NC Feb-Mar 2024

NETWORKcomputing 

I N F O R M A T I O N A N D C O M M U N I C A T I O N S – N E T W O R K E D www.networkcomputing.co.uk 

2024 VISION 

Predicting the network space for the year ahead 

AGILE OPERATORS 

Network Computing catches 

up with Polywell Computers 

NETWORK 

INTEGRATION 

Navigating the complexity 

of modern networks 

IDENTITY CRISIS? 

The modern evolution of 

IGA solutions 

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 VOL 33 NO 01

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COMMENT 

COMMENT 

FORECASTING THE FUTURE OF NETWORKS 

Welcome to our first issue of 2024, where we're taking a closer look at what 

this year will entail for the networking space with a range of predictions from 

industry experts. First, Kevin Drinkall, Director - Marketing and GTM Strategy, 

EMEA at Zyxel, explains why 2024 is set to be a year of progressive network evolution 

and innovation, defined by "a continued move towards remote monitoring and management 

of networks." 

Kevin identifies three key elements underpinning this innovation, namely "a large-scale 

upgrade of wireless technology to the latest WiFi 6/6E and WiFi 7 standards; a continued 

move to multi-gigabit switches and infrastructure; and increased adoption of network 

security that is simple to install and manage. Another developing trend is the 

increased uptake of 5G routers for connectivity that is mobile and can be used in 

remote areas." Read Kevin's article for more insights on how we can bring the network 

up to speed in the coming months. 

We also have an opinion piece from HPE Aruba Networking Chief Product Officer 

David Hughes, in which David shares his top 5 networking and security predictions for 

2024. With HPE poised to purchase Juniper Networks for $14 billion - a move that's 

set to shake-up the industry in its own right - it seems a fitting time to learn more about 

the company's vision for the networking year ahead, and David's predictions range from 

the death of the standalone firewall to the potential for AI to liberate, rather than supplant, 

IT admins. 

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Dave Mitchell 

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writing, from the publisher. 

Finally, while we're focusing on the year ahead, we're excited to announce that nominations 

for the 2024 Network Computing Awards have just opened! Now's the time to 

nominate the networking solutions, companies and people that have impressed you the 

most in the past twelve months, so please put forward you choices on the awards website. 

We'll have more news about this year's event in our next issue. NC 

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WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTING.CO.UK @NCMagAndAwards FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 NETWORKcomputing 03

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 VOL 33 NO 01 

CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 4 


I N F O R M A T I O N A N D C O M M U N I C A T I O N S – N E T W O R K E D www.networkcomputing.co.uk 

2024 VISION 

Predicting the network space for the year ahead 

AGILE OPERATORS 

Network Computing catches 

up with Polywell Computers 

NETWORK 

INTEGRATION 

Navigating the complexity 

of modern networks 

IDENTITY CRISIS? 

The modern evolution of 

IGA solutions 

INTERVIEW: POLYWELL............8 

Network Computing catches up with Sam 

Chu, CEO and founder of Polywell 

Computers, a PC manufacturer with a 

unique focus on the small-to-mid-size 

marketplace 

COMMENT.....................................3 

Forecasting the future of networks 

INDUSTRY NEWS.............................6 

The latest networking news 

TIME TO BRING THE NETWORK 

UP TO SPEED........................12 

Kevin Drinkall at Zyxel tells us what he 

believes will be the major trends in 

networking technology over the coming year 

NETWORK INTEGRATION......20 

The world of networking has changed 

rapidly, and in this issue Chris McKie at 

Kaseya provides a guide to navigating the 

complexity of modern networks 

FOCUSING ON THE NETWORK 

SPACE IN 2024..........................16 

David Hughes at HPE Aruba Networking 

gives us his top 5 networking and security 

predictions for 2024 

AVOIDING AN IDENTITY 

CRISIS.................................28 

Thomas Muller-Martin at Omada explains 

why the evolution of modern identity 

governance and administration (IGA) 

solutions Is worth your attention 

ARTICLES 

THE FUTURE OF USB DEVICES IN AN 

IOT WORLD...................................10 

By Alan Hayward at SEH Technology 

THE RISE OF QUANTUM 

ECOSYSTEMS IN 2024 AND 

BEYOND.........................................22 

By Dr. Philip Krantz at Keysight 

RETAIL INFRASTRUCTURE FIT FOR 

TODAY AND TOMORROW.............24 

By Henk Ijspeerd at Vertiv 

BECOMING SECURE BY DESIGN....26 

By Chip Daniels at SolarWinds 

BUNGLED BACKUPS........................30 

By John Fielding at Apricorn 

THE NEXT GENERATION OF 

CONNECTIVITY...............................32 

By Todd Mussman at GTT 

REVIEWS 

POLYWELL NANO-U10L4-SFP+.......11 

PERLE SYSTEMS IDS-710HP-XT.........15 

HORNETSECURITY 365 PERMISSION 

MANAGER.......................................18 

04 NETWORKcomputing FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 @NCMagAndAwards 

WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTING.CO.UK

INDUSTRY NEWS 

NEWSNEWS 

NEWS NEWS 

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS 

NEWS NEWS 

New cloud-managed solutions from Extreme Networks 

Extreme Networks has introduced two new solutions 

designed to help highly distributed enterprise 

organisations create improved network connectivity, security 

and application performance. The AP5020 is a new Wi-Fi 7 

Universal access point (AP) that operates on the 6 GHz 

spectrum and is designed to support high-bandwidth, 

latency-sensitive applications and IoT devices. The 4000 

Series cloud-managed switches, the latest addition to 

Extreme's Universal portfolio, offer faster setup time by 

eliminating nearly all manual configurations. Paired with 

ExtremeCloud Universal ZTNA, these offer automated 

onboarding, configuration and policy enforcement to 

strengthen security as organisations move to a Zero Trust 

architecture across their network. 

Both the AP5020 and 4000 Series switches leverage AIOps 

(Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations) and machine learning 

features of the ExtremeCloud IQ cloud management platform 

to help proactively identify network issues and make 

recommendations that help reduce IT time to resolution. 

Cohesity and Veritas to combine data protection business 

Cohesity and Veritas have announced a definitive agreement 

under which Cohesity intends to combine with Veritas' data 

protection business, which will be carved out of Veritas, to 

create a new leader in data security and management. 

Customers will benefit from the accelerated innovations 

unlocked by the joint company's scaled R&D investment and 

one of the industry's most extensive partner ecosystems. Sanjay 

Poonen will lead the combined organisation as CEO and 

President. Greg Hughes, CEO of Veritas, will serve as a Board 

member and strategic advisor to Sanjay Poonen after the close 

of the transaction. 

The combined company will bring together 100s of exabytes 

of data protected and will continue to invest in and advance the 

roadmap and strategy of all Cohesity products and services, as 

well as Veritas NetBackup, NetBackup appliances, and Alta 

data protection offerings, while working towards the delivery of 

an integrated solution combining the best technology across the 

two companies. 

Nokia trials 5G edge cloud network slicing solution 

Nokia and A1 Austria (A1) have successfully completed the 

industry's first 5G edge cloud network slicing trial with 

Microsoft. The deployment utilised Nokia's 5G edge slicing solution 

integrated with Microsoft Azure managed edge compute on A1's 

live commercial network in Vienna, Austria. With edge cloud 

network slicing, A1 can bring enterprise cloud applications to 

mobile users over a high capacity, secure and low latency network. 

During the trial, A1 demonstrated real-time HD video streaming by 

transmitting live camera feeds from several mobile devices using 

Multicasting.io's streaming mobile platform running on the Azure 

edge infrastructure. 

Nokia's 5G Edge Slicing solution enables operators to take 

advantage of both slicing and edge cloud capabilities and provide 

value to their customers. Network slices can be tailored to support 

specific customers' use cases and different applications based on 

network performance, quality, traffic routing, latency, and security. 

Nokia's new solution enabled A1 to isolate its public Internet and 

enterprise traffic while keeping critical business traffic local using 

4G/5G core breakout for enterprise edge cloud applications. The 

network slices were implemented across Devices-RAN-Transport-Core- 

Edge Cloud Applications. 5G Edge Slicing enhances the enterprise 

user experience for low latency and high bandwidth use cases with 

high network performance, quality security and manageability. 

Highlighting Network Assessment for Cisco partners 

Highlight has introduced a new compact Network Assessment 

feature on its Service Assurance Platform to enable Cisco 

partners to assess a customer's network and identify performance 

issues within a couple of weeks. The service is designed as a 

stepping stone to delivering trusted, differentiated and profitable 

managed services. Using quick and seamless API integration with 

Cisco Meraki, Catalyst and ThousandEyes technologies, Highlight 

enables partners to quickly onboard a new customer, assess the 

network, make recommendations and transition the customer 

from a one-time assessment to an ongoing managed, recurring 

revenue relationship. 



INDUSTRY NEWS 

The service enables providers to demonstrate to their customers 

that they understand their network, including any current issues and 

frustrations. A comprehensive report with detailed evidence 

facilitates fact-based discussions on where and how to make 

improvements. This strengthens the relationship between service 

provider and customer whilst giving the provider an opportunity to 

deliver accurate advice and upsell services. 

Martin Saunders, Chief Operating Officer at Highlight said, 

"Modern IT departments are struggling with ever growing demands 

and expectations on their time and resources. Despite huge 

advances in simplifying the management of networks through cloud 

platforms like Cisco Meraki, many IT leaders are looking to their 

partner to manage the infrastructure that underpins IT. Customers are 

also looking for partners they can trust to become virtual members of 

their IT department. However, the managed services model can be a 

complex shift for some partners to make. With the Network 

Assessment feature, Cisco Partners have a tangible and easy way to 

prove their ability to remove the network management burden from 

IT, whilst setting the foundation for building longer term recurring 

revenue relationships with their customers via a managed service." 

x530-28GSX full fibre switch from Allied Telesis 

Allied Telesis has introduced its x530-28GSX full fibre switch, 

bringing flexibility and network optimisation to the company's 

x530 Series of multi-Gigabit switches. Months in development, the 

x530-28GSX switch is a 24-port 100/1000X SFP stackable switch 

with 4 SFP+ ports and 2 fixed power supplies. It can aggregate a 

24x1 Gigabit fibre link to a 4x10 Gigabit fibre link and up to 8 

units can be stacked using Virtual Chassis Stacking (VCStack) to 

build a 192 Gigabit fibre aggregator. The switch also supports 

copper connectivity via SFP/SFP+ ports allowing the maximum 

flexibility of both copper and fibre as required. 

"Businesses and organisations need to meet the rapidly changing 

demand put on networks by applications such as artificial intelligence, 

5G backhaul and edge computing. The x530-28GSX enables the 

addition of bandwidth using either copper or fibre at either 1 or 

10Gb/s, and because of its high resiliency, this capacity increase 

works very well for numerous large site markets such as education 

campuses, FTTx deployments, utilities, and city-wide metro networks," 

said Chris Dyke, Sales Director UK & Ireland at Allied Telesis. 

Elevated 2.5G performance for SBs and prosumers 

Zyxel Networks has launched the XMG1915 series, a family of 

smart managed switches designed for small businesses (SBs) 

and professional home users (prosumers). Available in 8 and 16- 

port models, the XMG1915 series provide 2.5 Multi-Gigabit 

Ethernet capability across all ports. There are also 10G uplinks 

for connections to the network core, and PoE++ options that will 

provide as much as 60W to a connected device. Flexible cloud 

management makes the switches easy to deploy and manage. 

Kell Lin, Senior Associate Vice President of Zyxel Networking 

Strategic Business Unit, said: "Changing work patterns, the 

increased bandwidth demands of modern applications and 

services, and the growing number of devices being used on the 

network edge are a significant challenge. The XMG1915 series 

provides a fast, versatile, and cost-effective solution, with the 

added benefit of simple deployment and management options 

through our Nebula cloud management platform." 

