Security must be the number one a priority when designing and installing new communications networks on customer premises.
That's the view of Martin Hester, Strategic Consultant at Nuvias, who believes traditional firewalls are not enough to fight off new cyber threats.
"Cyber threats are becoming ever more sophisticated and increasing in volume. In addition, remote working or working across multiple sites and multiple devices, together with an increasing reliance on cloud-based applications, have all served to weaken traditional perimeter-based security," said Hester.
"Traditional firewall technology is no longer enough. Anyone designing or planning a new network deployment in 2018 must adopt a 'security First' mantra, with security being embedded into the network elements and design.
"When a network has security inherently built into it, operates alongside other security platforms, and is managed with consistent, properly enforced policies, it becomes the security defence."