03.08.22 by Joe Gleinser

Application networks enhance security when connecting centralized apps to multiple organizations.

As modern software architectures become more distributed, application networks have emerged as a way to seamlessly connect applications, data and devices residing in multiple locations.

An effective application network creates a layer of connectivity that mitigates the complexities of connecting, managing, and supporting an application’s access to remote data.

Application networks are used to integrate data across multiple environments and eliminate the challenges of traditional VPN tunnels. An application network uses software to connect to the desired data, no matter where it lives or who controls each environment.

That’s the key advantage of an application network: Its ability to easily connect centralized applications to a variety of distributed data sources. But as those resources become more diversified and distributed, a natural question arises: How is all of this secured? And is that security as strong as legacy technologies like VPN or MPLS?

Because application networks are purpose-built for connecting applications and data between multiple organizations, they’re inherently designed to solve different (and more complex) problems than a run-of-the-mill VPN.

But securing the transit of data between different organizations presents challenges that simply don’t exist when one organization owns both sides of a networked connection (e.g., branch networking).

Addressing those unique challenges is what differentiates an application network, and it’s precisely for this use case that Trustgrid built many of the security features for its Application Network Platform.

That means every element of Trustgrid’s platform has been built around securing sensitive data, from least-privileged access to encryption to system maintenance.

Security Features of a Properly Built Application Network 

  • Zero Trust authorization of all traffic
  • Micro-segmentation by user or service
  • Secures traffic for any endpoint (apps, data, or devices)
  • Private point-to-point or mesh traffic, with global visibility
  • Global policy enforcement
  • Advanced encryption
  • Certificate-based authentication
  • Automated updates and patching
  • Access control and logging with ability to integrate to third party security applications

The good news? ALL of these security features are baked into the Trustgrid Platform. Which means every application network built using Trustgrid includes these capabilities without requiring certified networking or security experts to implement third-party tools.

The best news? All of these security features are designed for rapid deployment at scale. Compared with legacy technologies such as VPN, the Trustgrid Platform allows customers to spend a fraction of the time configuring and maintaining connections with advanced security.  

Trustgrid customers can deploy new connections in hours (not weeks). Hundreds of appliances can be patched simultaneously (instead of individually) and Zero Trust network security is designed into the platform as a default configuration.

Combining all of this with plug-and-play deployments that easily traverse firewalls outside of your control means not only that an application network can be more secure than what many organizations are using for connectivity today, but that it also can simplify life for an application provider in the process.

Read our white paper: Connecting Distributed Applications