McCambridge Duffy saves and modernises with Apogee 

McCambridge Duffy, a leading UK insolvency firm, has 

partnered with managed workplace services (MWS) provider 

Apogee Corporation to boost workplace efficiencies and modernise 

its IT infrastructure. Since the collaboration began, the firm has 

already reduced a large proportion of its yearly operating costs by 

almost half a million pounds. Apogee digitised the operations at 

McCambridge Duffy with the implementation of its Managed IT 

Services and Digital Document Service. Prior to engaging the MWS 

provider, the firm was suffering from up to two IT outages a month, 

costing approximately £31,000, which have been reduced to zero. 

As a business heavily reliant on paper-based documents, the yearly 

costs associated with postage accumulating to £60,000 have been 

cut down to £8,400. McCambridge Duffy has also benefitted from 

improved efficiency across its workforce. Client caseloads have 

almost doubled from 5,000 to 9,500, without needing to increase 

headcount, and a meeting of creditors appointment now takes just 

7 days to process, down from 45, an 80% reduction. 

NEWS NEWSNEWS 

NEWS 

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS 

NEWS 


INTERVIEW: POLYWELL 

A COMMITMENT TO AGILITY 

NETWORK COMPUTING CATCHES UP WITH SAM CHU, CEO AND FOUNDER OF POLYWELL 

COMPUTERS, A PC MANUFACTURER WITH A UNIQUE FOCUS ON THE SMALL-TO-MID-SIZE 

MARKETPLACE 

Network Computing: For readers 

who may not be that familiar 

with the company, let's start with 

some background on Polywell and its 

product range - what should we know 

about what you do, and what makes 

your offerings unique? 

Sam Chu: Polywell is a Silicon Valleybased 

PC manufacturer founded in 1987: 

initially focused on serving the US market, 

the company has since expanded 

globally. Polywell uses technologies from 

Intel, AMD, and Nvidia to produce PCs, 

workstations, servers, and storage 

devices. A core focus is embedded PCs 

for applications like network security, 

digital signage, kiosks, POS systems, and 

AI/IoT devices. 

In the network security industry, we 

don't sell directly to end customers: 

instead, we mainly work with 

software vendors and developers 

who use our hardware products to 

create turnkey solutions for SMB 

network security. Most network 

security software is based on 

Linux, often optimised for older 

versions of the Linux kernel. This 

makes it difficult for developers to 

find a partner like Polywell that can 

provide long-term support for 

legacy operating systems. 

Polywell offers 

products with a 

10-year 

lifespan, 

helping our 

software 

partners 

avoid additional development and 

certification costs. We have a strong 

reputation for supporting this business 

segment over many years. 

In other market niches we focus on the 

most advanced innovations in computer 

hardware. It's common knowledge that 

industrial grade computing has a 

noticeable 'inertia' of 6 to 12 months as 

compared to the moment that advanced 

technologies appear in mainstream 

segments. Polywell tries to minimise this 

time lapse and make the newest 

solutions available in the embedded 

market as well. 

Of course, we are working in a tightly 

competitive market in terms of not only 

the largest industry giants, but also of 

mid-size manufacturers like us who are 

the main driving force of the industrial 

computer market. We decided long ago 

that we could in no way sacrifice quality 

because it lasts and reminds about itself 

during the whole lifecycle of the product 

- unlike price! We are trying to make our 

products 'self-convincing', saying 

everything about themselves. You may be 

surprised, but in many cases a customer 

just needs to take our PC in hand to 

make a choice in our favour. That's why 

we encourage the 'test-before-you-buy' 

approach. 

NC: Can you talk about particular 

product developments in the pipeline - 

what are you planning, when will it be 

available, and why will it be of interest to 

our readers? 



INTERVIEW: POLYWELL 

SC: While maintaining a longevity 

product supply for our embedded 

products, Polywell is also working 

closely with Intel to develop new 

products, such as utilising the 13th 

gen CPU to provide early samples to 

developers to develop their software, 

or port their old or existing apps by 

utilising the new technologies 

launching with the new platform to 

improve performance and features. 

Besides the CPU itself, security 

products are also heavily dependent on 

network I/O and speeds. We are 

currently developing the 400Gbit 

Network Platform for the SDN 

(Software Defined Network) products 

for the high-end segment, by utilising 

the PCIe 5.0 high performance buses 

lanes and high-speed network chip 

from Mellanox (Nvidia) and Intel. 

Expect the product to be launched at 

the end of 2024. 

NC: The simultaneous growth in dge 

computing and in AI seems to be 

unstoppable - how do these emerging 

technologies influence both your 

customers' requirements and your own 

development strategies? 

SC: AI is hot and is driving high 

demand for supercomputing across 

various areas such as CPU, GPU, Bus 

Lane, Network I/O, memory I/O, and 

storage capacity/speed in both Edge 

and backend computing. Polywell is 

actively developing products for both 

Edge and Cloud to address market 

demands. We have always prioritised 

client needs and worked closely to 

deliver tailored solution products - our 

approach is customer-centric, ensuring 

we meet and exceed client demands 

with effective solutions. 

AI is in its early stages of 

development, of course. Many practical 

applications are using early bird AI 

development platforms to build on later. 

Our long-standing - thirty year - 

presence in the industry allows us to 

engage with early adopters and 

development circles, thanks to strong 

relationships, experience, and trust 

across the industry. 

NC: How would you summarise what 

makes Polywell stand out in an 

increasingly competitive market and 

attract customers to the way you work? 

SC: Polywell is dedicated to catering to 

the unique needs of small to mid-size 

businesses that may not find an ideal fit 

with Tier-1 vendors like Dell or HP. We 

understand the challenges faced by 

businesses of this scale and are 

passionate about providing tailored 

solutions. Our commitment to agility is 

not just a strategy; it's a mindset that 

allows us to swiftly embrace new 

technologies and navigate dynamic 

market changes. 

In our pursuit of excellence, we 

recognise that the landscape for small 

to mid-size businesses is constantly 

evolving. We take pride in being nimble 

and responsive, ensuring that our 

partners are not only well-supported but 

also at the forefront of innovation. 

At Polywell, we believe in fostering 

meaningful relationships with our business 

partners, understanding their aspirations, 

and aligning our strategies to help them 

thrive. Our approach is not just 

transactional; it's about building a 

collaborative ecosystem where success is 

shared. In a world where adaptability is 

key, Polywell stands as a beacon for 

businesses seeking a reliable and 

dynamic partner. Embracing change is 

not just a necessity for us; it's a core value 

that fuels our passion for delivering 

impactful solutions to the heart of the 

business community. 

NC: What is the next step then for 

Polywell in terms of business growth, 

perhaps specifically for the UK market? 

SC: The internet has significantly reduced 

global barriers for international business. 

Our overseas partners leverage our US 

resources and cutting-edge technologies, 

empowering them to excel in their local 

markets. Instead of competing, we prefer 

to collaborate and serve within our 

industry segment. 

We prioritise partners who recognise our 

value and are astute enough to harness 

our resources and support, fostering their 

business development and growth. This 

collaborative approach strengthens our 

bonds and creates a shared journey 

towards success, emphasising the 

importance of mutual understanding and 

smart utilisation of available resources. NC 

www.polywell.com 


OPINION: USB DEVICES 

THE FUTURE OF USB DEVICES IN AN IOT WORLD 

IN THE ERA OF THE INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT), WHERE CONNECTIVITY AND DATA 

ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES, THE FUTURE OF USB 

DEVICES APPEARS POISED FOR A SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATION, ACCORDING 

TO ALAN HAYWARD, SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER AT SEH TECHNOLOGY 

From its beginnings as a standard for 

connecting peripherals to computers, the 

USB interface has evolved into an 

indispensable tool for data transfer and power 

delivery. As the demand for faster data transfer 

speeds increases with larger file sizes and 

higher-resolution media, USB technology is 

likely to evolve to support evolving demands. 

A recent study conducted by Arthur Little 

recorded how the average data consumption 

per month per user had increased from 

approximately 5 GB/month in 2018 to 15 

GB/month in 2022 across Europe, with 

forecasts estimating it to grow to 75 GB/month 

by 2030, highlighting the mass increase in 

network usage and pressure. 

Newer standards, such as USB 3.2 and 

USB4, already offer faster data rates, and 

future iterations will in all likelihood continue 

this trend. 

INCREASING FLEXIBILITY 

In order to adapt to a rapidly changing world, 

USB devices may have to become more 

versatile, providing multiple functions beyond 

simple data transfer and power delivery. This 

could include features like integrated storage, 

advanced sensors, or even processing 

capabilities, making USB devices more 

intelligent and capable. 

Moreover, USB power delivery has become 

a significant feature of the technology, 

allowing devices to not only transfer data 

but also deliver power. This is important in 

an interconnected world where various 

devices need to charge quickly and 

efficiently. Future USB standards may 

enhance power delivery capabilities, 

supporting more power-hungry devices. 

USB Type-C, with its reversible design and 

support for high data transfer speeds and 

power delivery, has become increasingly 

popular. USB-C will likely continue to be a 

universal standard for various devices, reducing 

the need for multiple types of cables and 

adapters, and simplifying the interconnected 

future direction of technology. By the end of 

2024, all mobile devices sold on the EU 

market will have to include USB-C, with laptops 

also having to include them by Spring 2026. 

SIMPLIFYING CONNECTIVITY 

In an increasingly IoT-focused world, USB 

devices can provide a standardised and 

simplified way for IoT devices to connect and 

communicate with each other. Their interfaces 

can be customised to better support and 

manage IoT networks, regardless of the 

competency of users. Looking ahead to the 

future of the industry, USB devices may evolve 

to support enhanced edge computing 

capabilities, allowing IoT devices to offload 

processing tasks to connected USB devices. 

This enhances overall system performance 

and reduces vast workload pressures on IoT 

networks. They can also be developed to 

incorporate advanced power harvesting 

technologies, allowing them to generate power 

from the environment (such as solar or kinetic 

energy) to sustain IoT devices with minimal 

reliance on external power sources. 

ELEVATING SECURITY 

USB devices in IoT applications often handle 

sensitive data, which makes maintaining data 

privacy and confidentiality paramount. 

Encryption mechanisms help protect 

information from unauthorised access, 

eliminating the possibility of technologyenhanced 

eavesdropping and strengthening 

the security of data that is transferred across 

the network. 

Adopting a zero-trust architecture is 

becoming increasingly important in securing 

IoT environments. This approach assumes that 

no device, even if connected via USB, can be 

trusted by default and requires continuous 

verification of the device's security posture. This 

prevents rogue or malicious devices from 

infiltrating IoT networks, reducing the possibility 

of attacks and disruption. 

Furthermore, regular security audits should be 

conducted to identify and address 

vulnerabilities in USB-connected devices. This 

includes scanning for malware and ensuring 

devices comply with developing security best 

practices. As the IoT landscape continues to 

evolve, cybersecurity processes and protocols 

must also evolve, maximising the security and 

protection of information. 

CLOSING THOUGHTS 

In summary, the role of USB devices in an 

interconnected and technologically 

integrated world is likely to involve faster 

data transfer, enhanced power delivery, the 

reinforced security of data, and a continued 

evolution towards universal and versatile 

connectivity. In the era of IoT, the future of 

USB devices appears poised for significant 

flexibility, scalability and adaptability, so it's 

important today to consider their role in an 

IoT world. NC 



PRODUCT REVIEW 

Polywell 

Nano-U10L4-SFP+ 


PRODUCT 

REVIEWPRODUCT RE 

If extreme longevity is a mark of success then 

Polywell Computers is a clear winner, as this 

US-based company has been designing and 

building computing products since 1987. Its 

impressive portfolio includes enterprise-class 

rack servers, storage systems, workstations and 

PCs while a rapidly expanding range of mini- 

PCs allows it to offer an unprecedented choice 

of form factors and features. 

Polywell has a sharp focus on network 

security gateway solutions and the Nano- 

U10L4-SFP+ on review is an ideal candidate 

for providing network threat protection, 

firewall and intrusion prevention duties. To 

show off its capabilities, Polywell supplied our 

review unit with the VyOS network operating 

system software preinstalled. 

