Layer3 unveils Secure Anywhere cloud security for NZ small businesses

Layer3 has unveiled its new cloud-based security solution, Secure Anywhere, powered by US security firm Todyl. The solution allows distributed workforces to connect securely to company networks, clouds, apps, and the internet, regardless of their global location. This is made possible through the vast reach and capabilities of Todyl's Secure Global Network (SGN) Cloud Platform.

In the past, such secure access services have been economically feasible only for large enterprises, with cloud services often supplied from Australia. Layer3 is aiming to challenge this trend by offering Secure Anywhere to small and medium-sized organisations.

In association with Todyl, Layer3 is extending the SGN into New Zealand, providing genuine onshore cloud security. The new SGN Point of Presence in New Zealand is expected to be operational by 1 December 2023. Daniel Bohan from Layer3 commented, "For the first time, non-enterprise organisations in New Zealand will have access to cutting-edge security that will protect their users from literally anywhere in the world."

Bohan continued, "At your desk, in a café, on airport public WiFi, or at a convention overseas, it doesn't matter. You will automatically connect to the closest point on a global network for cloud-delivered firewall protection." This announcement comes as the nature of business has changed over the past few years, with people no longer confined to the office, applications residing in the cloud, and employees working wherever they choose. Traditional security solutions such as hardware firewalls do not provide protection for remote workers, exposing systems and data to potential threats.

John Nellen, Todyl CEO and Founder, described their platform as "revolutionary in the security space". He explained, "Our goal is to empower Kiwi businesses with an all-in-one security platform by giving IT professionals the tools, insights, and automation needed to defend against ever-changing threats." The platform is based around Todyl's SGN, which boasts more than 30 Points of Presence around the globe, with Auckland, New Zealand, due to be added in the coming weeks.

Layer3's Secure Anywhere solution is designed to protect organisations by creating a secure hybrid work environment, no matter where the employees are based. This innovative solution, backed by Todyl, blends advanced threat protection with networking technology, safeguarding users, applications, and data across cloud services, corporate networks, and home setups to provide a secure remote experience.

Secure Anywhere also incorporates Zero Trust functionality, a design principle centred around denying access by default, but permitting users to specific applications or services after identity verification. "Basically, if you aren't connecting from a Secure Anywhere device, you aren't getting into a Secure Anywhere protected environment," explains Bohan.

The service blocks access from unverified devices, preventing lateral movement within the network and reducing opportunities for threat actors to exploit. This initiative follows reports from CERT NZ for Q2 2023, which showed a 26% increase in phishing incidents, a 36% rise in malware incidents, with the average quarterly direct financial loss at NZ$5 million—a figure equating to NZ$20 million per year. Bohan concluded: "Small businesses are learning that cybercrime is not just a big business risk. And yet access to the same services to defend themselves properly in or out of the office have just not been accessible unless you happen to have hundreds or thousands of staff. Well, that's all about to change."