Fortifying the digital battlefield: how secure network fabric defends against evolving cyberthreats

A recent study by Check Point Research revealed that enterprise networks faced an average of 1,636 attacks per week in Q2 2024, marking a 30% year-over-year increase and a 25% rise from Q1 2024. The past two years have witnessed the highest surge in global cyberattacks, driven by increasingly sophisticated threat actors. Various cyber threats are evolving simultaneously, making them more complex, diverse, and persistent. For businesses and organizations worldwide, assessing their ability to counter these hidden dangers is crucial.

With its built-in security, network fabric has become a key defense against both emerging and existing threats. However, to defeat an enemy, one must first understand it. Let’s take a closer look at the latest cyber threats.

Ransomware remains one of the most prevalent and increasingly effective forms of cyberattacks. According to IBM and the Ponemon Institute, the global average cost of a data breach has reached $4.88 million (USD) in 2024 – a 10% increase from 2023 and the highest ever recorded.

As the name suggests, ransomware attacks involve cybercriminals encrypting a victim’s data and demanding payment for the decryption key. These attacks can escalate, disrupting entire operations by locking multiple workstations or even critical central servers. Ransomware often exploits misconfigured security policies and unpatched system vulnerabilities, whether overlooked by the software manufacturer or the IT team. However, most incidents originate from phishing campaigns and social engineering tactics that trick users into clicking malicious links.

Phishing attacks rely on email, SMS, phone calls, social media, and other communication channels to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or downloading malicious software. Cybercriminals use psychological tactics, leveraging emotions like love, fear, greed, or status to make their schemes appear legitimate. According to StationX, phishing is responsible for about 36% of all data breaches, and in 2021, nearly 20% of recipients clicked on compromised links in emails. More advanced spear phishing attacks have proven even more effective, with success rates exceeding 50%.

Despite efforts by companies to train employees on detecting deceptive messages, the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has made phishing attempts harder to identify. In 2023, Darktrace Research observed a 135% increase in malicious email campaigns using advanced linguistic manipulation, including variations in syntax, semantics, grammar, and sentence structure.

IoT devices are a significant weak point in network security, often serving as gateways for cyberattacks. Unlike PCs or smartphones, which typically have stronger security protections, IoT devices are primarily designed for functionality, leaving them more susceptible to malware and exploitation. Because of these weaknesses, cybercriminals see IoT devices as easy targets for launching attacks that can spread across an organization’s entire network.

According to Demandsage, 84% of businesses using IoT have experienced security breaches, and nearly half admit they lack the necessary tools to detect such incidents. This growing threat highlights the urgent need for stronger security measures and monitoring capabilities to protect IoT ecosystems from cyber threats.

As if cyber threats weren’t already severe, malware has become more sophisticated, incorporating advanced stealth capabilities. Instead of causing immediate damage, modern malware is designed to remain undetected and operate covertly for extended periods. This shift has given rise to Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), which can lie dormant for days or even weeks before executing their attack.

Once activated, malware can distribute AUTORUN files, enabling it to spread across internal networks and infect multiple systems. When attackers initiate the encryption process, all compromised devices are affected simultaneously, amplifying the impact of the breach. This evolution in malware tactics makes detection and prevention more challenging than ever, emphasizing the need for proactive cybersecurity measures.

The reality – whether seen as discouraging or hopeful – is that most data breaches result from simple, preventable mistakes. Research from IBM, Tessian, and Stanford University attributes 88-95% of security incidents to human error. But what if enterprise networks could be managed, expanded, and secured in a way that reduces reliance on human intervention and minimizes vulnerabilities? That’s precisely the role of network fabric.

Extreme offers the industry’s most widely deployed, automated, and secure network fabric solution, making network security more streamlined and resilient. Through zero-touch, edge-only service provisioning and automatic device detection, IT teams can eliminate manual configurations, allowing for faster deployment, simpler troubleshooting, and reduced workload – all while improving overall network security. But the most powerful feature remains hidden from attackers….

The core strength of Extreme Fabric lies in its ability to segment and isolate threats. This solution supports multiple virtual networks operating independently over a shared infrastructure, ensuring that breaches in one segment do not compromise the entire network. With automated edge-only provisioning and comprehensive hypersegmentation across devices, users, guests, IoT, and other services, the risk of attackers moving laterally within the network is virtually eliminated. Additionally, because Extreme Fabric is ethernet-centric, it remains invisible to IP-based scanning tools, making it difficult for cybercriminals to detect or exploit.

Beyond security, Extreme’s network management suite provides significant advantages to IT administrators. ExtremeCloud IQ Site Engine offers end-to-end network visibility, fabric monitoring, and management, delivering detailed insights into network and application performance. This ensures organizations have a clear view of their network’s security posture, helping them proactively detect and respond to potential threats.

As part of a merger process involving three separate locations, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital (ETZ) sought a solution to merge individual networks into a unified, secure metropolitan-area network. The goal was to centralize management, enhance security, and ensure scalable connectivity for future expansions, all from a single interface.

With Extreme Fabric, ETZ – one of the largest healthcare providers in the Dutch province of North Brabant – can now segment network connections for onsite partners, companies, and users efficiently and at scale. Additionally, hypersegmentation capabilities allow ETZ to manage a diverse range of IoT devices without the need for separate networks, while also enhancing protection for outdated medical endpoints.

By implementing Extreme Fabric, ETZ has achieved greater security and efficiency without requiring high-level IT expertise or additional staffing costs. The result is a streamlined, cost-effective network infrastructure that supports the hospital’s expanding operations while maintaining the highest standards of security and reliability.

In a constantly evolving cyber threat landscape, how can you stay ahead and protect your organization effectively? The key is to transform your IT operations – making them simpler, more automated, secure, and optimized to handle modern security challenges. With Extreme Fabric, you can enhance network security, reduce manual workloads, and improve operational efficiency without adding complexity.