It delivers an impressive set of security 

features including edge routing, NAT, BGP, SPI 

firewalling, VPN gateway and broadband 

remote access services. VyOS operates two 

'branches' where free rolling releases combine 

the latest code from contributors, while longterm 

support for stable releases is offered with 

yearly subscriptions that include options for 

unlimited on-premises deployments. 

The VyOS for Good scheme will appeal to 

establishments such as schools, colleges and 

universities, emergency services and start-ups. 

VyOS also recognises the valuable work done 

by non-profit organisations by offering them a 

premium support subscription free of charge. 

The Nano-U10L4-SFP+ clearly has the 

credentials to handle a high demand as inside 

its ruggedised aluminium chassis beats an Intel 

quad-core 1.6GHz Core i5-10210u CPU. This 

was teamed up with 16GB of DDR4 memory 

upgradeable to 64GB while the VyOS software 

was loaded on a 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD. 

Network connection options abound with 

base configurations providing four 2.5GbE 

multi-Gigabit ports. Our unit sported an 

additional pair of 10GbE SFP+ fibre ports for 

high-speed links and Polywell offers another 

model with eight 2.5GbE ports. 

Other hardware features of note include an 

RJ-45 serial console port and a quartet of USB 

3 ports, while power is handled by a small 

external PSU. The CPU's embedded Intel 4K 

UHD graphics chip has its output piped 

through to HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 

connections for dual monitor support. 

The sturdy aluminium chassis does a fine job 

as a heatsink as, although the motherboard 

has a cooling fan assembly above it, we didn't 

hear it ever being activated during testing. This 

makes the Nano-U10L4-SFP+ ideal for small 

office environments that value their tranquillity - 

it also supports a VESA wall mount bracket so it 

can be safely tucked out of the way. 

For initial deployment, we attached an HD 

monitor plus keyboard and followed the VyOS 

online quick start guide to create a gateway 

configuration using two 2.5GbE ports. VyOS 

doesn't offer a web GUI but using its CLI, we 

had no problems configuring our WAN and 

LAN interfaces, applying DHCP, DNS and NAT 

services, applying a base set of firewall policies 

and committing and saving our changes. 

After enabling SSH access, we dispensed 

with the monitor and keyboard and conducted 

further monitoring and configuration using the 

PuTTY app. Where you go from here is up to 

your imagination - suffice to say that VyOS is 

an incredibly versatile open platform. 

Our base firewall configuration worked fine 

and Polywell also provided us with a clear 

guide for deploying core routing and BGP 

services between a head office and remote 

site. New users may find the learning curve a 

little steep but VyOS provides a massive 

knowledge base, along with great community 

support and tutorials to help you get started 

and quickly resolve any issues. 

Polywell's Nano-U10L4-SFP+ delivers 

plenty of power in a compact and well-built 

package. It's ideal for hosting a wide range 

of business applications and teaming it up 

with VyOS delivers the perfect network 

security partnership. NC 

Product: Nano-U10L4-SFP+ 

Supplier: Polywell Computers 

Web site: www.polywell.com 

Sales: info.eu@polywell.com 

WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTING.CO.UK FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 11 


@NCMagAndAwards

FEATURE: PREDICTIONS 

TIME TO BRING THE NETWORK UP TO SPEED 

KEVIN DRINKALL, DIRECTOR - MARKETING AND GTM STRATEGY, EMEA AT ZYXEL, TELLS US WHAT HE 

BELIEVES WILL BE THE MAJOR TRENDS IN NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY OVER THE COMING YEAR 

Zyxel Networks expects 2024 to be a 

year of further progressive 

innovation in networking. We also 

expect it to be a year in which customers 

will make serious (and in many cases, 

much-needed) investments to upgrade 

wireless technologies and further 

embrace multi-gigabit performance 

across the infrastructure. 

With more devices now being connected at 

the edge of the network, the number of entry 

points and vulnerabilities are growing and 

security will continue to be vitally important. 

There is also a desire for security to be as 

simple as possible to implement and 

manage. Smaller businesses in particular do 

not need to know about the complexities of 

how they are protected - they just need to 

know that they are protected. Improved 

support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) 

connections is needed to support the 

increased number of edge devices. 

Another trend we see is further 

growth in the use of 5G technology, 

both as a backup for fixed-line 

connections, and as a way of 

providing quick, easy-to-deploy 

connectivity just about anywhere. 

This is an increasingly popular 

choice where the connectivity 

needs to be easy to move 

around, or there are 

inadequate or no fixed-line 

connections. 

On a broader front, we expect 

to see increased use of remote 

monitoring capabilities and 

services, as businesses look to 

simplify and streamline the management of 

the IT systems and networks on which they 

are increasingly dependent. 

A BIG YEAR FOR WIFI UPGRADES 

In wireless, 2024 will be the year of WiFi 7 - 

and we also expect to see a lot more uptake 

of WiFi 6 and 6E. While the former is still 

quite new - and the IEEE 802.11be (WiFi 7) 

standard will not be formally ratified until 

quite late in 2024 - the technology available 

from Qualcomm (the chip producer with 

whom Zyxel Networks has a strong 

partnership), conforms to the proposed 

standard that will most certainly be rubberstamped 

later in the year. There are already 

a number of WiFi 7 access points on the 

market (Zyxel Networks was one of the first 

to announce and make a product 

available *1 ), and many more will be 

launched over the course of the year. 

WiFi 7 offers distinct advantages. It is 

significantly faster than WiFi 6/6E (around 

2X to 3X faster in real-world scenarios) and 

is much better at delivering consistent and 

reliable connectivity in dense environments, 

i.e. where there are a lot of devices 

connected to the WiFi in one area. In 

exhibition centres, sports and entertainment 

arenas, in schools, train stations and 

airports, for example, it will deliver distinct 

and immediate benefits. 

Why then, would you want to install WiFi 6 

or 6E? Well, for smaller businesses and 

homes where there won't be that many 

devices being connected, there won't be a 

lot of difference in terms of the user 

experience with WiFi. What the 802.11ax 

standard - or WiFi 6 or 6E (the 'E' stands for 




'extended range') - as it is more widely 

known, will give you is a noticeable 

performance uplift on previous standards 

and the ability to support more users that are 

using multimedia content, such as video. 

Upgrading to WiFi 6 or 6E will also - for 

now at least - be more affordable than 

WiFi 7. As the 802.11ax standard is fully 

ratified and established, there are many 

more devices on the market. For the 

businesses and homes for which WiFi 6/6E 

will deliver improved performance, it will 

be a good investment. It's also worth 

noting that the majority of WiFi 6/6E and 

all WiFi 7 devices come with WPA3 

protection, which provides enhanced 

security for both infrastructure and devices 

connecting wirelessly. 

In the end, whether you choose WiFi 7 

and WiFi 6 or 6E, upgrading wireless is 

going to be important. This year we are 

likely to see many more users finally taking 

the plunge and upgrading their ageing 

laptops, tablets and smartphones. Many of 

these would have been bought during the 

early days of the pandemic - three years 

ago or more. These new devices will 

support WiFi 6/6E as a minimum - and 

some may even have WiFi 7. 

The wireless networks they connect to will 

need to be capable of making use of their 

increased speed. For hotels, restaurants, 

cafes, bars and any other hospitality 

business, enabling customers to get the best 

and fastest access will be important. That 

will also be the case in schools and 

colleges, in hospitals and in businesses 

where there are guests and visitors coming 

and going all the time. 

GOING MULTI-GIG ACROSS THE 

WHOLE NETWORK 

This last point is one that applies to the 

whole network infrastructure. Applications 

and services have become much more 

bandwidth 

hungry. Video 

conferencing and 

collaboration tools, increased use 

of cloud applications and services, and 

richer content, have all pushed network 

traffic relentlessly upwards. There is now 

a need to support high throughput right 

across the network. 

This is driving the uptake of multi-gigabit 

switches that have the capability to deliver 

speeds of 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps and 10Gbps 

to connected devices. Zyxel Networks 

already offers a range of smart managed 

and unmanaged switches that support 

multiple speeds in each direction. This 

gives organisations the flexibility to 

construct a network fabric that will meet 

their increased need for bandwidth. This 

does not mean you have to upgrade every 

single element of the network though. In 

most scenarios - certainly this is the case 

with Zyxel Networks switches, existing Cat 

5E cabling will carry 2.5Gbps and in some 

cases 5Gbps to edge connections. 

We'll be adding to our multi-gig range in 

2024 and also enhancing their PoE 

capabilities. We're doing this because the 

devices now being deployed at the network's 

edge, such as WiFi 6/6E and WiFi 7 access 

points, along with high-quality IP surveillance 

cameras with pan-zoom-tilt (PZT) capability, 

need additional power to run. These devices 

are usually of critical importance as they 

may be providing connectivity for scores of 

users and clearly, if you have a security 

camera in place, it's there for a reason. You 

won't want it to be out of action for any 

length of time. This means an increase from 

15.4W or 30W per port to 60W per port on 

a network switch (POE+ to POE++). 

SIMPLE, COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY 

Digital security also needs to be 

completely reliable. No organisation can 



afford to let 

its defences down, 

even for a few moments. It 

also needs to be comprehensive 

and cover the network from end to end. 

Increasing regulation is driving 

organisations to adopt more secure 

practices. The EU's NIS2 directive is due 

to come into force in 2024, requiring 

organisations operating in Europe to 

have a specific level of cybersecurity 

protection in place. 

Every year the threats to networks 

multiply, and the increased dependency 

we have on our IT systems and 

connections means that any loss of 

access or data will be extremely 

damaging. This has led to digital security 

solutions becoming more and more 

complex, and while it is absolutely 

essential it can also be off-putting, 

especially for smaller businesses that 

have no technical or cybersecurity 

expertise of their own. 

We see two parallel trends here: a 

growing desire to make protecting the 

network simpler, and a greater willingness 

to place the administration and 

management of security in the hands of 

professional experts. 

Zyxel Networks has already responded to 

both of these developments. With our 

Connect and Protect initiative, we provide 

a predefined cybersecurity set-up for our 

devices that makes deployment much 

more accessible. This is provided not only 

on our unified security gateway, but also 

on our wireless access points and smart 

managed switches. 

Through the ongoing development of 

our Nebula cloud management and our 

cybersecurity cloud platforms, we're 

providing additional and proactive 

protection against all kinds of threats. For 

example, we've already introduced 

collaborative detection and response 

(CDR) - a feature that checks for unsafe 

devices connected via WiFi and works with 

one of Zyxel Networks' firewalls to contain 

them according to preset conditions. 

Nebula enables businesses to put 

security into the hands of an expert; 

network administrators and MSPs can 

keep a look-out for any potential 

problems or breaches remotely and take 

appropriate action when required. We'll 

be bringing forward many more security 

enhancements to Nebula in 2024. 

Through these twin initiatives, we are 

making network security simpler and even 

more comprehensive for our customers. 

THREE BIG TRENDS 

In summary, there will be three key major 

trends in networking in 2024: a largescale 

upgrade of wireless technology to 

the latest WiFi 6/6E and WiFi 7 standards; 

a continued move to multi-gigabit 

switches and infrastructure; and increased 

adoption of network security that is simple 

to install and manage. Another 

developing trend is the increased uptake 

of 5G routers for connectivity that is 

mobile and can be used in remote areas. 

Overarching all of this will be a general 

move to higher bandwidth and 

performance right across the network 

fabric; the sophistication of applications, 

content and cloud-based services - and 

the need to ensure security throughout the 

network - requires that now. In 2024, it will 

be time to bring the network up to speed. 

We will also see a continued move 

towards remote monitoring and 

management of networks - and this will 

extend to configuration and installation. 

Far from being a new development, this is 

a growing trend that has been driven for 

some time by the increasing acceptance 

of managed services, a scarcity of 

advanced technical skills, and the 

increasing dependency that all 

organisations have on their IT systems, 

connectivity and networks. 

