Rule Recertification

Managing firewall rules with expiry dates is a complex task for network security teams. The issue often arises from misaligned timelines between different departments, such as DevOps, database management, and compliance teams. While projects may be planned with set expiration dates in mind, actual project delivery often diverges from these timelines. As a result, when a firewall rule expires or is disabled, it can delay critical projects—not just because of blocked access, but also due to the lengthy re-approval processes that need to be completed again from scratch.

Streamlined Rule Recertification with Opinnate NSPM

With Opinnate NSPM, rule recertification becomes an automated and streamlined process. Firewall rules with expiry dates can be managed effortlessly, ensuring that they are revalidated, extended, or retired without disrupting ongoing projects.

Opinnate acts as a communication hub, efficiently orchestrating interactions between requesters and security teams. It doesn’t just eliminate the risk of access issues by addressing expiring rules proactively, but it also simplifies the approval process, ensuring smooth recertification with minimal administrative overhead. This way, projects can continue without interruption, avoiding unnecessary delays caused by outdated or disabled firewall rules.

Proactive Notifications for Time-Based Policies

It is common for time-based security policies to still be required even after their set expiry dates. With Opinnate, service owners and network teams are proactively notified well in advance of a rule’s expiration, allowing them to make informed decisions on whether the rule should be extended or adjusted. This ensures that security policies remain effective without causing downtime or access issues that could delay key projects.

Automated Periodic Rule Recertification for Long-Term Controls

In addition to handling expiring rules, Opinnate NSPM excels at automating periodic rule recertifications, which are essential for maintaining a secure and efficient firewall configuration over the long term.

Many organizations require yearly or even more frequent reviews of all firewall rules to ensure that they remain valid and compliant with evolving security policies. Opinnate automates this process by conducting annual or periodic rule audits. The platform sends automated email notifications to service owners, prompting them to review their associated firewall rules. This periodic recertification ensures that outdated or unnecessary rules are identified and either adjusted or decommissioned, significantly improving the overall security posture.

Key Benefits:

• Automated Rule Recertification: Manage both expiring and long-term firewall rules with automated processes that keep policies up-to-date and aligned with project needs.
• Proactive Notifications: Receive early warnings for expiring or time-sensitive rules, allowing teams to take action before access disruptions occur.
• Periodic Audits: Conduct yearly or custom-period rule recertifications through automated emails to service owners, ensuring consistent security compliance and optimized firewall policies.
• Streamlined Communication: Opinnate facilitates communication between requesters, network teams, and security teams, ensuring a smooth workflow for rule approval and recertification.
• Time and Cost Savings: By automating both rule expiration management and periodic audits, Opinnate reduces the administrative burden on security teams and minimizes the risk of project delays.

With Opinnate, your organization can proactively manage firewall rule expirations and recertifications, keeping policies aligned with real-world project timelines and security requirements, while automating time-consuming processes that often lead to unnecessary delays.