Industry 5.0: How Enterprises of the Future Will Secure Networks with SASE

Secure access service edge (SASE) is a cloud-native architecture that integrates networking and security services into a unified platform.

This model combines functions such as software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN), secure web gateways (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) and zero trust network access (ZTNA) to deliver secure and efficient access to applications and data, regardless of user location.

Core benefits of SASE over traditional networks

• Manage network and security with one overarching solution
• Much simpler to extend security to all corners of your organization
• Lower expenses by minimizing the need for separate hardware and software solutions
• Lives in the cloud with better performance capabilities

Industry 5.0 is the next stage of industrial evolution, where humans and smart machines work together using AI, automation and real-time data. It focuses on efficiency, personalization and sustainability.

While this represents the advancements made in the industrial space, the implications apply to a wide range of business use cases. The growth in AI models, for instance, not only benefits manufacturing but also extends to healthcare, banking, digital services and more.

Industry 5.0 is the next stage of industrial evolution, where humans and smart machines work together using AI, automation and real-time data. It focuses on efficiency, personalization and sustainability.

While this represents the advancements made in the industrial space, the implications apply to a wide range of business use cases. The growth in AI models, for instance, not only benefits manufacturing but also extends to healthcare, banking, digital services and more.

In Industry 4.0, organizations embraced automation, IoT and AI, making production faster and smarter. Machines handled repetitive tasks and real-time data optimized efficiency. But the need to include human creativity and adaptability was apparent.

Key tenets of Industry 4.0

• Automation: Convert repetitive tasks into automated processes with the help of robotic or machine intervention.
• IoT: Use of sensors, endpoints and devices to build more resilient processes.
• Cyberphysical systems: Integration of digital and physical systems allows organizations to monitor, analyze and optimize operations in real time.

Source: https://www.rothschildandco.com/en/newsroom/insights/2024/10/the-dawn-of-industry-5.0/

Now, in Industry 5.0, the focus has shifted towards enhancing human-machine collaboration. For Canadian organizations, this means personalized automation, resilient supply chains and smarter, greener production – all while keeping people at the heart of innovation.

Key tenets of Industry 5.0

• Human-centricity: Focus on collaboration between humans and machines, enhancing creativity, well-being and personalized production.
• AI-driven: Leverage artificial intelligence to optimize decision-making, automate complex tasks and improve efficiency.
• Sustainable innovation: Integrate eco-friendly technologies and circular economy principles to reduce waste and carbon footprint.

As one of the key tenets of Industry 5.0 is to increase collaboration, it requires bringing more endpoints to a shared network. This could inadvertently lead to cyberthreats and raise issues in terms of how employees access their work. Some of the most pressing challenges are described below.

Increased attack surfaces with industrial IoT (IIoT)

Automating industrial processes requires constant data exchange among IIoT devices, cloud platforms and the AI layer. This can expand the attack surface area by exposing a larger digital footprint to cyberattackers.

Organizations need an umbrella solution that can secure IIoT devices and connect them to a unified management layer. Otherwise, the risk of cyberthreats, such as DDoS attacks and ransomware, may become significantly higher.

Cyberphysical security risks

As cyberphysical systems (such as a robotic arm in a manufacturing setup) are susceptible to network attacks, malicious actors may gain unauthorized control over the same.

Such risks arise when industrial devices or internal endpoints (laptops, printers, etc.) aren’t fully secured. Organizations that rely on cyberphysical systems need to use highly secure networks to operate their mission-critical equipment.

Data privacy and compliance concerns

With vast amounts of real-time sensitive data flowing through networks, organizations must balance innovation with compliance. Intellectual property, proprietary designs and production metrics are prime targets for cyberattacks.

Organizations need networks that comply with area-specific and cross-border compliance standards to ensure their data is free from risks.

Zero trust is a security architecture built on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” It ensures that only authenticated and authorized entities, whether users, machines or applications, can access specific resources.

Zero trust has become essential for organizations as they look to secure their digital assets across a variety of IT environments. Here are three key reasons for zero-trust adoption:

1. Securing industrial OT and IT convergence

In Industry 5.0, the convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) creates a complex network environment. Zero trust addresses this by ensuring that every access request between OT and IT systems undergoes strict authentication and authorization, minimizing potential vulnerabilities.

2. Identity-based access control for users, machines and applications

Identity-based access control is a fundamental component of zero trust. For users, this involves verifying credentials and enforcing policies based on roles and responsibilities. This granular level of control reduces the risk of unauthorized access and potential breaches.

3. Continuous monitoring and risk-based authentication

Traditional security models often authenticate users or devices at the point of entry and then grant broad access. In contrast, zero trust emphasizes continuous monitoring. This ensures that access permissions remain appropriate and secure throughout a session.

As more organizations get ready for Industry 5.0, operationalizing zero-trust security is expected to be a key priority. But due to complexities in integrating zero-trust technologies with legacy systems, zero-trust adoption has remained low.