At Zyxel Networks, we have advanced 

the capability of our own cloud 

management platform, Nebula, 

considerably over the last couple of years. 

Further enhancements are being added all 

the time and in particular, to its security 

functionality, which is now becoming 

deeply embedded within the platform. We 

are using AI and machine learning in 

Nebula to enhance protection even more, 

to aid fault finding and resolution, and 

monitor and retune access points so that 

their performance is enhanced. 

We're also providing reporting tools that 

enable admins and MSPs to delve deeper 

into the network activity and traffic to gain a 

better insight into how resources are being 

used and make adjustments that will 

enhance performance and security. Nebula 

is continually developing and becoming an 

all-encompassing, end-to-end solution 

through which, the entire network (or 

multiple networks) can be monitored. 

This is the longer-term direction for 

networking. Devices will be installed, 

configured and managed remotely and 

there will be much greater collaboration 

and sharing of functionality between 

switches, wireless access points and 

security appliances. In 2024, we will see 

networks progressing to the point where 

performance tuning and digital 

cybersecurity are fully integrated across all 

devices and everything is monitored and 

managed through the cloud. NC 

1 

- Zyxel Networks' WBE660S WiFi 7 

BE22K Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Pro Access 

Point was launched in October 2023. 




Perle Systems 

IDS-710HP-XT 


PRODUCT 


The growing demand for industrial Power 

over Ethernet (PoE) switches is being 

driven by many factors including the 

adoption of IoT devices, outdoor IP surveillance 

systems and the new high-performance Wi-Fi 

6/7 access points. Perle Systems is a specialist 

in this area and its latest IDS-710HP family can 

go where other PoE switches fear to tread. 

Available in three models, the top-end IDS- 

710HP-XT on review is designed to work in an 

extended operating temperature range of -40C 

to 70C for assured reliability across extreme 

fluctuations. Sheathed in a metal fan-less chassis 

with an IP20 ingress protection rating, the switch 

includes 35mm DIN rail attachments and Perle 

also offers optional panel/wall mount kits. 

A generous 450W power budget makes the 

switch supremely versatile as it can support any 

type and class of powered device (PD) along 

with single and dual-signature connections. It 

can supply up to 100W for 802.3bt PoE++ 

Type 4 devices or 90W simultaneously on five 

ports, making it ideal for external IP cameras 

with remote PTZ functions and heaters. 

The IDS-710HP-XT offers eight PoE-enabled 

copper Gigabit ports and dual SFP slots 

supporting copper Gigabit or fibre 

Gigabit/2.5GbE transceivers. Fibre 

connections are a valuable feature as they 

are immune to the high levels of 

electromagnetic interference (EMI) frequently 

found in industrial environments. 

Power redundancy is available as the switch's 

terminal block supports dual inputs from 

separate supplies. We found it simple to deploy 

as we cabled it to a Phoenix Trio DINcompliant 

PSU and pressed the switch's reset 

button to initiate its Fast Setup mode. Just 

connect a PC to the port with the rapidly 

flashing LEDs, load a web browser and follow 

the wizard to set up your default VLAN and 

DHCP services along with secure CLI and web 

admin access. 

Don't be fooled by its minuscule dimensions 

as the IDS-710HP-XT offers a wealth of features 

that are all easily accessible from its web 

console. Standard Layer 2 features are 

abundant and include static and LACP link 

aggregation groups along with support for up 

to 256 VLANs plus GVRP support for dynamic 

VLAN creation. For VoIP networks, you can 

create voice VLANs to separate, prioritise and 

authenticate this traffic for assured call quality. 

Security is a high priority as 802.1x port 

authentication is provided and admin access 

can be controlled using RADIUS and 

TACACS+. The switch supports HTTPS web 

access, secure CLI sessions using SSL/TLS, the 

stronger SNMPv3 and the PROFINET and 

Modbus TCP Industrial Ethernet protocols. 

That big power budget means you can deploy 

plenty of PDs but if you're worried about 

exceeding it, priorities can be applied to each 

port. Assign low, high or critical priorities to 

each one and if the total draw reaches the 

power threshold, those with the lowest priorities 

will be turned off first. 

Support staff will approve of the PD power 

reset feature as they can remotely restart 

attached devices. Select a port from the 

configuration menu, disable PoE services and 

enable them again to force the device to reboot. 

Management options are outstanding as, 

along with the local web console, you can 

manage multiple switches using Perle's free 

Network Assist web application, which provides 

auto-discovery services. Organisations with 

geographically distributed switches can 

manage them all using the PerleView cloud 

portal, which facilitates remote access to 

devices along with scheduled firmware updates 

and alerting services. 

The IDS-710HP-XT is superbly built, rich in 

features and excellent value too, as Perle 

includes all features, functionality and ongoing 

software maintenance in the base price 

of the product. Businesses that need to 

deploy secure and reliable PoE services in 

extreme or hazardous environments need 

look no further. NC 

Product: IDS-710HP-XT 

Supplier: Perle Systems 

Web site: www.perle.com 

Sales: +44 1280 825 540 

Price: £1,908 exc VAT 

WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTING.CO.UK FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 15 


@NCMagAndAwards


FOCUSING ON THE NETWORK SPACE IN 2024 

FOLLOWING THE RECENT ANNOUNCMENT THAT HPE ARE SET 

TO ACQUIRE JUNIPER NETWORKS FOR $14 BILLION, HPE 

ARUBA NETWORKING CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER DAVID 

HUGHES GIVES US HIS TOP 5 NETWORKING AND SECURITY 

PREDICTIONS FOR 2024 

1: The death of the standalone firewall 

The rise of the hybrid workforce and the 

extensive deployment of IoT devices have 

irreversibly eroded the network perimeter, and 

the standalone firewall is dying with it. No 

longer can a good "inside" be protected from 

a bad "outside" by a ring of firewalls. Trying to 

plug the gaps by deploying even more 

firewalls inside an organisation only adds 

complexity, creates room for errors, and slows 

down businesses that want to move rapidly. 

Consequently, the next-gen firewall 

appliance is rapidly becoming the last-gen 

firewall appliance. On one side, the secure 

service edge (SSE) is replacing firewalls and 

proxies with cloud delivered secure web 

gateway, cloud access security broker and 

zero trust network access. SSE provides a 

compelling way of managing security for users 

accessing applications from anywhere. On the 

other side, for IoT security, segmentation is 

needed on-prem, right at the edge of the 

network, and to achieve this firewall services 

are being built directly into access points, 

switches and SD-WAN gateways. 

Even in the data centre the introduction of 

top-of-rack switches with L4-7 security 

functionality can deliver east-west 

segmentation far more cost-effectively than 

traditional next-gen firewalls at end-of-aisle. 

Over the coming couple of years the next-gen 

firewall market will continue to decline as 

these new cloud based and built-in 

capabilities usher in a simpler way of 

managing secure connectivity. 

Industry Supporting Stat: As more 

organisations choose programmatic, hybrid 

work strategies, buyers are more likely to 

select firewall vendors that offer cloud-based 

security services with credible cloud security 

strategies. Gartner Critical Capabilities for 

Network Firewalls? (Adam Hils, Rajpreet Kaur, 

Thomas Lintemuth) May 16, 2023. 

2: Zero trust principles accelerate alignment 

of security and networking objectives 

Most organisations have separate teams 

managing networking and security, and in 

many ways their goals can be at odds with 

one another. In 2024 leading enterprises will 

demonstrate how zero trust principles can be 

employed to align the two team's interests to 

deliver better end user experience and 

business outcomes. 

In a typical organisation the networking 

team's objectives are to keep people and 

services connected reliably and up and 

running with predictably good performance. 

They are incented to make it easy for people 

to connect to anything and avoid complexity 

that will result in outages, latency or 

slowdowns. On the one hand, the security 

organisation is tasked with minimising risk and 

maintaining compliance. Too often the user 

and their experience are caught in the middle. 

An overzealous security implementation might 

make it slow or impossible for users to access 

the apps and data they need, slowing down 

the business. On the other hand, lax security 

or a networking team that aims to please by 

bypassing security measures can result in 

infiltration and ransomware. 

Leading enterprises will adopt zero trust 

architectures where the network's job is 

defined not in terms of connecting anything to 

anything, but rather as being an enforcement 

layer for security policy. For users accessing 

applications security policy may be enforced 

in the cloud, but for many traffic flows, 

particularly for IoT devices and their 

associated services, it will be more efficient to 

automatically implement this policy in access 

devices like access points, switches and 

routers. With the right level of shared visibility, 

automation, and clear delineation of policy 

and enforcement, networking and security 

teams will have aligned goals and deliver a 

better experience. 

Industry Supporting Stat: According to 

Forrester, 96% of customers stated that 

security and networking worked together to 

implement SASE. 

3: Measuring end user experience becomes 

a must 

In order to deliver what employees and 

customers expect, IT organisations will need to 

shift to SLOs and SLAs based on measured 

user experience. Users don't care what is at 

fault, they are focused on one simple thing: is 

the application they are using working well or 

not. User satisfaction plummets when they are 




first to find problems, and are then rebuffed 

by IT with reports that all devices are up 

and operating correctly. 

To address this, organisations will widely 

deploy digital experience management 

(DEM) tools, that both measure actual 

experience of end users and make 

synthetic probes to ensure infrastructure 

readiness even when users are not 

present. Organisations will likely want a 

mix of measurements collected from 

endpoint agents (like an SSE agent) and 

measurements collected by dedicated 

hardware sensors, particularly when 

monitoring Wi-Fi performance. Ideally 

these same measurements feed 

automated AIOps that are able to learn 

and then implement best practices, rapidly 

triage problems and automatically 

remediate issues. 

Industry Supporting Stat: By 2026, at least 

60% of I&O leaders will use DEM to 

measure application, services and endpoint 

performance from the user's viewpoint, up 

from less than 20% in 2021. (Gartner, 

Market Guide for Digital Experience 

Monitoring, March 2022). 

4: 6GHz Wi-Fi adoption skyrockets 

The barriers slowing Wi-Fi deployment in 

the 6GHz spectrum will be removed in most 

geographies, and adoption will start to 

skyrocket. A couple of years ago, the Wi-Fi 

6E standard introduced support for the 

6GHz band, more than doubling Wi-Fi 

capacity, enabling more users and faster 

speeds. It's been rapidly adopted in some 

segments, but others have been more 

cautious. In 2024 the last remaining 

barriers to broad adoption will be resolved. 

First, use of the 6GHz band, particularly 

outdoors is subject to approval by 

government authorities. Although some, 

like the US, have been quick to open the 

spectrum for Wi-Fi, other countries have 

been slower. Fortunately, there has been 

much forward progress in this area, and 

in 2024 most enterprises will have 

6GHz spectrum accessible in most parts 

of the world. 

Second, some enterprises have been leery 

about adopting Wi-Fi 6E when Wi-Fi 7 is 

around the corner. Now with Wi-Fi 7 

ratified, there is no doubt that Wi-Fi 6E and 

Wi-Fi 7 will be interoperable, so with 6E 

devices and access points shipping in 

volume, 6GHz Wi-Fi deployments can 

move ahead full steam. 

Finally, adoption is gated by support on 

both access points and client devices. We 

are witnessing a slew of new devices that 

support Wi-Fi 6E, and the mainstreaming of 

6E access points. On top of this there are 

more Wi-Fi 7 devices on the horizon, and 

these can utilise the 6GHz band to deliver 

better user experience with either Wi-Fi 6E 

or Wi-Fi 7 access points. 

The combination of these developments 

will see a big uptake of 6GHz spectrum in 

2024, and with it, faster transfers and better 

user experience! 

Industry Supporting Stat: "HPE Aruba 

Networking hasshipped over 1.5 times the 

number of Wi-Fi 6E APs than any other 

vendor in the industry" - Sian Morgan is the 

lead networking analyst for Dell'Oro Group. 

5: AI will liberate IT admins 

It is sometimes quoted you that won't lose 

your job to AI, you'll lose your job to 

someone who is using AI effectively. This is 

absolutely becoming true for the IT admin. 

