnified by the complex, time-consuming administrative processes required to conduct firewall vulnerability assessments and implement firewall changes.
Why use network security automation?
The rising complexity of modern networks makes automation essential for network management. Here are three ways automation improves network security policy management:
(1) Reduce errors
Network security automation reduces the human errors that result from performing repetitive and mundane tasks such as firewall rule management, rule recertification, and device provisioning.
(2) Streamline change management processes
With fewer manual inputs, automated network security increases efficiency by streamlining firewall change management processes across the network and security teams. Automation is perfect for tasks such as manual firewall change requests that typically require multiple interdisciplinary approvals. Automation reduces bureaucratic bottlenecks and minimizes the risk of mistakes and delays due to miscommunication between teams.
(3) Free up time for higher-value initiatives
Two-thirds of network professionals surveyed in the report state that an automated security policy system will free them up to focus on higher-value tasks that align with their company’s strategic goals.
As organizations grow and networks become more complex, network security automation offers a solution to streamline processes, reduce human error, and minimize the impact of the Butterfly Effect on network management.
By lowering manual workloads, network managers use automation to make reliable changes, empower teams to focus on higher-value initiatives, and eliminate repetitive, mundane, and error-prone network management tasks.
