Cloud platforms have become a default application deployment option for many organizations. Many deployments are hybrid, with components spread across on-premises and multiple cloud platforms. In these cloud and hybrid scenarios, the infrastructure model can hinder the delivery of robust cloud application security.
Cyberthreats continue to evolve, with cyberattackers probing for and targeting new and existing application vulnerabilities and APIs to steal data or disrupt operations. IT teams need to balance cloud application security, performance and reliability without adding complexity to deployment or operations management.
Progress Kemp LoadMaster load balancers can significantly enhance the security of applications deployed across cloud platforms—and for hybrid and on-premises deployments. In addition to delivering application uptime and performance, the LoadMaster solution has security at its core. In this blog, we’ll explore how LoadMaster capabilities provide a security-focused approach to cloud load balancing. This makes it ideal for modern organizations looking to implement best practices for cloud application security.
Modern cloud environments offer both opportunities and challenges. Organizations can benefit from scalability and flexibility without having to build and manage their own on-premises infrastructure. However, the shift toward cloud deployments has created new security challenges, as traditional network perimeter defenses are no longer well-defined.
Applications residing in the cloud need protection against the same threats that affect traditional deployment models, such as ransomware, data breaches, DDoS attacks, supply-chain vulnerabilities and more. With APIs now playing a central role in application functionality, securing both APIs and device endpoints is more critical than ever.
LoadMaster load balancers are crucial for securing this landscape by acting as strategic control points for application access. Positioned between users and application servers in the cloud, they inspect traffic before it reaches critical infrastructure. The LoadMaster solution enhances this capability by incorporating multiple security layers directly into its load-balancing functionality, creating a security-first approach to application delivery. Read more about the Protection for Your Applications and APIs with the LoadMaster solution.
The LoadMaster solution provides robust security features without impacting application performance. It adapts to diverse security needs for organizations operating in complex environments by providing web application firewall (WAF) protection, DDoS mitigation, strong authentication controls and encrypted communications management.
We outline specific security-focused features of LoadMaster load balancers throughout the blog.
Web Application Firewall (WAF) - The LoadMaster WAF is built on the widely used and respected ModSecurity WAF and is a cornerstone of LoadMaster security capabilities. It delivers protection against common and emerging threats, including those in the OWASP Top 10. The WAF has a rules subscription service, which means that new application vulnerabilities can get addressed quickly.
DDoS Protection and Mitigation - The LoadMaster solution includes built-in defenses against volumetric and targeted DDoS attacks. By detecting and neutralizing these threats in real time, the LoadMaster solution helps deliver uninterrupted service availability, a crucial factor for customer trust and operational continuity.
TLS/SSL Offloading and Encryption - Secure network communications are a must for modern applications. TLS/SSL certificates and encryption are core to this security. However, TLS/SSL processing is resource-intensive and can impact performance when done on application servers. One LoadMaster capability includes offloading TLS/SSL encryption and decryption processes from application servers. Thereby improving performance while maintaining high levels of encryption to help safeguard sensitive data. The LoadMaster product can also perform automated TLS/SSL certificate management to prevent security certificates from expiring and unplanned application downtime due to certificate issues.
Zero Trust Security Model Support – LoadMaster load balancers help organizations shift toward zero-trust architectures by working with authentication and access control mechanisms to enhance endpoint security. By validating user and device identities, the LoadMaster solution minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.
Strong Authentication Support - Advanced authentication support, including integration with Active Directory, RADIUS, SAML and multi-factor authentication. Support for delivering modern MFA and SSO integration reduces reliance on passwords, protecting applications from credential-based attacks. LoadMaster software also supports Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to provide administrators and end users with appropriate access levels, reducing the likelihood of accidental or malicious damage by people with elevated permissions they don’t need or shouldn’t have.
API Security and Gateway Protection - Strong authentication support extends to API access. The LoadMaster solution helps secure APIs by inspecting traffic, validating inputs and blocking unauthorized access. In our era of API-driven development, this capability is critical for protecting microservices or monolithic applications deployed in the cloud.
