Self-Learning Series Part 2: Delivering Zero-Trust Security with NativeEdge
Tue, 17 Oct 2023 13:43:00 -0000
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At the edge, there are security risks where devices are typically deployed in remote and less secure locations, making them vulnerable to physical tampering. Furthermore, when these devices are shipped throughout the supply chain, the device could be exposed to multiple different parties where there could be a malicious actor somewhere throughout the supply chain.
The distributed nature of the edge and lack of technical staff make security and compliance the most business-critical pieces, determining the viability of any edge plan.
Maintaining hardware and software complexity for various form factors, network connections, levels of ruggedization, and configurations is a significant challenge that must be addressed for large-scale edge deployments.
This highlights the importance of ensuring that edge devices are secure, user-friendly, and straightforward to deploy.
The NativeEdge platform is built from the ground up with zero-trust security principles. We alleviate the security fears by delivering a platform that ensures the integrity of edge hardware from design to deployment, and along the supply chain to protect applications and data through hardened blueprints and digitally signed package validation.
Ensuring a Zero-Trust Chain of Custody
Our top priority is ensuring security from design to deployment and all along the supply chain to protect applications, data, and infrastructure across the edge estate using zero-trust security principles.
To address this need, Dell introduces NativeEdge secure device onboard (SDO), a solution that simplifies the deployment of NativeEdge-enabled Devices while ensuring robust security with zero-trust and zero-touch capabilities. Using NativeEdge, anyone can set up a NativeEdge-enabled Device by plugging in a network cable, powering on the device, and stepping away. Devices automatically onboard into the NativeEdge Orchestrator for zero-touch deployment across sites.
After SDO, the NativeEdge Orchestrator securely provisions the NativeEdge Operating Environment onto the NativeEdge-enabled Device. At this point, the device can accept deployment of applications from the NativeEdge Orchestrator.
Every shipment of NativeEdge-enabled Device from the Dell manufacturing plant is secure and locked down. This is accomplished by the following:
- Secure boot is enabled in BIOS, meaning that only Dell NativeEdge images such as Factory OS, NativeEdge Operating Environment, factory reset image, and so on can successfully boot.
- The BIOS password is protected and locked out.
- Boot order is locked down.
- Secure component validation further protects PowerEdge R660 and R760 NativeEdge.
- iDRAC (for PowerEdge models) is disabled during onboarding.
- A single network port is available for onboarding while all other ports are disabled.
Impact Management from Deployment to Onboarding
Secure operations, including the ability to deploy and secure workloads anywhere, and centrally monitor and report on technical and business-level changes, is another critical concern at the edge. Application orchestration solutions designed for edge deployments must be able to deploy these operations workloads to the cloud of their choice.
An important feature of NativeEgde security is the secured component verification (SCV). It ensures that the devices are delivered and ready for deployment exactly as they were built by Dell manufacturing, providing an extension to the Dell Secure Supply Chain assurance process. We leverage a trusted platform module (TPM) chip to secure the hardware with integrated cryptographic keys. TPM stores some security certificates and secrets to encrypt all the management communication. It ensures that, as an edge device is onboarded to NativeEdge, the connection is highly secure, and that edge device cannot be removed from the location and managed through any other means. It can only be managed through NativeEdge.
Additionally, securing with zero trust reinforces the security of applications, data, and infrastructure at every layer:
- By protecting hardware integrity with FDO-enabled devices
- Fortifying data and application, from edge to cloud
- Focusing on authenticating, authorizing, and protecting these individual users, applications, and devices irrespective of their physical or network location
- Allowing administrators to create users and assign role-based access control
Finally, as part of zero trust, we need that tamper-proof edge hardware and software integrity. We need to make sure that something hasn't happened to that device, because at the edge, you may not have the same level of security controls that you have inside your core data center, or even inside a regional data center. These sites typically have fewer access controls than some of the other edge sites we just mentioned. By giving you consistent management and control and the ability to keep your edge infrastructure up to date, you can be assured that your edge state is not increasing the attack surface for your IT infrastructure and operations.
Security Standards that Protect Your Data
Zero-trust security principles are at the core of NativeEdge, ensuring the integrity of edge hardware, applications, and data through hardened blueprints and digitally signed package validation. While onboarding new devices or applications, the platform extends continuous security across all connected resources, providing you with peace of mind.
NativeEdge empowers you to leverage the enormous benefits of edge computing, while ensuring the integrity and safety of your systems and data.
Conclusion
Dell NativeEdge helps businesses secure the data pipeline from data sources to the edge applications running locally, in data centers, or on the cloud. It combines advanced security measures such as encryption, user access control, private app catalog, network segmentation, and security orchestration. The edge platform also uses telemetry and analytics to proactively assess the security posture of the edge estate without relying on experts with audit capabilities to visit every site.
Dell NativeEdge protects your edge estate with zero-trust security principles. The edge operations software platform enables secure zero-touch onboarding coupled with a hardened and secure edge operating system, which is fundamental to the fidelity of your edge estate. With Dell NativeEdge, you can rest assured that the devices, users, network, applications, and data are continually attested and validated across your expanding edge estate.
