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2022 has been quite an eventful year for Perimeter 81. The Israel-based cloud and network security company is only four years old, but is at the forefront of the quest to replace legacy VPN (Virtual Private Networks) with ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Architecture). ) solutions. It raised $100 million (at a $1 billion valuation) in June 2022 to achieve this and has more than doubled its annual recurring revenue (ARR) year over year.
“The rise of remote work, the adoption of the cloud, fiber and 5G has led to a fundamental shift in the network security landscape, leading companies to replace their on-premise network and security equipment with a secure corporate network over the Internet,” said Perimeter 81 Co-Founder and CEO, Amit Bareket, earlier this year.
We sat down with a team from Perimeter81 to discuss the future of VPN in the enterprise and talk about what will happen in 2023 for network security.
What are Perimeter81’s views on the future of VPN in the enterprise?
VPNs must evolve to meet the needs of modern networks. The adoption of hybrid work and cloud computing means that it no longer makes sense to use hardware VPNs deployed at physical on-site locations. VPNs must move to the cloud and be delivered from multiple global locations to be effective. The distributed nature of modern networks also creates a huge attack surface that requires better inherent security. A Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution provides this by micro-segmenting the network and implementing least privilege access controls. Eventually, legacy VPNs will be replaced by globally distributed cloud-based ZTNA solutions.
Not all ZTNA are the same: how does your approach differ from others?
Perimeter 81’s ZTNA solution is converged with a secure web gateway (SWG), which protects users from Internet threats such as malware, and a firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), which protects on-premises and cloud resources. These three components come together in one solution with one management console. It’s also distributed in over 40 locations around the world, meaning no matter where users come from, they’ll experience a faster and more responsive connection to corporate resources.
What are some of your USPs compared to what’s out there?
Perimeter 81’s ZTNA goes beyond basic capabilities and adds additional layers of security. First, all our customers get dedicated private IPs, giving them better access control to on-prem and cloud resources. In addition, Perimeter 81’s client can protect endpoint devices from online threats even when they are not connected to the corporate network.
We’re still weeks away from 2023: what do you think are the biggest security threats facing enterprises in the new year?
Ransomware attacks are likely to remain the biggest threat to enterprises. In addition, breaches for data theft and supply chain attacks will also be high risk and worrying. Enterprises will need to tighten their security by applying zero trust principles and tools. Implementing solutions for least privilege access and malware protection will play a critical role in minimizing the enterprise’s attack surface and improving security.