BANGALORE, INDIA: Virtualization provides a method for allowing network segmentation, while consolidating multiple networking devices, reducing network hardware and switch ports, and decreasing operational data center costs. It also allows service providers a means for a new business model by providing a managed security services (MSS) offering, says Vishak Raman, regional director, India & SAARC, Fortinet. He speaks at length about what led to the growth of virtualization in the unified threat management (UTM) space.

At a juncture when individual threats are paving way for blended threats, gone are the days when security solution vendors try to woo you with specialized solutions for single threats.

Moreover, in this age of virtualization and consolidation, it didn't take much time for the vendors to realize that the specialized ones alone won't cater to the needs. Today, they are set to welcome and recognize the need for the new kid on the block.

Virtualization of UTM space
Virtualization of UTM space is becoming the new mantra for network proliferators today. Enterprises seek expansion to keep pace with the exponential growth that IT sector showcased until recently when the global recession hit Indian shores.

“As the networks proliferate, and large enterprises, carriers and MSSPs build out more and more complicated infrastructures to support business-critical applications, the need for securing and segmenting those networks and applications increases,” says Vishak Raman.

Enterprises went on with the mode of network proliferation at the cost of security parameters, as a larger network calls for a better security landscape too.

Today, they are coming to terms with the security risks their networks are prone to. On the other hand, those who had already proliferated, are seeking safe consolidation, to avoid risking their networks with the advanced fraud industry.

Today, network attacks are not just confined to individual worms or viruses, but have evolved and taken the form of blended threats, in which computer network attack seeks to maximize the severity of damage and speed of contagion by combining methods, such as using characteristics of both viruses and worms, while also taking advantage of vulnerabilities in computers, networks, or other physical systems.

“Globally, the blended threatscape and the aggregation of cyber crime drive the need for enterprises to gear up in their security infrastructure. Today's connected world presents an unprecedented opportunity for hackers to monetize their skills, and companies, especially their databases, present a treasure trove for such underground organizations,” adds Vishak Raman.

“In addition, as security technology evolves, platforms utilizing hardware have surpassed the performance barrier, bringing benefits of consolidated network security to enterprises of all sizes and in new deployment locations. The combined need to accelerate, optimize and consolidate security operations creates an unprecedented demand for security virtualization,” he added.

India at the focus
India is at the heart of IT developments and a natural target with the growing use of the Internet, which also brings greater security threats. More mobile users bring about compromised security positioning for enterprises.

“Security virtualization is a new phenomenon for India. The concept of security virtualization is becoming increasingly important in India and is at the adoption curve inflection point, as enterprises and their own network interfaces (physical or virtual), routing requirements and network protection rules,” avers Vishak Raman.

Fortinet's security virtualization solution
Fortinet delivers virtualized network security by offering the ability to virtualize, or 'divide', its FortiGate multi-threat security appliances into multiple, separately provisioned and managed instances through integrated virtual domain, or VDOM, functionality.

Network security system virtualization, using Fortinet's VDOM feature, provides isolation between each virtual system, giving administrators’ flexibility in configuration and traffic management capabilities on each virtual instance.

Fortinet's virtualized network security solution is available within every FortiGate appliance, from smaller appliances designed for distributed and enterprise remote branch office deployments, to high-end and chassis-based systems designed for large enterprises, managed service providers and carriers.

Fortinet has adopted a holistic view toward addressing these threats with consolidated security for enterprises, as well as provide FortiGuard services as ongoing subscription avenue for end users.

In addition, Fortinet is constantly on top of the research curve and has, most recently, launched FortiOS 4.0, which redefines the consolidated security landscape Fortinet has founded, by offering a broad and powerful combination of security and networking services in a single, integrated platform.