Compliance-Driven Security at the Edge: Leveraging Cloud Native Edge Computing

Edge computing use cases include chemical production, energy, healthcare, financial systems, national defense, and critical manufacturing. Edge systems in these and similar industries can directly impact critical national infrastructure, which is why it’s so important to ensure compliance-driven security.

Cloud native edge computing offers a robust framework for integrating compliance requirements directly into the architecture, enhancing operational efficiency and optimizing customer experiences while adhering to stringent compliance standards.

Key Strategies for Compliance at the Edge:

To ensure compliance with government standards, especially in the areas of defense and intelligence, these best practices focus on securing the critical infrastructure managed at the edge.

1. Hardened Operating Systems: Deploying immutable, lightweight, and hardened Linux operating systems in FIPS mode is crucial. This ensures the use of certified encryption modules and adherence to strict system hardening policies, providing a secure foundation for edge operations.
   
2. Mandatory Access Control: Enabling Security-Enhanced Linux for mandatory access control adds an additional layer of security, fortifying the system against unauthorized access and potential breaches.
   
3. Zero Trust Security Model: Adopting a zero trust security model secures edge environments by centrally declaring security policies and pushing these policies to each edge location. This approach assumes that the network may be compromised and implements stringent measures to protect sensitive data in transit. This is particularly vital in hostile environments where the risk of cyber threats is elevated.
   
4. Cloud Native Security Solutions: Utilizing cloud native security solutions that are automated, declarative, and auditable helps maintain compliance and ensure data protection. These solutions should be lightweight, Kubernetes-native, and capable of operating offline to accommodate the resource constraints typical of edge environments.
5. Enhanced Visibility and Analytics: Ensuring end-to-end visibility, observability, and robust analytics across the digital estate is critical. This capability helps in distinguishing between normal operations and potential security threats, thereby enhancing the security posture at the edge.

Benefits of Cloud Native Edge Computing in Compliance

Cloud native edge computing provides a standardized and efficient approach to security, from policy management to infrastructure and application deployment. Using a standardized API like Kubernetes and a secure Linux platform, organizations can enhance security across all layers of their infrastructure. 

Cloud native edge computing not only supports compliance and security but also drives efficiency and operational optimization. It enhances customer experiences by ensuring that data handling and processing meet compliance standards without compromising on service delivery. 

Security and Compliance at the Edge

As edge solutions are designed and architected, security must be taken into account at every layer of the stack: hardware, operating system, infrastructure platform (Kubernetes), and the application runtime layer. 

By using the strategies discussed here, organizations can use the full potential of cloud-based edge computing. To learn more about cloud native edge computing and a deeper understanding of security requirements, check out our e-book, Cloud Native Edge Essentials: Strategies Empowering Change and Innovation.