To learn more about how to secure with zero trust, click here to see an interactive flip-book.
Additional Resources
To learn more about edge security essentials, click on the following links:
This blog is a part of a self-learning series. For more information on NativeEdge, go to:
Related Blog Posts
Unlocking the Power of AI-Assisted DevEdgeOps Automation
Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:13:00 -0000
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In today's digital landscape, the expansion of edge computing has transformed how data is processed and managed. However, with this evolution comes the challenge of managing and maintaining numerous edge deployments efficiently. DevEdgeOps is a shift-left approach that moves operational tasks to an earlier stage. This approach facilitates collaboration between IT and OT streamlining edge operations. By integrating AI-assisted techniques into DevEdgeOps practices, organizations can unlock stacks of benefits, ranging from increased productivity to improved operational efficiency.
“The automation process using infrastructure as code (IaC) is complex, especially when it comes to highly distributed edge environments. It must be balanced with the requirements of edge operating environments which are different than IT. Gen AI and Copilot-based edge automation development tools can reduce the development process of that automation code and help to meet the requirements of edge operations workloads.” says Nati Shalom, Fellow at Dell NativeEdge, introducing the topic in his blog Edge-AI trends in 2024.
In a recent study by McKinsey, it indicates a potential improvement of up to 56 percent in productivity. DevEdgeOps advocates for reducing that complexity using a shift-left approach where production issues can be identified earlier during the development phase.
Figure 1. The benefits of using Gen AI as a coding assistant (Copilot) (Source: McKinsey)
Simplifying Complex Tasks with Automation
One of the primary advantages of leveraging AI in DevEdgeOps is the ability to automate and optimize complex tasks associated with edge operations. Traditional methods of managing edge environments often involve manual interventions, which are time consuming and error prone. AI-powered automation tools can streamline these processes by intelligently analyzing data patterns, predicting potential issues, and automating corrective actions. This reduces the burden on IT teams, minimizes the risk of downtime, and improves system reliability.
A case in point was the recent winner of the Dell Hackathon, Rachel Shalom, from the NativeEdge team. In her article DevOps Made Easy with Gen AI, she explores the integration of Gen AI into DevOps practices, simplifying and optimizing the development process. By leveraging Gen AI's capabilities, developers can automate tasks such as code generation, testing, and deployment, reducing time-to-market and enhancing efficiency. Through Rachel’s real-world example, she illustrates how Gen AI streamlines DevOps workflows, empowers teams to focus on innovation, and fosters collaboration between development and operations teams.
Regarding data and modeling insights, Rachel writes “You might be wondering, why not use Copilot or a commercial GPT for queries right off the bat? We gave that a shot, but it fell short of our specific need to generate configuration files. This was mainly because our proprietary internal data was not familiar to the model, leading us to the necessity of fine-tuning with a private GPT-3.5.”
A Proactive Approach to Edge Management
AI-assisted DevEdgeOps enables organizations to adopt a proactive approach to edge management. By leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms, businesses can anticipate and prevent potential issues before they escalate into critical failures. This proactive approach enhances system resilience and enables organizations to allocate resources more effectively, which optimizes operational costs.
Rapid Development and Deployment
AI-driven DevEdgeOps facilitates rapid development and deployment of edge applications. Traditional development processes often struggle to keep pace with the dynamic nature of edge computing, resulting in delays and inefficiencies. By harnessing Gen AI capabilities such as Copilot-based development tools, organizations can accelerate the development life cycle, reduce time-to-market, and stay ahead of the competition. This enhances agility and allows businesses to capitalize on emerging opportunities more effectively.
Reducing Costs with Automation
In addition to operational benefits, AI-assisted DevEdgeOps can also drive significant cost savings for organizations. The McKinsey study referenced earlier highlights the potential for a 56 percent improvement in productivity through the adoption of AI-driven automation. By automating repetitive tasks, optimizing resource utilization, and minimizing downtime, businesses can achieve substantial cost reductions while maximizing the return on investment (ROI) of their edge investments.
Furthermore, AI-assisted DevEdgeOps fosters innovation by empowering organizations to focus on value-added activities rather than repetitive mundane operational tasks. By automating routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and provisioning activities, IT teams can devote more time and resources to innovation-driven initiatives that drive business growth and competitive advantage. This enhances organizational agility and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
Conclusion
The benefits of automating edge operations with AI-assisted DevEdgeOps are undeniable. By leveraging AI capabilities to streamline processes, enhance proactive management, accelerate development, and drive cost savings, organizations can unlock the full potential of their edge deployments. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, embracing AI-driven automation in DevEdgeOps will be essential for organizations looking to stay competitive, agile, and resilient in the face of the ever-changing demands.
References
Self-Learning Series Part 4: Explore the Open Design and Platform Architecture
Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:53:00 -0000
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Edge has a unique set of challenges that require a new way of architecting to solve them. Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm where data processing is performed closer to the data source or "edge" of the network, rather than relying solely on centralized cloud servers.
An open design fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. It promotes flexibility and a more future-proof approach to edge computing. However, it's essential to carefully evaluate the specific requirements of the edge computing environment and choose the approach that best aligns with the organization's goals and constraints.