The increasing burden of implementing 

new technology and maintaining cybersecurity 

with a fixed or even shrinking 

headcount means that each admin must 

handle more. Fortunately, AI and 

automation are advancing rapidly, shifting 

the job from managing and configuring 

individual devices, to instead defining 

policy across a whole estate and having 

that policy implemented automatically and 

consistently. AI is also able to comb 

through huge volumes of data to identify 

anomalies and recommend (and even 

implement) remedies. 

It's now well established that AI is only as 

good as its dataset, and bigger, high 

quality datasets are key. Leading vendors 

will be drawing AI insights from data lakes 

representing millions of managed devices 

and hundreds of millions of endpoints. 

Finally large language models (LLMs) are 

turbo charging existing natural language 

interfaces and providing a more 

convenient way for admins to get the 

information they need. 

The bottom line is that organisations need 

to ensure that they are providing their IT 

teams the AI force-multiplier admins need 

to remain competitive. 

Industry Supporting Stat: By 2026, 

generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) 

technology will account for 20% of initial 

network configuration, which is an increase 

from near zero in 2023. (Gartner, Strategic 

Roadmap for Enterprise Networking, 

October 2023). NC 



Hornetsecurity 365 

Permission Manager 


PRODUCT 


Microsoft 365 (MS365) is the 

productivity and communications 

platform of choice for organisations of 

all sizes, with it already having reached a 

staggering 382 million paid seats this year. A 

huge number of companies, including those 

with hybrid working practices, clearly see the 

benefits of MS365 cloud collaboration services; 

but ensuring adequate protection of information 

assets, and preventing unauthorised and anonymous 

access, can be a major challenge. 

Hornetsecurity's 365 Permission Manager is the 

perfect solution, as it provides administrators 

with all the tools needed to control access 

permissions, monitor violations and enforce 

compliance policies. Easily managed from a 

single cloud portal, it readily allows 

organisations to ensure compliance with internal 

and external regulations, and maintain access 

policies across sharing sites, folders and files. 

Onboarding is very swift, as you simply select 

365 Permission Manager from Hornetsecurity's 

Control Panel, provide all required tenant 

details and authenticate with your MS365 

account. It avoids management issues with 

MS365 global administrators and potential 

permission creep, as it uses API connections 

and doesn't store any credentials. 

The Control Panel presents a highly 

informative dashboard, with pie charts showing 

overall compliance health, plus separate ones 

for SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams. A timefiltered 

graph reveals fixed and approved 

violations, while others are provided for itemlevel 

and policy compliance, upcoming and 

overdue audits, and violation trends over time. 

You can also view your compliance policies and 

365 Permission Manager does all the hard work 

for you, as it includes a set of predefined ones. 

These are all based on the ISO 27001 

information security management systems 

standard, so applying them to your organisation 

will help you meet certification requirements. 

You can easily create custom policies and set 

internal and external sharing criteria, while, at 

the site level, you set external sharing levels for 

all people in your organisation, existing and new 

guests or anyone; apply default sharing links 

and permissions; and set guest access expiration 

times in days. Policies are a very powerful 

feature as, if any action violates them, 

administrators will receive an alert and an 

option to approve or fix them. 

SharePoint site and OneDrive account 

exploration reveals all entities and their applied 

policy, while colour-coded icons show if they are 

compliant. Further icons highlight if they have 

items with anonymous access granted, those 

that have organisation-wide access and those 

with external user access permitted. 

Click the quick actions button and you will then 

be presented with five of the most powerful 

features of this service. With no more than three 

clicks, you can set an external sharing level for a 

Share-Point site or OneDrive account, clean up 

orphaned users, remove 'Everyone' permissions, 

revoke user or group access or set site 

permissions. There's much more, as 365 

Permission Manager presents a 'To Do' list, with 

all policy violations that require your attention. 

The list can be filtered and, with one click, you 

can either approve the violation or fix it: you can 

fix site settings or 365 Permission Manager can 

automatically remove user access. 

As you'd expect, there are plenty of reporting 

tools provided, with options to generate ones for 

full site permissions, user and group access, and 

also external access. An activity log provides 

essential auditing for all administrative activities 

and the portal generates daily alert summaries, 

which can be sent to multiple recipients. 

MS365 rights management presents many 

pain points, as it is far too easy for users to 

share files across this platform and so difficult 

for administrators to stay in control. 

Hornetsecurity's 365 Permission Manager 

brings order to this rights chaos and gives 

administrators the power to effortlessly enforce 

policy compliance and ensure access to critical 

data is tightly locked down. NC 

Product: 365 Permission Manager 

Supplier: Hornetsecurity 

Web site: www.hornetsecurity.com 

Tel: +44 (0) 203 0869 833 

Sales: sales@hornetsecurity.com 

Contact Hornetsecurity for pricing 



PLEASE MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS 

Nominations are now open for the Network Computing Awards of 2024. We 

invite you - the readers of Network Computing - to tell us which companies, 

products and individuals have most impressed you. After nominations have 

closed and been counted the finalists will be revealed. 

NOMINATE NOW AT: 

WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTINGAWARDS.CO.UK 

ATTENTION VENDORS: 

In addition to the nominating/voting categories, the Awards provide opportunities 

for impressive work and impressive solutions to be recognised by a Judge. You can 

enter your customer success stories for the NETWORK PROJECT OF THE YEAR 

by sending in case studies. Also, you can ensure that your chosen solutions 

become finalists for the BENCH TESTED PRODUCT OF THE YEAR by booking 

them to be independently reviewed for Network Computing. 

There are also opportunities to get involved with the Awards as a sponsor. 

For help with any of the above contact dave.bonner@btc.co.uk 

Sponsored by:

OPINION: NETWORK INTEGRATION 

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATION FOR YOUR NETWORK 

CHRIS MCKIE, VP PRODUCT MARKETING SECURITY AND NETWORKING SOLUTIONS AT KASEYA, 

OFFERS A GUIDE TO NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OF MODERN NETWORKS 

The world of networking has changed 

rapidly, along with the dynamic evolution 

of IT as a whole. Hybrid environments, 

spanning on-premises and the cloud, have 

become the new norm, posing significant 

challenges for network managers. Company 

networks are becoming increasingly difficult to 

manage, monitor and secure. And, because 

hardware refresh cycles in networking are 

traditionally slow, organisations can end up 

with numerous disparate components, 

environments and management tools, all 

adding to the infrastructure complexity. 

KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY 

NETWORK MANAGERS 

The traditional contrast of cloud versus onpremises 

no longer holds in today's diverse 

network environments. Most organisations' 

networks no longer fall into the binary 

categories of cloud or on-premise; instead, they 

combine a bit of everything. The widespread 

adoption of hybrid infrastructures, driven by 

business performance and security 

considerations, means that organisations must 

now navigate a hugely complex mix of cloud 

and on-premise network components. 

Moreover, post-pandemic, the global work 

landscape has largely shifted to a hybrid 

model, where employees expect to seamlessly 

transition between remote and office-based 

work. Organisations must therefore have the 

ability to connect everyone, everywhere, at any 

time to their essential workflows. 

This trend of employees connecting from 

outside the traditional network boundaries 

brings with it some obvious security issues. 

The rise of zero trust architectures and 

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions 

has addressed some of these concerns, 

redefining how organisations securely 

connect remote workers. 

Even more is changing on the network edge. 

Growing numbers of smart, IoT and 

operational technology (OT) devices process 

data locally at the periphery of the network - for 

example, to prevent connectivity or latency 

issues. Edge-as-a-Service (EaaS) is starting to 

attract interest and will only accelerate the 

adoption of edge computing and related 

services, presenting additional headaches in 

terms of security and access management. 

Finally, hardware upgrades have always been 

slow in networking. Network components are 

usually added as one-off purchases as 

required, with components typically only 

upgraded every 3-5 years. This means many 

organisations rely on very heterogenous 

environments that incorporate solutions from 

several different vendors. 

With so many different networking and 

management tools as well as different support 

levels for each of these components, it is no 

wonder that there is little integration across the 

typical company network. 

However, today's complex network 

requirements demand a comprehensive 

approach to visibility, security, network 

architecture, manageability and technology 

adoption. Ultimately, for network managers to 

remain efficient, they will have no choice but to 

consolidate, to integrate and to look at the 

network from a holistic perspective. 

THE ROLE OF INTEGRATION 

Integration emerges as the single solution to the 

challenges posed by complex networks. 

Bringing together the various network and IT 

management applications in one single 

management console can streamline 

workflows, enhance efficiency and provide 

valuable insights for network managers. 

For instance, integrating the network with a 

Professional Services Automation (PSA) tool can 

significantly speed up troubleshooting by 

directly tying network events to ticketing 

processes. Troubleshooting when something 

goes wrong in the company network is 

traditionally disjointed, with managers having to 

move from the network console to the ticketing 

system and back. Integration removes these 

unnecessary additional steps and streamlines 

problem solving and recovery. 

Similarly, integrating live network information 

with Remote Monitoring and Management 

(RMM) tools enables remote device 

management across the network, reducing the 

need for back-and-forth interactions. With 

shadow IT still a challenge for many 

organisations, there is another advantage to 

this integration: tools in RMM can be used for 



OPINION: NETWORK INTEGRATION 

automatic network discovery, while live 

network performance data monitoring 

ensures networks are running smoothly. 

Additionally, integrating network 

information with documentation systems 

aids in compliance and auditing processes, 

while promoting automation and saving 

valuable time. 

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) 

can be used to enable such bridging, but 

keeping all the involved applications 

synchronised and updated is crucial for 

seamless functionality. If done well, 

integration of these network-related tools 

allows businesses to streamline multiple 

workflows according to their needs. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF SASE 

In the era of evolving network challenges, 

SASE solutions play a key part in building an 

integrated, secure and easily manageable 

network. Ensuring the security of a company 

network has always been a challenge; even 

moreso now the network edge as we know it 

no longer exists. With cyber-attacks growing 

in number and sophistication, businesses 

must implement robust network security to 

defend their sensitive data against 

ransomware, unauthorised access, data 

breaches and other risks. Remote users need 

as much, if not more, protection as those 

working in the office. 

SASE solutions have been a game-changer 

as they integrate security right into the 

network itself. They essentially provide nextgen 

firewall functionality in the cloud, 

offering granular controls for web traffic in 

distributed work environments. This 

technology is fast replacing VPNs, ensuring 

secure connectivity regardless of user 

location and extending networking and 

security capabilities beyond the traditional 

network boundaries. 

This gives organisations a lot more 

flexibility in how they implement security 

policies such as zero trust, content filtering 

and threat prevention across locations and 

remote users. 

The many benefits of SASE integration 

include efficient policy enforcement, 

simplified network management and 

scalability. What's more, SASE not only 

addresses current network complexities but 

also offers the flexibility to adapt to changing 

and future business needs - paving the way 

to a future-proof infrastructure. 

BENEFITS OF NETWORK 

INTEGRATION 

The integration of network components and 

solutions brings numerous benefits. One key 

advantage is that network issues, such as 

latency or blackouts, can be resolved much 

faster. With the necessary information at their 

fingertips thanks to seamless links with their 

ticketing system and RMM platform, network 

managers can pinpoint the source of any 

issue more quickly and significantly speed up 

mean time to resolution. 

In addition, issues can be automatically 

routed to the right person for prompt 

resolution, while easier and more transparent 

performance monitoring helps prevent 

problems from arising in the first place. 

Policy enforcement is more effective too, 

with integrated devices facilitating the 

consistent application of rules and access 

restrictions across the entire infrastructure, 

including edge devices. Updates, patches 

and upgrades can also be streamlined 

through tight integration, allowing for better 

control over their timing and therefore 

minimising impact on users and the network. 

Plus, the ability to monitor and analyse 

network traffic continually enables network 

managers to optimise data flows and 

balance loads more effectively. 

Another benefit of network integration is the 

ability to consolidate. SASE, for example, 

eliminates the need for multiple VPNs, 

potentially allowing downsizing of firewalls 

and the removal of redundant, standalone 

network security devices. The fact that SASE 

platforms are cloud managed simplifies 

network administration even further. 

