The Register's sponsored explainer argues that the network is an organization's richest source of security intelligence, since every attack leaves a trail across it. But visibility alone is not enough: because the network connects every user, device, and workload, it is also the natural place to verify identity, apply consistent policy, and contain suspicious activity close to its source.
Today's enterprises face a dissolving perimeter, with assets scattered across cloud, edge, and on-premises environments. The article says bolting on more security tools is unsustainable, leading to overlapping or conflicting products and slow coordination between network and security teams. Embedding security functions directly into routers, switches, and access points is presented as a way to standardize policy, adapt quickly to AI-driven attacks, and simplify zero-trust implementation, including micro-segmentation.
AI cuts both ways: machine learning can spot patterns in network activity and help teams automate routine work, but attackers are also using AI to scale their assaults. The piece recommends starting by assessing your greatest source of risk, then considering options such as unified SASE, hybrid mesh firewalls, or universal zero-trust network architectures.