Battlestar Galactica and the World of CyberSecurity

Like the surviving colonists fleeing the Cylon attack, We shall explore in this blog how legacy VPNs work and why following wisdom from the Lords of Kobol can guide us to better cyber security, known in this case as Zero Trust.

Battlestar Galactica is a famous science-fiction television series that aired in the late '70s, then revived again from 2004 to 2009. The show explores themes of artificial intelligence, interstellar conflict, and the struggle for the survival of the human race. However, one of the most compelling aspects of the series is its portrayal of the Cylons, a race of intelligent and deadly robots. In this blog, we will examine how the Cylons can be seen as a metaphor for legacy VPN technology, while Zero Trust represents the future of cybersecurity.

Legacy VPNs and Cylons:

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) remain popular for establishing secure connections between two networks over the internet. VPNs have been around for many years and have become essential for remote work and assumed secure communication. However, VPNs have several limitations that make them less effective in today's cybersecurity landscape.

One of the biggest problems with VPNs is that they are a legacy technology not designed for modern threats such as advanced persistent threats (APTs) and ransomware attacks. In the same way, the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica were created as valuable tools for humans, but their intelligence and autonomy led to unintended consequences.

How VPNs Work:

VPNs create a secure and private connection between two networks over the internet. A VPN creates a secure tunnel that encrypts all traffic passing between the two networks, intending to make it difficult for attackers to intercept or view the transmitted data. VPNs can also provide remote access to internal networks, connect remote offices, and securely connect to cloud services.

VPNs use encryption and authentication technologies to "secure" data transmission. VPNs use protocols such as Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), and Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) to establish a secure connection between two networks.

However, VPNs have many limitations, making them less effective in today's cybersecurity landscape. For example, most are vulnerable to brute force attacks and other forms of credential theft. VPNs also provide users full access to the network, making it difficult to control access to sensitive data and resources.

Humans designed the Cylons to be obedient servants and soldiers, but they eventually rebelled and turned against their creators. The Cylons in Battlestar Galactica represent the dangers of creating technology that is too powerful and beyond human control. Similarly, legacy VPNs represent the limitations of older technology not designed to handle modern cybersecurity threats.

Zero Trust and the Future of Cybersecurity

Zero Trust is a new paradigm in cybersecurity designed to address legacy VPNs' limitations. Zero Trust is based on "never trust, always verify." This phrase means that every user, device, and application must be authenticated and authorized before being granted access to sensitive data or systems. Zero Trust is a more robust approach to security than VPNs because it focuses on securing the data rather than just the connection between two networks.

How Zero Trust Works:

Zero Trust is a cybersecurity model that assumes every user, device, and application is untrusted until proven otherwise. Zero Trust relies on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This idea means that every user, device, and application must be authenticated and authorized before being granted access to sensitive data or systems. Zero Trust is based on the following core principles:

• Identify and classify all network assets, applications, and data

• Authenticate and authorize all users and devices before granting access

• Monitor all network traffic for anomalous behavior and potential threats

• Enforce access control policies based on the principle of least privilege

• Continuously assess and update security policies to respond to new threats

Zero Trust is a more comprehensive and dynamic approach to security than VPNs. Zero Trust focuses on protecting the data itself rather than just the connection between two networks. Zero Trust is also designed to be more flexible and adaptable than traditional security models, allowing organizations to respond quickly to emerging threats.

In the context of Battlestar Galactica, Zero Trust can be seen as a metaphor for the humans' struggle to survive in a world where they can no longer trust their technology. The humans in Battlestar Galactica had to adapt to a new reality where their old defense methods were no longer effective. They had to adopt new tactics and technologies to stay alive. In the same way, organizations today must adapt to a new reality where traditional security methods are no longer enough to protect against modern threats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica can be seen as a metaphor for legacy VPN technology. VPNs were once a valuable tool for securing network connections, but they are no longer effective in today's cybersecurity landscape. The Zero Trust approach to security represents the future of cybersecurity, as it is designed to address the limitations of legacy VPNs and provide a more robust approach to security. As organizations continue to adapt to the changing cybersecurity landscape, they must adopt new technologies and approaches to stay ahead of the curve.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Zero Trust are two distinct methods used in cybersecurity to protect networks and data from unauthorized access, theft, and damage. While VPNs have been around for many years and are widely used by organizations, Zero Trust is expanding rapidly and has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to provide a more robust approach to security.