As your organisation expands its edge computing infrastructure, it faces unique security challenges because, unlike centralised data centres, edge environments are more vulnerable and require targeted strategies to protect.

Critical security threats at the edge

Physical access risks

Your edge devices may be deployed in areas with minimal security, such as factory floors or remote sites. This increases the risk of theft, tampering, or unauthorised access.

Management complexity at scale

As your edge deployment grows, traditional approaches like SSH become impractical. Large numbers of devices complicates security oversight, raising the risk of misconfigurations.

Intermittent connectivity

Many edge sites operate with limited network connections, which can delay crucial security updates and incident reporting and leave vulnerabilities exposed.

Lack of on-site expertise

Remote edge locations often need more dedicated IT security personnel. Dispatching skilled staff to these sites is costly and logistically challenging, potentially delaying incident response.

Supply chain vulnerabilities

Ensuring device integrity from manufacturing to deployment presents new challenges in maintaining a secure edge infrastructure.

Best practices for security at the edge

Zero-trust architecture

A zero-trust model treats every access attempt as potentially malicious. This approach ensures continuous authentication and authorisation across your edge environment.

Secure boot and firmware integrity

Use secure boot processes and cryptographically signed firmware to prevent unauthorised code execution on edge devices.

Data Encryption

Deploy robust encryption for data at rest and in transit. To protect sensitive information, use self-encrypting drives (SEDs) and comprehensive key management systems.

Automated lifecycle management

Implement automated patching and update mechanisms to reduce exposure to zero-day exploits. Look for solutions offering cryptographically signed upgrade bundles that can be automatically applied.

Network micro-segmentation

Isolate workloads and limit potential breaches by tightly controlling communication paths between virtual machines or containers through network micro-segmentation.

Reliable authentication

Enforce multifactor authentication (MFA) across your edge infrastructure to prevent unauthorised access and address weak password practices.

Secure device onboarding

Utilise protocols like FIDO Device Onboarding (FDO) to ensure a secure supply chain and initial device configuration for edge deployments.

Dell Technologies role in security at the edge

Dell Technologies offers comprehensive solutions to address the unique security challenges of edge computing with NativeEdge Platform, an operations software platform designed with security at its core. It incorporates:

  • Continuous authentication and authorisation across edge devices for zero-trust policy.
  • FIDO Device Onboarding (FDO) for secure supply chain and initial configuration.
  • Cryptographically signed upgrade bundles for secure, automated updates.
  • SCV to ensure the authenticity and integrity of hardware components used in edge devices, mitigating supply chain risks
  • Secure boot processes and cryptographically signed firmware to prevent unauthorised code execution.
  • Self-encrypting drives (SEDs) and robust critical management systems for data-at-rest encryption on edge devices.
  • Advanced security features for edge deployments that require more computing power, like the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) with silicon-based root of trust.
  • Adherence to security standards and certifications (e.g., NIST, FIPS 140-3, IEC 62443) relevant to edge deployments.

Summing up

Your organisation can build a resilient edge computing environment, with solutions like Dell’s NativeEdge platform helping you navigate the complexities of security at the edge and effectively protect your distributed IT assets.