SASE can help bridge this gap by providing a unified platform that makes it easier to put zero trust into action while also delivering stronger network performance.

Using SASE, organizations can achieve the following zero-trust security outcomes in a simpler, more secure way, with our partner solutions from Cisco.

​Provide secure access to critical resources

SASE significantly bolsters zero-trust security by enabling zero trust network access (ZTNA). It minimizes the risk of unauthorized access by continuously authenticating users and devices before permitting access to sensitive applications and data.

• Cisco Secure Access: This cloud-delivered security service edge (SSE) solution can help enforce zero trust by validating users based on identity, device posture and contextual factors before granting access to applications.

Contain lateral movement with microsegmentation

Microsegmentation, another zero-trust feature, further enhances security by dividing the network into isolated segments, effectively containing lateral movement within the network.

This strategy limits the scope of potential breaches, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access to one segment, they cannot easily access others.

• Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN: Enhances network security through microsegmentation, dividing the network into isolated segments to limit lateral movement of threats.

AI-driven behavioural analytics and anomaly detection

AI-driven behavioural analytics play a crucial role by monitoring user activities in real time, establishing baselines for normal behaviour and detecting anomalies that may indicate security threats.

• Cisco Secure Access: Incorporates advanced security features, including secure web gateway, cloud access security broker, cloud-delivered firewall and DNS-layer security, all powered by Cisco's Talos threat intelligence. These features collectively enhance the solution's ability to detect and respond to anomalies, bolstering the organization's security posture.
• Cisco AI Defense: Discovers AI workloads, applications, models, data and users across distributed cloud environments to prevent potential risks from affecting the IT environment. It can also manage access to third-party AI applications and enforce policies to limit sensitive data exposure.

Cisco offers a comprehensive suite of services and products to assist organizations in implementing zero-trust strategies effectively.

End-to-end Cisco security solutions

Our partners at Cisco offer identity Intelligence, AI-driven defence and compatibility with legacy applications that can help Canadian organizations fully implement SASE. CDW Canada delivers a range of Cisco security solutions that align with SASE and zero-trust principles:​

• Cisco Secure Access: Enforces zero trust by validating users based on identity, device posture and contextual factors.
• Cisco Hybrid Mesh Firewall: Enables consistent security policies, visibility and centralized management for diverse environments.
• Cisco Secure Equipment Access: Ensures secure connectivity and access control for networked equipment, aligning with zero trust.
• Cisco Duo: A multifactor authentication solution that adds an extra layer of security by verifying user identities.
• Cisco Secure Workload: Protects applications and workloads across data centres and clouds, implementing zero trust by monitoring and controlling communications between workloads.
• Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE): A policy management platform that enforces security policies based on user and device identities.
• Extended Detection and Response (XDR): Provides integrated threat detection and response across multiple security layers.

CDW Canada is a Gold-certified Cisco partner, enabling Canadian organizations to implement SASE with well-defined criteria. We help organizations improve their readiness for Industry 5.0 by strengthening their network operations and configuring next-gen security.

Network modernization: SD-WAN deployment for secure connectivity

CDW Canada assists organizations in deploying SD-WAN solutions that enhance secure connectivity by optimizing application performance and ensuring reliable access to cloud services.

This modernization supports SASE by integrating secure network access with comprehensive security policies, providing consistent and secure user experiences across various locations.

Cloud security and managed services

CDW Canada provides managed services that support the continuous monitoring, management and optimization of security solutions. These services ensure that security policies are consistently enforced and potential threats are promptly identified and addressed, reinforcing the principles of SASE and zero trust.

When it comes to zero-trust security, all-around protection can only be assured when supporting technologies such as MFA and microsegmentation are properly implemented.

CDW follows a systematic approach that helps organizations identify their core needs, tailor zero trust to their environment and ensure everything works as expected. We help organizations adopt the right zero-trust technology to achieve their security goals, whether they are just getting started or need assistance with specific use cases.

Here is our three-step process to help you implement zero-trust security.

Step 1: Security assessments and zero-trust strategy development

CDW Canada begins by conducting thorough security assessments to evaluate existing security postures and identify vulnerabilities.

These assessments help us develop customized zero-trust strategies, ensuring that security measures align with organizational goals in the evolving landscape of Industry 5.0.

Step 2: Implementing Cisco SASE solutions tailored for industrial environments

Leveraging Cisco's SASE solutions, we design and implement secure, cloud-native services that protect users and applications across diverse environments.

The solution is completely tailored to your IT environment and networking architecture. For instance, Cisco Secure Access can be configured to enforce security policies for remote users as well as industry workers, based on the type of workforce you want to support.

Step 3: Managed security services provide 24/7 threat monitoring and response

To maintain continuous protection, we offer managed security services that include 24/7 threat monitoring and response. This helps organizations swiftly respond to security incidents, minimizing potential impacts and ensuring the integrity of industrial operations.