There is no shortage of ways to steal data. That’s why the secure web gateway exists to block those requests and uses cloud sandboxing software to test them for malicious intent.
Taking into account that cybercriminals can gain access to the network of a company or individual by incorporating deceptive URLs and false attachments (phishing).
We will discuss here what sandbox technology is, how it keeps computers safe, and how to implement it.
What is Sandboxing and Why is it Important?
Sandboxing is the imitation of the entire system of your computer.
You will accept a program and run it to understand its purpose. If you are suspicious, you can still work on the program in the sandbox. But with separation, you won’t have the chance to damage your system or any other part of the computer.
So, we can say that a sandbox is a replica of the operational area of a computer, only without access to the rest of the network. If you are using a single program, sandboxing sets the program aside in a separate environment.
The sandbox itself works in isolation, mimicking your system. Protecting both computers and networks in the event of a security breach.
This technology saves businesses money and time and protects them from malware and scams. They are also used to create working directories and improve development.
Since they are accessible and flexible, and therefore popular.
Smaller companies don’t always have the security features that others have, but even companies with large budgets face immense pressure from cyberattacks.
Even schools are targeted due to their large databases of personal information and often lack the protection they need to keep these threats at bay.
Students make the issue more scalable, by accidentally inviting the risks into the network, being more likely to visit suspicious gaming sites and similar, after bypassing content filters.
The 2016 Mirai Botnet is a great example of this. It started as a Minecraft scam and provided a way to get an edge in the game by kicking other players off the internet.
It used DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks to do this. The creators were selling the use of their bot for around $ 5-50, creating an attack-for-rent business. They just didn’t realize the beast they had unleashed.
This malware infected 65,000 devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) in its first 20 hours. The bot violated Dyn (one of the main Internet’s DNS infrastructure controllers).
The consequences were very clear: affected thousands of security cameras, and it took CNN, Netflix, Reddit, Twitter, and The Guardian down.
It was unlike anything anyone had ever seen, but this is certainly not the last time we will hear of such a massive incident. More attacks are coming.
That is why you should know how Sandboxing works, as soon as possible.
How Does Sandboxing Work
We already said that in cybersecurity, sandboxing is used as a resource to test whether the software is considered “safe” or “insecure”.
Sandbox computer security works by running code in a sandbox. There, you can observe the behavior of the code. While most security measures are reactive, the sandbox is proactive. This code test is different from traditional tools that recognize malware patterns.
After the code test, it checks how the replicated network responds and makes a decision:
- Approved? Then it passes the code through a firewall to then allow its entrance on the network. You could still work inside the sandbox environment.
- Suspicious? You can use the program while avoiding its contact with the network.
Ultimately, cloud sandboxing provides an additional layer of security to analyze threats and separate them from the network.
Network and web security are important layers in a company’s overall cybersecurity strategy to ensure that online threats do not compromise operations.
Differences Between Appliance-based and Cloud-based Sandobixng
As its name suggests, cloud-based sandboxing is for purely virtual use.
This means that when URLs, downloads, or codes are tested in the sandbox, they are completely separated from the computer or any of the network devices.
Otherwise, Appliance-based Sandboxing uses company hardware or appliances to investigate those applications, files, or downloads without any data leaving your network.
Off-grid users, such as remote workers, are exposed and the device’s litter box goes blind when traveling or simply out of the office.
Cloud software solutions in general are becoming the new normal for businesses. Physical devices are being used less and less as cloud-based software offers remote working benefits, backup and recovery benefits, and reduces internal hardware costs.
But which one is better for you and your company?
Companies with a large network and a large number of remote workers would likely benefit the most from cloud sandboxing, as it keeps traveling employees protected.
Cloud-based applications can scale with a business, while appliances will need to be swapped for higher capacity or additional items will need to be purchased.
Still, our IT and cybersecurity experts are available now to help you decide and move forward on the establishment of protection for your business networks.