Finally, as network needs change, a 

streamlined setup with SASE allows 

businesses to scale fast and adjust their 

infrastructure as needed. 

LOOKING AHEAD 

Business networks will continue to evolve in 

response to changing business needs and 

technological advancements. For network 

architects, this means they will have to 

continually reassess and update their 

strategies. Increased integration and a 

holistic approach are the keys to staying 

ahead of networking requirements. 

Integration is not only the answer to 

addressing the new complexities of the 

hybrid world - it will also be the linchpin for 

the future of network management. By 

embracing it and leveraging technologies 

like SASE, organisations can not only 

navigate current challenges but also position 

themselves for future success in an everevolving 

digital era. NC 


OPINION: QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY 

THE RISE OF QUANTUM ECOSYSTEMS 

IN 2024 AND BEYOND 

DR. PHILIP KRANTZ, QUANTUM ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS 

EXPERT AT KEYSIGHT, EXPLORES THE POTENTIAL OF QUANTUM 

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE YEAR AHEAD 

Quantum technology allows us to 

harness the fundamental laws of 

quantum mechanics to solve 

problems that are either intractable or even 

impossible using today's technology. Areas 

where quantum technology can offer 

profound impact include complex 

simulations and computations, secure 

communication, and more powerful 

imaging and sensor techniques. 

Governments and industries have 

recognised the necessity to invest in 

quantum research and early adoption of 

quantum-technological applications to 

ensure competitiveness and to be prepared 

for any disruptive advancements within the 

scope of their interests. 

As a response to the steady scientific 

progress within the quantum community 

during the past decades, many branches of 

quantum technologies have moved out of 

university labs into start-up ventures, hightech 

companies, as well as military. 

Consequently, the community has 

broadened from mainly being explored by 

quantum physicists to requiring a wide 

blend of expertise and backgrounds, 

ranging from various engineering 

disciplines to including business 

professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs. 

As part of this transition, academic and 

industrial quantum hubs, quantum 

incubators, as well as local and national 

quantum ecosystems have risen during the 

past years - most aiming to build up and 

foster a workforce composition required for 

long-term success. To this end, there has 

been an increased need to attract talent, 

both from outside these ecosystems as well 

as training local students and engineers, to 

enable sustainable technological growth. 



OPINION: QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY 

In this article, we will discuss a few 

ongoing trends we are seeing when it 

comes to building up quantum 

ecosystems. 

NATIONAL QUANTUM 

TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES 

Building up world-leading expertise in 

quantum technologies takes a long time, 

requires substantial investment, and is 

often facilitated through an already 

existing academic quantum research 

community. Quantum ecosystems, i.e. 

collaborative environments of academic 

and industrial quantum research teams, 

are often created to support mutual 

interests in terms of both attracting the 

workforce, as well as synergistically 

benefiting from other members' strengths 

and competencies. 

These local quantum ecosystems expand 

both organically via education and 

inorganically through attracting workforce 

and industries from other places to get 

established within the ecosystem. 

Therefore, access to state-of-the-art 

technology, beneficial start-up culture, 

and world-leading research teams are all 

examples of important factors needed for 

ecosystems to become successful and 

self-sustaining. 

Oftentimes, however, ecosystems 

experience "knowledge gaps" prohibiting 

them from making fast progress on certain 

technologies. One example is when the 

capability to produce high-quality quantum 

processor units (QPUs) is missing. For 

instance, due to the lack of an advanced 

and dedicated cleanroom facility. One 

common trend that we often see is that 

such ecosystems procure a commercial 

quantum processor (sometimes also 

including all required cryogenics and 

quantum control systems) containing the 

qubit modality (or modalities) that the 

country seeks to pursue. 

This way, local experience in quantum 

control and algorithms can be gained in 

parallel with the development of local 

cleanroom fabrication processes and the 

exploration of optimal qubit designs. 

During the past years, several 

commercial alternatives for QPUs as well 

as parametric amplifiers have entered 

the market. 

QUANTUM-AS-A-SERVICE (QAAS) 

As mentioned, getting started in quantum 

technology requires time, money, and 

manpower. This has yielded an increased 

market need for quantum service 

providers to offer quantum-as-a-service 

(QaaS), including, for instance, remote 

cloud access to quantum processors, test 

beds for device characterisation, as well 

as foundries that offer fabrication services 

to clients. 

This way, quantum research teams have 

the option to strategically outsource 

parts of their operation to a third-party 

QaaS provider, which can have an 

important impact for startups entering 

the quantum ecosystem with limited time 

and resources. 

While this is currently happening on a 

very limited scale, interest in QaaS will 

increase in 2024 and beyond. In 

addition, we foresee that QaaS providers 

may in the long run enter a role to 

standardise device operation, 

characterisation, and fabrication which 

allows for future benchmarking of both 

quantum processors as well as qubitadjacent 

technologies. 

QUANTUM IN THE CLASSROOM 

Another ongoing trend we are seeing is 

an increased need for a qualified and 

diverse workforce as countries ramp up 

their national quantum initiatives. To 

address this bottleneck, we foresee that 

the number of dedicated higher 

education programs focusing on quantum 

technologies will continue to increase in 

2024 and beyond. 

Oftentimes, these programs are 

constructed in close collaboration with 

industrial partners, with access to stateof-the-art 

quantum control and readout 

technologies, so that students acquire 

relevant and up-to-date skills, 

preparing them for future quantum 

careers. There are also numerous 

industrial internships and mentorship 

programs that can help guide students 

in their future career choices. 

In addition to pure technical programs, 

there will also be an increased focus on 

quantum technology among business 

schools and entrepreneurship programs. 

This comes from an increased drive for 

business professionals to obtain basic 

training in quantum technology, helping 

them to be competitive in the highly 

dynamic quantum community. 

GENDER EQUALITY IN QUANTUM 

Another very positive and uprising trend is 

the many ongoing efforts on gender 

equality, aiming at increasing the ratio of 

women working in quantum technologies. 

Having access to a diversified and 

gender-balanced workforce is important 

for any industry and quantum 

technologies are certainly no exception. 

With the worldwide advancement in 

quantum technology research and 

development, the community is expanding 

beyond the academic realm and into 

startups, high-tech companies, and the 

military. This will give rise to quantum 

hubs, incubators, and local and national 

ecosystems all trying to build a workforce 

able to seize the quantum opportunity. 

Solving the talent gap is critical to 

realising the potential of quantum in the 

coming years and decades. NC 


OPINION: RETAIL INFRASTRUCTURE 

RETAIL INFRASTRUCTURE FIT FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW 

THE CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE RETAIL SECTOR REQUIRES A RESILIENT 

AND ADAPTABLE IT INFRASTRUCTURE, ACCORDING TO HENK IJSPEERD, SALES DIRECTOR EMEA 

STRATEGIC SEGMENT RETAIL, AT VERTIV 

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, the 

call for transformation is not just a 

buzzword but a strategic necessity, one that 

can make or break any business across the 

sector. The intricate interplay of consumer 

behaviours, driven by the unstoppable surge 

of the digital revolution and accentuated by 

global events such as the never-to-be 

forgotten COVID-19 pandemic, highlights 

the need for a profound and comprehensive 

re-evaluation of IT infrastructure. 

However, the task is far from simple - it's a 

complex landscape characterised by 

intricacies and challenges. Retail 

infrastructure should be more than a swift 

adaptation to immediate needs; retailers 

should also look ahead, consider formidable 

trends that loom large and navigate change 

armed with foresight and strategic acumen. 

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL 

REVOLUTION 

The foundation of the retail sector is shifting 

as consumer preferences continue to pivot 

towards digital platforms. The impact of the 

pandemic accelerated this shift, pushing 

retailers to adapt to online models to meet 

consumer demands far more quickly than 

planned. However, this move is not just a 

reaction to events like COVID; it reflects a 

broader trend in consumer behaviour which 

will stand the test of time as people enjoy the 

speed and convenience of online shopping. 

The relentless pace of technological 

advancements - such as Artificial Intelligence 

(AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented 

Reality (AR) - add another layer of 

complexity, requiring retailers to be agile and 

innovative in adopting technologies that 

enhance the customer experience. Success in 

this dynamic environment hinges on retailers' 

ability to blend short-term responsiveness 

with a visionary outlook, ensuring they not 

only meet today's needs but also remain 

adaptive to the digital trends shaping the 

future of retail. 

Central to the success of businesses in the 

sector is the achievement of consistency 

across diverse channels. The line between 

online and offline experiences continues to 

blur, necessitating a seamless transition 

between virtual and physical interactions with 

brands. The optimisation of systems, 

streamlined logistics and maintaining 

consistent stock levels all emerge as integral 

components of ensuring a positive and 

consistent customer experience. Consumers 

are no longer satisfied with good customer 

service, they expect to be delighted. 

REGULATORY CHALLENGES AND 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS 

For retailers, the journey of keeping the retail 

infrastructure fit for purpose is marked with 

regulatory challenges, especially in regions 

facing power scarcity such as Ireland and the 

Netherlands. Compliance with local and 

international environmental regulations 

further amplifies the intricacies of this process. 

Retailers must navigate a complex landscape 

of rules and standards while striving to build 

an efficient and resilient infrastructure. 

Ongoing success for retailers demands not 

only an acute understanding of the current 

regulatory landscape but also an ability to 

strategically position infrastructure in 

alignment with emerging environmental 

standards and the latest technology 



OPINION: RETAIL INFRASTRUCTURE 

innovations. This dual focus ensures not just 

compliance but a resilient and forwardlooking 

foundation capable of withstanding 

the regulatory changes that lie ahead. 

INFRASTRUCTURE PRESSURES IN 

THE DIGITAL ERA 

The surge in digital transactions and the 

growing reliance on technology bring a 

host of considerations for retail 

infrastructure. Storage demands, 

especially for vast amounts of data like 

CCTV images, coupled with the 

intricacies of delivering personalised 

customer experiences, present a delicate 

balancing act. Achieving standardisation 

across diverse regions is crucial, yet 

predicting infrastructure requirements in 

an era of constant technological evolution 

poses a formidable challenge. 

Beyond the digital sphere, the physical 

spaces of warehouses and stores pose 

unique challenges too. Physical security of 

warehouses, temperature variations in 

different store locations and diverse 

environmental conditions necessitate 

infrastructure solutions that are adaptable 

and resilient. Understanding and 

anticipating customer expectations in the 

coming years are paramount in crafting 

infrastructure that stands resilient against 

the test of time. 

CONTRIBUTING TO GRID STABILITY 

In the face of escalating pressure on 

energy grids, retailers also assume a 

crucial role beyond consumption - they 

become potential contributors to grid 

stability. The implementation of scalable 

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) 

solutions with dynamic grid support 

features, the integration of renewable 

energy sources like solar panels and wind 

turbines, and the strategic storage of 

energy in batteries (Battery Energy Storage 

Solutions; BESS) extend beyond business 

continuity measures. 

These initiatives play a pivotal role in 

mitigating the strain on the grid, 

transforming retailers into active 

participants in the broader energy 

ecosystem. By embracing more sustainable 

energy practices and acting as responsible 

contributors to grid stability, retailers not 

only fortify their own infrastructure against 

disruptions but also contribute to the 

overall resilience, and help to reduce the 

carbon footprint of the energy infrastructure 

that underpins modern commerce. This 

dual impact underscores the integral role 

retailers play in shaping a more robust and 

sustainable future. 

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR LONG- 

TERM RESILIENCE 

At the core of future-proofing retail 

infrastructure lies strategic, long-term 

planning. The evolving retail landscape 

demands not just adaptability to current 

challenges but a proactive stance towards 

emerging trends. Scalable solutions that 

flexibly accommodate future requirements, 

coupled with a comprehensive 

understanding of regional and global 

dynamics, are essential for resilience in the 

face of uncertainty and change. 

Providers of critical infrastructure solutions 

play a pivotal role in empowering retailers 

for the digital age. Going beyond being 

solution providers, they must also be 

strategic partners committed to delivering 

the continuous availability, reliability and 

efficiency of essential elements in evolving 

retail settings. Partners with a 

comprehensive approach - from innovation 

and design to manufacturing and ongoing 

support - will provide a seamless and 

efficient experience throughout the 

infrastructure life cycle. 

Close collaboration with retailers to craft 

bespoke strategies that align with their 

unique requirements, such as the meticulous 

creation of comprehensive data profiles for 

each customer, will make the critical 

difference. This empowers retailers to gain 

invaluable insights and make informed, 

data-driven decisions to propel their 

businesses forward. 

One element that will help is if your 

partner has proven expertise in the realm of 

Artificial Intelligence (AI). This invaluable 

knowledge will strategically place 

organisations at the forefront of the 

imminent retail revolution, whereAI is 

poised to thrive and realise its full potential. 

FIT FOR THE FUTURE 

Considering the dynamic interplay of 

consumer expectations, technological 

evolution and regulatory landscapes, retail 

infrastructure transcends the realm of choice 

- it stands as a strategic imperative. The 

retail landscape, characterised by perpetual 

change, demands a proactive approach 

from retailers. It's not enough to react to 

current challenges; retailers must envision 

and enact an infrastructure capable of 

navigating the uncertainties that lie ahead. 

The journey towards implementing the 

right infrastructure is not a one-time event; 

it's an enduring commitment. It involves 

creating a resilient and adaptable IT 

infrastructure that can not only withstand 

disruptions but also leverage emerging 

opportunities, harnessing the power of 

digital infrastructure partners. Through this 

ongoing commitment, retailers can 

position themselves not just as entities in 

the present retail ecosystem but as 

architects shaping a brighter, more 

sustainable future for the entire industry. 

In embracing this continuous journey of 

evolution, retailers strengthen their 

relevance, ensuring that their 

infrastructure is not only responsive to 

current needs but also anticipatory of the 

transformative trends shaping the retail 

industry of tomorrow. NC 


SECURITY UPDATE 

BECOMING SECURE BY DESIGN 

CHIP DANIELS, VP, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT SOLARWINDS, OUTLINES THE ROLE OF PUBLIC- 

PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN PROTECTING OUR CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE 

Modern software development has 

made our digital world more 

interconnected than ever, driven 

by the shift to the cloud and the increased 

use of microservices and open-source 

code. The interdependent nature of our 

modern digital infrastructure means cyber 

threats targeting any one software 

company or product can, unfortunately, 

have a broad impact across the industry. 

Therefore, the sector must change its 

approach to cybersecurity and come 

together to better defend against mounting 

cyber threats. 

The industry must work collaboratively 

and in partnership with governments to 

share information about threats, 

mitigation methods, and prevention steps. 

While some government agencies have 

taken a leading role in championing this 

type of collaboration, there is still work to 

be done. 

To support collaboration among the 

public and private sectors, SolarWinds 

recently hosted a panel discussion in 

Washington D.C. featuring SolarWinds 

President and CEO Sudhakar 

Ramakrishna in conjunction with 

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), 

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), 

and CISA Executive Assistant Director for 

Cybersecurity Eric Goldstein. 

The discussion highlighted several key 

ways to help the industry become Secure by 

Design, including the role of collaboration 

in creating a strong defence, supporting 

responsible disclosure to increase 

information sharing, and ensuring the 

industry invests in the people skills needed 

to defend against the newest threats. 

COLLABORATION FOR A STRONG 

DEFENCE 

The role of collaboration is critical in 

protecting the customers of private 

companies, as well as defending nations 

against foreign adversaries. According to 

Goldstein, CISA is leading the 

collaborative effort in public-private 

partnerships to "ensure that we are seeing 

threats before they manifest on our nation's 

networks and taking action in response." 

And to support CISA's initiative in 

promoting widespread collaboration, "we 

need a model where government, industry, 

and our international partners are 

seamlessly and frictionlessly working 

together day in and day out to combat the 

threats that we're seeing today and getting 

ahead of the ones that we're seeing 

tomorrow." Companies can contribute to 

the industry's collective defence posture by 

actively participating in transparent 

information sharing. 

SUPPORTING VICTIMS IN 

RESPONSIBLE DISCLOSURE 

The practice of reporting security 

vulnerabilities and threats in a responsible 

way is critical to ensure that the sector has 

information about new attacks. The 

cornerstone of responsible disclosure is 

ensuring that fixes or patches are available 

when the issue is announced in order to 

limit the risk of malicious actors exploiting 

issues before they are fixed. 

Governments should further incentivise 

companies for responsible disclosure and 

information sharing. Unfortunately, this is 

not always the case. Given the risk that 

companies can be victim-shamed in the 

news media and even face punitive 

measures after 

disclosure, there is 

often a greater 

incentive for companies 

not to disclose. Ideally, 

the industry would foster 

an environment where 

victims can share their 

experiences and learnings 

without fear of retribution. 

SECURE BY DESIGN: A 

PROACTIVE APPROACH 

To successfully navigate the 

modern threat landscape, 

companies must become Secure by 

Design in the software development 

process. This means integrating security 

measures throughout an entire product 

lifecycle from inception to deployment. 

Ramakrishna shares an analogy: "You don't 

think about the airbag in a car after the car 

is manufactured and on the road. You think 

about the safety of that as you're 

designing it." 

Similarly, Secure by Design incorporates 

security as a foundational and inherent 

component of systems and applications. As 

a result, developers can minimise the 

attack surface and proactively identify and 

address vulnerabilities. 

Many governments are already refining 

security guidelines. In the US, for 

example, this includes the generation of a 

Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), which 

26 NETWORKcomputing FEBUARY/MARCH 2024 @NCMagAndAwards 


SECURITY UPDATE 

is like a 

receipt of each component, 

library, tool, and process developers use 

in the build process. 

SBOMs are a critical step for improving 

the security of software products by 

providing visibility into their composition. 

According to Krishnamoorthi, "We need 

radical disclosure and radical sharing to 

make sure that everybody can learn from 

the attacks that are going on." As part of a 

more significant, nationwide Secure by 

Design initiative, SBOMs introduce a new 

standard for transparency and openness in 

the industry. 

BUILDING THE SKILLS NEEDED 

With more than 3.4 million open positions 

in the field, the demand for cybersecurity 

experts is higher than ever. This results 

from a 

lack of 

qualified 

individuals available 

to fill the roles. During the panel, 

Krishnamoorthi recommended allocating 

additional skills and vocational training 

resources to solve this issue. This would 

require increased incentives and the 

implementation of training in high schools 

and community colleges. 

To accomplish collaboration and 

transparency, the government needs more 

support from the private sector. 

Ramakrishna suggested that software 

companies allocate the equivalent of one 

trained, full-time employee to support 

information sharing across individuals, 

companies, and government agencies. 

This designated liaison would be a 

champion 

for working collaboratively 

and help ensure robust public-private 

partnerships amid the evolving threat 

landscape. 

WHY IT MATTERS 

Highly sophisticated nation-state hackers 

pose significant threats to the security of 

global digital infrastructure. By working 

together across the industry, we can build a 

resilient defence against cyberattacks and 

protect our digital ecosystem. Cyber 

resilience is not just about preventing 

cyberattacks but recovering quickly - and 

having a plan to identify and contain the 

attack. It is a shared responsibility 

requiring the cooperation of governments, 

businesses, and individuals. NC 


OPINION: IDENTITY MANAGEMENT 

AVOIDING AN IDENTITY CRISIS 

THOMAS MULLER-MARTIN, GLOBAL PARTNER LEAD, OMADA EXPLAINS WHY THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN 

IDENTITY GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (IGA) SOLUTIONS IS WORTH YOUR ATTENTION 

The field of identity governance and 

administration has dramatically changed 

in the past several years, driven in large 

part by trends like cloud adoption and AI. 

These aren't the only significant factors that 

have changed the landscape, of course, but 

they are the ones we hear of most. 

It's also worthwhile to look at subtle shifts that 

have occurred in recent years, as they allow 

organisations to calculate their ROI faster, 

illustrate consistent business value to their 

stakeholders, and keep the solution simple to 

operate, agile to extend, and conveniently 

scalable. Implementing IGA fast and 

successfully requires a modern 

implementation strategy. 

BUILT-IN PROCESSES HAVE IMPROVED 

In the past, customers often created highly 

customised onboarding, transfer and 

offboarding routines. Request access and 

approvals were different at every organisation. 

You saw similar trends with periodic reviews of 

access (recertifications), management of 

contractors, and other IGA-related workflows. 

But today, more organisations are looking for 

more universal approaches that don't add 

extra work for employees but still help 

maintain compliance. 

There are more solutions today with more 

mature built-in processes than they had in the 

past. They're far more robust, more adaptable 

and easier to operate. Typical use cases like 

generating account names according to the 

company standard, sending individual emails 

or defining individual approval patterns are 

now highly configurable. Some of these 

processes may have required code-based 

customisation before; now those coding tasks 

have shifted to business-focused advisory. In 



OPINION: IDENTITY MANAGEMENT 

other words, whereas in the past IAM projects 

were seen as pure technical plays to shift data 

from A to B, now they can be positioned as a 

solution to a business need, not just a tool. 

As more organisations use the configured 

out-of-the-box standard, innovation can today 

focus on the flexibility of the core product 

instead of the error-prine and high-cost codebased 

customisation. 

SELF-SERVICE OPTIONS HAVE 

EXPANDED AS USER BASE GROWS 

It used to be that IGA was a domain that 

required specialists - a core team of two to five 

specialists who were tasked with keeping your 

organisation compliant. That approach has 

changed, largely out of necessity, given the 

number of people and roles within a typical 

organisation today. More people are using 

IGA solutions in most companies, from 

requesting access to recertifying and from 

creating role definitions to onboarding 

employees. To meet these needs, we've seen 

many IGA offerings evolve to be able to 

distribute tasks in an easier way, throughout 

the entire organisation. 

Operations are changing faster than in the 

past, and the exposure of individuals in the 

business has continuously risen. As the 

operation of the solution gets less complex and 

fewer tickets go to the service desk and 

operations team, they can focus on 

broadening the scope of the IGA solution 

(connecting to more systems), to go deeper 

than before (segregation of duties, risk 

concepts, roles) or to think outside of the box 

of IGA to integrations with privileged access 

management (PAM), customer identity and 

access management (CIAM), security 

information and event management (SIEM) 

and other identity-related solutions. 

MORE SYSTEMS, MORE IDENTITIES 

An average enterprise might be using as many 

as 130 different SaaS apps and all of these 

apps are also creating new digital identities. 

It's no wonder, then, that the number of 

identities that need to be managed has 

continuously risen in the last 10 years. With 

more cross-organisational collaboration, the 

adoption of cloud services and remote work, 

this trend is on an upward trajectory. 

The number of relations between identities 

and systems is exponentially increasing. Larger 

enterprises have many more connections than 

smaller ones. Additionally, not all identities and 

systems are under direct control anymore. For 

example, suppliers and contractors are 

typically not managed by the HR system, and 

your employees have work-related access to 

systems that you don't own. 

THE RISE OF INTEGRATIONS 

It was common in the past to see the individual 

identity management solution as an isolated 

element of your cybersecurity strategy. But 

things have changed, such as the rise of 

visionary Identity Fabric strategies. They 

represent a forward-looking approach to IGA, 

aiming to create a unified, flexible and secure 

identity management framework that aligns 

with an organisation's current and future 

needs. These strategies often leverage modern 

technologies like AI, automation and analytics 

to enhance identity governance and security. 

An emphasis on zero trust (assuming every 

person or device is not trustworthy until 

verified) is another change. It's become 

increasingly apparent that the many pieces of 

your identity infrastructure - including multifactor 

authentication (MFA), PAM, CIAM and 

IGA - need to collaborate in a seamless way. 

A typical enterprise has solutions by various 

vendors, ongoing transformation projects and 

extensions to the existing set of functionalities. 