In this blog, we will help you understand how to get the most out of edge investments using an open design that works with software applications, IoT frameworks, multi-vendor operations technology solutions, and multicloud environments of your choice. This will allow you to consolidate technology silos and deliver consistent management experience across devices with connectivity out of the box.
A Unique Set of Challenges
When edge computing lacks an open design, it can face several challenges, including:
- Vendor Lock-In—Without open standards and interoperability, organizations may become locked into a specific vendor's proprietary solutions. This limits flexibility, hinders innovation, and leads to higher costs.
- Lack of Ecosystem—A closed system can stifle competition, reducing options and potentially raising prices.
- Security Concerns—Closed, proprietary systems may lack transparency, making it more difficult to assess and improve security.
- Scalability—Scalability is critical for edge computing, as the number of edge devices and their diversity can vary widely. Closed systems are more rigid and make it difficult to scale.
As a result, closed systems may limit the ability of developers and organizations to innovate and create customized edge computing solutions.
What Is Multicloud by Design?
Multicloud by design, also known as a multi-cloud strategy or multi-cloud architecture, is an intentional approach to utilizing multiple cloud service providers for various aspects of an organization's computing needs. In this strategy, a company deliberately chooses to use two or more cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to meet specific business requirements.
While multicloud offers numerous benefits, it also introduces complexities in terms of management, orchestration, and security. Organizations need to plan their multi-cloud strategy carefully, including workload placement, data synchronization, network configurations, and security measures, to ensure a successful and efficient implementation. Specialized tools and services designed for managing multi-cloud environments can assist in these efforts.
Watch the following video on how to optimize your edge investment:
A New Way of Architecting
Built on an open design, Dell NativeEdge offers the flexibility to choose the ISV applications and cloud environments for your edge application workloads. You can centrally and consistently deploy containerized and virtual applications using blueprints to work with your choice of IoT frameworks and OT vendors. Like everything else from Dell, NativeEdge is multicloud by design, enabling you to deploy applications across and new or existing environment.
Here are a few advantages of using an open design system:
- Flexibility—Open architectures allow organizations to choose from a variety of hardware, software, and services. This flexibility is particularly important in the dynamic edge computing environment, where the diversity of devices and use cases can vary.
- Avoiding Vendor Lock-In—With open designs, organizations are less likely to become locked into a single vendor's proprietary solutions. This reduces the risks associated with vendor dependency and enables businesses to switch or integrate different technologies more easily.
- Cost-Effectiveness—Open design often leads to cost-effective solutions. Open-source software and standards can reduce licensing fees and minimize the need for expensive proprietary hardware, helping organizations optimize their budgets.
- Scalability—Open architectures are typically designed with scalability in mind, making it easier to expand edge computing solutions as requirements grow or change.
- Security and Transparency—Open-source projects are transparent, allowing users to inspect the source code for security vulnerabilities. Community review and contributions help identify and address security issues promptly.
- Ecosystem Growth—An open design fosters a broader ecosystem of complementary software and hardware solutions, enhancing the availability of tools and services that can be integrated into the edge computing environment.
Edge Partner Ecosystem
We are working with partners to co-engineer and develop solutions that include software, partner intellectual property, products, and services. Dell also has some of the biggest, longest-standing partnerships in the industry with companies like Microsoft, Intel, and VMware.
When market-leading companies team together to create and offer validated, proven reference architectures, then we can help you mitigate risk and accelerate your time to revenue.
As an example, with NativeEdge, the Dell Validated Design for Manufacturing Edge using Telit Cinterion can be implemented and brought to market quicker, allowing for faster and more secure deployment, lower costs, increased security, and more reliable and repetitive outcomes based on the blueprints implemented. This allows for:
- Quicker data collection and analysis when deployed on-premises
- Increased integration of information from existing assets across all NativeEdge-enabled Devices
- Simpler configuration
- Simplified connection of devices
By removing the complexity of deployment and adding the element of application-level lifecycle management, NativeEdge reduces the amount of physical touch required and creates a repeatable deployment process at scale.
Dell Technologies will continue to foster partnerships to develop open software that enables interoperability and ease of operations while avoiding being locked into expensive, proprietary technologies that limit your ability to innovate and create. For more information, visit our Edge Ecosystem.
Watch the following video: Power management company optimizes edge investments for success
Conclusion
Make the most of edge investments by using an open design that works with software applications, IoT frameworks, multi-vendor operations technology solutions, and multicloud environments. This enables you to deploy applications across new or existing environments. NativeEdge will support each edge use case with an open design that works with your choice of software applications, IoT frameworks, OT vendor solutions, and multicloud environments.
Dell Technologies is going to enable its existing strong edge ecosystem of partners to leverage the open, vendor-agnostic design, allowing customers to optimize their edge investment. This way, we can put the customer in the driver’s seat to control their edge.
To learn more about how to simplify edge operations at scale, click here to see an interactive flip-book.
Additional Resources
To learn more about NativeEdge Application Orchestration, click on the following links:
This blog is a part of a self-learning series. For more information on NativeEdge, go to: