In the cybersecurity landscape, "real-time" must be one of the most overused buzzwords, especially among vendors in the threat detection and response space. While it sounds impressive and offers a sense of immediate action and control, the term is often used loosely, with its true meaning varying greatly depending on the vendor and context. It's time to critically evaluate what "real-time" really means and how it should be understood.
The Illusion of Real-Time
When vendors claim their solutions operate in "real-time," they often mean they can process data and react to threats quickly. However, "real-time" in a strict technical sense implies instantaneous processing and response, which, in most traditional solutions is nearly impossible due to inherent latencies in data transmission, processing, and of course network constraints.
In practice, what many vendors label as "real-time" often involves delays of seconds, minutes, or even longer, depending on the complexity of the threat, the volume of data being analyzed, and the efficiency of their systems. This disparity between the marketing promise and the operational reality can lead to a false sense of security among organizations.
Defining Real-Time in Context
In cybersecurity, the expectation for "real-time" should be reframed to reflect the actual capabilities of threat detection and response systems. Rather than implying instantaneous action, "real-time" should be understood as the ability to process and react to threats with minimal latency, aiming for the fastest possible detection and mitigation within technical constraints.
Consider Investment Managers obsessed with minimizing latency in trading systems (where public-facing systems experience delays, but investment banks strive for near-zero latency), or considering the catastrophic consequences of a two-minute delay in air traffic control, why do we tolerate this in cybersecurity? Latency is a weapon that adversaries are quick to exploit.
Streaming Defense: What Real-Time Really Means to Us
Streaming Defense offers a more grounded and transparent use of the term "real-time." In this context, "real-time" refers to the unique ability to instantly terminate threats at wire-speed.
Here’s how streaming Defense defines and implements "real-time":
Instant Threat Termination: Streaming Defense systems are designed to detect and terminate threats as they occur, with no perceptible delay. This means that threats are neutralized at wire-speed, providing true "real-time" protection.
Continuous Monitoring: Unlike periodic scans or batch processing, streaming Defense involves continuously monitoring network traffic and system activity in memory. This allows for the detection of anomalies and threats as they emerge, contributing to immediate threat termination.
Low Latency Responses: Streaming Defense is the only solution that offers a 'kill switch' to instantly terminate a threat before it propagates into a breach. Data is analyzed on-the-fly, ensuring that there is no significant delay between detection and response. The system operates with minimal latency, often in milliseconds, enabling instant reaction to threats.
Scalability: The Streaming Defense platform is built to handle vast amounts of data efficiently. Scalability ensures that as data volumes grow, the system's performance in detecting and responding to threats remains effective and immediate.
The Real Value of Real-Time
By offering true "real-time" detection and response, Streaming Defense set realistic expectations for what cybersecurity solutions can achieve. The focus shifts from the illusion of instantaneity to the practical reality of swift, efficient, and continuous threat management. We reduce latency risk by operating at wire speed - the same limits any adversary has.
Organizations should prioritize solutions that offer genuine real-time capabilities—those that can instantly detect and neutralize threats at wire-speed. By understanding the true meaning of "real-time" in cybersecurity, businesses can make informed decisions and deploy defenses that truly enhance their security posture.
So while the term "real-time" may be overused and often misunderstood, it holds significant value when correctly applied within the Streaming Defense framework. It’s time for the cybersecurity industry to embrace a more precise and transparent use of the term, ensuring that promises align with capabilities and organizations can effectively safeguard their digital assets.
Karl DiMascio
CMO at Streaming Defense