Beyond the security features, industry-leading LoadMaster application controls provide efficient and secure application uptime and performance even in times of complex traffic patterns. Additionally, the product provides granular control over application traffic through Layer 7 inspection and filtering. This capability allows system admins to inspect and block malicious requests before they reach application servers, significantly reducing the attack surface. The load balancer can also adjust policies based on detected security threats to optimize security and performance.
Geographic access controls enable organizations to restrict application access based on server and end-user location, while real-time monitoring via LoadMaster 360 provides detailed visibility into security events. Adding LoadMaster security capabilities to your overall cloud security infrastructure helps create a robust defense system that adapts to security conditions while maintaining application availability.
LoadMaster 360 also provides continuous visibility into security events and other application metrics. It can also share log files with SIEM systems, adding LoadMaster information to the bigger-picture view of the network many organizations have in their SIEM system.
The threat landscape we all deal with isn’t static. New vulnerabilities are constantly discovered and cybercriminals continuously adapt their technical and social engineering attack methods to find new ways to breach security. Having LoadMaster cloud load balancers as part of your application delivery infrastructure provides security capabilities that help defend against emerging threats. For example:
Many organizations now operate across multiple cloud platforms. This is often due to specific business applications mandating a particular platform, the use of special offers on infrastructure, or the wish to diversify application deployments for resilience.
When using multiple cloud platforms, IT teams often have to learn how to use the different tools from each to deliver the same functionality. This is true for the native cloud load balancing and security tools. Adopting a solution that is available across all platforms allows for a consistent deployment and management experience, meaning that system admins only need to learn one tool.
The LoadMaster solution provides a consistent interface and security policies across cloud platforms like AWS and Azure. The shared interface simplifies management for hybrid cloud deployments, reducing complexity and operational overhead. LoadMaster cloud cross-platform functionality streamlines compliance with industry standards like GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, PCI-DSS and others, helping organizations meet regulatory requirements.
You can read about deploying the LoadMaster solution on the popular cloud platforms via the following links:
In general, deploying LoadMaster to a cloud platform is straightforward. Especially for AWS and Azure, where you can deploy it directly from each platform’s Marketplace. Whichever cloud platform you are deploying it on, you should follow these steps to maximize security:
Performing regular security updates for LoadMaster load balancers, continuous monitoring and periodic security assessments can help deliver ongoing optimal security protections.
In addition to the deployment best practices outlined above, IT teams should follow these cloud application security best practices to maximize the cloud security benefits of using LoadMaster cloud instances. Doing so will boost your cloud security, even if you don’t actively track or monitor cloud application security issues.
Keep LoadMaster deployments updated to the latest versions.
Monitor LoadMaster instances to make sure security-related functions are operating as intended.
Optimize the LoadMaster security rules and make sure rule subscriptions are operating correctly.
Audit security settings regularly to confirm they are fit for purpose and help you meet compliance requirements. This should be part of a broader security review across all solutions to contribute to the overall cloud and on-premises security posture.
LoadMaster cybersecurity features are tailored to modern cloud environments. Its integration with existing solutions and award-winning 24/7 support means organizations have the tools and assistance needed to help safeguard their cloud applications.
By combining in-depth security and performance optimization, the LoadMaster solution helps you meet and exceed the demands of today’s cloud and hybrid deployment landscapes. For organizations seeking to enhance cloud security while maintaining agility, the LoadMaster load balancer is an excellent choice.
The LoadMaster solution helps organizations secure their cloud applications against ever-evolving threats while optimizing performance. It provides a robust and flexible solution for modern security needs, from advanced WAF capabilities to zero-trust support and multi-cloud compatibility.
All LoadMaster versions, including the cloud-native installations, fully align with modern deployment needs, provide robust functionality and offer flexible licensing, including industry-leading subscription options. The LoadMaster solution has a lower cost of ownership than other vendors, including the default AWS and Azure load balancers.