IGA plays an essential role in this scenario, as 

it is the integration layer in many regards, 

allowing the other solutions to be 

more effective. 

IGA IN ACTION 

As one example, the PAM solution allows 

you to protect your securable assets. IGA 

allows you to classify those assets, create a 

comprehensive risk analysis and define the 

list of assets that need to be secured. 

Another use case is the deactivation of 

accounts triggered by third-party solutions. 

For instance, IGA can get the signals about 

unexpected user behavior from Microsoft 

Threat Protection and disable all personal 

and administrative accounts of the 

individual within seconds, in a compliant 

and auditable manner. 

The integration of the company's user 

interface for standard IGA tasks, such as 

requesting and approving access, is a 

third example that's becoming increasingly 

relevant. If you are using common user 

interfaces for your end users, such as 

ServiceNow, you can allow them to 

perform their tasks inside the platform 

they're familiar with. Creating open APIs 

and the availability of interwoven use 

cases is key for leveraging your IAM 

solutions far better. 

IGA AT THE CORE 

IGA is the core of modern identity 

management ecosystems. You can't fix 

today's problems with solution patterns 

from a decade ago. You need more of an 

advisory mindset with a business focus 

instead of a purely technical approach. If 

you're aware of the leaps of functionality 

that modern IAM solutions have gone 

through, you can reduce the effort required 

for integration, increase the measurable 

business value, achieve a more secure 

solution and reduce the long-tail operation 

and migration costs that legacy solutions 

have. Getting this right will enable you to 

leverage mega-trends like AI more 

effectively and maximise the value of 

identity governance. NC 


OPINION: BACKUPS 

BUNGLED BACKUPS 

WHY ARE BUSINESSES STILL FAILING TO BACKUP THEIR DATA? JON FIELDING, MANAGING 

DIRECTOR, EMEA AT APRICORN, OFFERS SOME INSIGHTS 

Abackup strategy is a safety net for 

the business and, in the event of a 

disaster or a data breach, it can 

often determine if a business sinks or 

swims. Being able to recover data is vital 

to resume normal operations, yet a 

growing number of businesses are finding 

that they are unable to recover all of their 

data when putting that strategy to the test. 

A recent poll of 201 security decision 

makers found that, of the 90 percent of 

businesses that needed to recover 

their data at some point over the 

past year, only 27 percent were 

able to do so, down from 45 

percent in 2022, according to the 

Apricorn Annual Survey 2023. That 

equates to two out of three 

businesses losing some of their 

data. The main cause of these 

failed backups was a lack of robust 

backup processes, as identified by 

32% of those questioned. The 

findings further revealed that 

ransomware is on the up, with a 

quarter naming this as the main 

cause of data breaches, up from 15% 

the previous year. 

WHY ARE BACKUPS FAILING? 

So, given the rise in 

ransomware attacks - which 

should have prompted users 

to double down security and 

focused attention on the 

importance of data backups - 

why are organisations getting 

worse at the practice? Part of 

the problem comes down to 

an increase in manual 

processing. Working habits, 

namely an increase in remote or mobile 

working, have seen more of us resorting 

to manually backing up data locally 

before then also doing so to a central 

location. But while this may be more 

convenient it's also more prone to error. 

Users need to remember to execute the 

backup and to carry out the procedure 

correctly, for example. 

The same survey uncovered a marked 

shift from automated to manual backups, 

with only half of those questioned using 

an automated approach, whereas that 

figure stood at 93 percent in 2022. 

Nearly half of businesses (49%) are 

backing up manually compared to just 6 

percent the year before, so there has been 

an extreme swing from one to the other. 

Moreover, while only one percent were 

backing up to personal storage devices 

before, now 16 percent are using these to 

provide a local backup facility. 

It's important to note that there are 

advantages and disadvantages to both 

localised and centralised backups, so 

doing so manually to a local device isn't 

necessarily a bad thing. What's worrying is 

that there is a marked decline in those 

adopting the 3-2-1 strategy of having at 

least three copies of the data, stored on 

at least two media, at least one of which 

is off-site. In fact, the ideal is to have that 

offsite copy air gapped so a personal 

storage device such as an encrypted 

removable hard drive or USB stick. But the 

survey revealed that those companies 

backing up to both a central and personal 

repository was low, with only 38 percent 

doing so regardless of whether they were 

using an automated or manual approach. 



OPINION: BACKUPS 

PUT 

YOUR BACKUP 

PROCESS TO THE TEST 

In effect this means that the backup 

strategy has been reduced to a single 

point of failure - and this doesn't 

become apparent until it is put to the 

test. What the survey reveals is that not 

enough businesses are testing their 

backup processes to ensure they are 

up to date, robust and able to function 

correctly and efficiently. The general 

consensus is this should be done at 

least once a year but, given that it 

should also be tested in the event of 

any changes to the digital 

environment, i.e. when new users, 

applications, or systems are added, or 

when there's a procedural change 

caused by changes in workflow or 

compliance 

regulations, the reality is 

testing should be more frequent. 

Going forward there are some clear 

lessons to be learnt here. It's not 

enough to be backing up regularly - 

that data needs to be held in multiple 

locations to provide a belt and braces 

approach using the 3-2-1 rule so that, 

in the event one backup fails, the 

business has other options. It's for this 

reason also that you should ensure that 

your backup doesn't connect directly to 

the live data source, as this can make 

it vulnerable to malicious activity. 

Ideally, it should be an 

automated process, although manual 

backups do offer a convenience that is 

hard to argue with given the way we 

now flexibly work. To safeguard data, 

therefore, it should be held on an 

encrypted format and, if using 

hardware, look for FIPs-level security. 

Finally, regularly test that the backup 

procedure is fit for purpose and that 

data is fully recoverable, otherwise all of 

those efforts will be in vain. NC 


OPINION: 5G 

THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONNECTIVITY 

TODD MUSSMAN, WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY EXPERT AT GTT, 

EXPLAINS HOW WE CAN UNOCK THE POTENTIAL OF 5G FIXED 

WIRELESS ACCESS (FWA) 

In our increasingly crowded market, 

businesses across all sectors have to 

find ways to gain the competitive 

advantage and deliver for their 

customers. After all, today's consumer has 

higher expectations for the brands that 

they interact with than ever before. And, if 

these expectations aren't met, they will 

search elsewhere. 

In fact, according to recent research, 

almost one third (32%) of customers 

would stop doing business with a 

brand they loved after just one 

negative experience. For businesses 

looking to attract and retain their 

customers, there is simply no room 

for mistakes. 

To keep up with customer demand - 

and deliver the best experiences 

possible - connectivity is vital. It is the 

key to both remaining agile and 

ensuring business continuity, regardless 

of economic, societal and geopolitical 

conditions. It also enables businesses to 

scale and protect their operations from 

unexpected downtime and keep their 

costs in check. 

For businesses looking to 

boost connectivity, 

there are 

several 

routes 

they 

could 

take. 

One 

which is currently garnering much 

industry attention is 5G Fixed Wireless 

Access (FWA). This technology - which 

provides stable, high-speed internet - 

offers a high-performance, reliable 

answer for businesses looking to meet 

customer expectations and remain agile, 

no matter what. 

GAME-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY 

FWA is a type of 5G technology that 

relies on radio waves to broadcast highspeed 

signals across vast distances 

instead of fiber optic cabling, reducing 

the number of infrastructural challenges 

related to traditional broadband access. 

For businesses and their customers, it 

offers greater reliability and resiliency 

with guaranteed performance. 

By delivering ultra-fast speeds, 5G 

FWA enables businesses to keep up with 

their customer's ever-changing 

expectations. It does so by providing 

optimal connectivity for all employees, 

regardless of where they are logging on 

from. This is a game-changer, especially 

in challenging-to-reach locations when 

wireline solutions for primary connectivity 

are difficult to establish. Employees are 

not only connected to each other but 

their customers. 

Another benefit associated with 5G 

FWA is easy installation. Unlike 

traditional connections, it can be 

installed without any cable drilling or 

wiring. All a business needs to activate it 

is the right expertise and a 5G-enabled 



EVENT ORGANISERS: 

Do you have something coming up that may 

interest readers of Network Computing? 

Contact dave.bonner@btc.co.uk 

6-7 

MAR 

TECH SHOW LONDON 

ExCel, London 

https://www.techshowlondon.co.uk/BTC 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 

2024 



28 

MAR 

25 

APR 

25 

APR 

9 

MAY 

22-23 

MAY 

4-6 

JUN 

13 

JUN 

19 

SEP 

2-3 

OCT 

20-21 

NOV 

CIO/CISO NORDICS SUMMIT 

Copenhagen, Denmark 

www.cdmmedia.com/events 

CIO/CISO UK SUMMIT 

London 


CDO UK SUMMIT 

London 


CIO/CISO BENELUX SUMMIT 

Amsterdam, Netherlands 


DTX MANCHESTER 

Manchester Central 

https://dtxevents.io/manchester/en/page/dtx-manchester 

INFOSECURITY EUROPE 

ExCel London 

https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/ 

CIO/CISO DACH SUMMIT 

Frankfurt, Germany 


CIO/CISO IRELAND SUMMIT 

Dublin, Ireland 


UC EXPO EUROPE 

ExCel, London 

https://ucxevents.io/ucexpo/en/page/ucexpo-home 

DATA CENTRES IRELAND 

RDS, Dublin 

www.datacentres-ireland.com

OPINION: 5G 

SIM card. This also makes it far more 

cost effective than many of the other 

solutions on the market. 

5G FWA networks are also built with 

redundancy measures and backup 

internet connections in place, making 

them one of the most reliable solutions 

for businesses looking to stay connected 

at all times. By using a premise-based 

modem equipped with dual SIM cards, 

the FWA service is available across two 

operators' footprints. This means that 

businesses can switch to the network 

providing the best performance at a 

given time, increasing agility and 

performance. 

This technology has the power to 

transform many industries - including 

manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, 

and banking - due to its ability to 

provide high-speed connectivity, rapid 

deployment, fewer business interruptions 

and improved scalability. Currently, many 

of these benefits are already being 

witnessed in retail environments, where 

the blending of 5G and Wi-Fi has 

extended connectivity, leading to 

improved customer experiences, reliable 

point of sales (POS) processing, and 

faster decision making. 

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF 

5G FWA WITH HELP FROM AN MSP 

Before businesses can unlock the 5G 

FWA connectivity rewards, there are 

some things to consider, especially when 

it comes to implementation. One key 

area that needs to be addressed is 

whether they have the required skillset 

and expertise to ensure that deployment 

and everything it entails - from 

integrating existing infrastructure to 

combating potential network congestion 

and cost, plus everything that follows the 

deployment - is a success. 

To truly unlock the potential of a 5G 

FWA network, organisations need to 

work with an experienced managed 

service provider (MSP) who can offer 

tailored solutions. They should bring to 

the table a global reach complemented 

by local knowledge and be able to 

address each organisations unique 

requirements. 

The right partners can also help 

business to keep track of connectivity 

performance and make the most of their 

investment. Using real-time reports from 

the moment of 5G FWA activation, they 

can advise on any improvement areas 

and keep tabs on connectivity levels. This 

enables businesses to react quickly and 

efficiently to any changes, boosting their 

flexibility, whilst enabling them to meet 

customer expectations across the board. 

A MORE CONNECTED FUTURE 

As we start a new year, meeting customer 

demand and providing the best 

experience possible will continue to be 

the top priority for organisations. The 

role that 5G FWA could play in this is 

clear to see. It is hardly surprising that 

the number of 5G FWA connections is 

predicted to reach 236 million worldwide 

by 2028, up from 19.23 million in 2022. 

When deployed and managed 

effectively, this technology can enable 

organisations to scale, remain agile, 

provide business continuity, and gain 

competitive advantage allowing them to 

meet their customers' needs quickly and 

efficiently. The next generation of 

connectivity solutions is here; and it 

starts with 5G FWA. NC 



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NC Feb-Mar 2024

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