Guardicore Segmentation

Basic Information

• Model: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation (formerly Guardicore Centra)
• Version: Guardicore Segmentation Security Platform v51.3, with Guardicore Platform Agent 7.0.0-v51.3.
• Release Date: Akamai acquired Guardicore in late 2021. Agent version 7.0.0-v51.3 was released on February 5, 2025. The platform undergoes continuous updates, with recent enhancements for hybrid cloud environments announced in February 2024.
• Minimum Requirements:
  • Agent: 200 MB free disk space.
  • Aggregator: 32 GB RAM, 8 vCPUs, 100 GB storage.
  • ESC Collector: 4 GB RAM, 4 vCPUs, 30 GB storage.
  • Sensor: 2 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 30 GB storage.
• Supported Operating Systems:
  • Modern Windows (Windows 10 Home/Enterprise/Pro 64-bit version 1803+, Windows 11 Home/Enterprise/Pro 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, 24H2) and Windows Server (2012+, 2012_R2+, 2016, 2019) are fully supported.
  • Modern Linux distributions (CentOS/Rocky/RHEL 8+, Debian 11, Kali 2023.1, Parrot 5.2, openSUSE Leap 15.4, Ubuntu Bionic 18.04, Focal 20.04, Jammy 22.04, WSL 2) are fully supported.
  • Legacy Windows and Linux versions are supported with L4 enforcement.
  • Specific versions of AIX and Solaris are supported with L4 enforcement.
  • Specific versions of HP-UX are supported for visibility only.
  • Specific versions of FreeBSD are supported with L4 visibility and enforcement.
  • Broad platform support extends to bare-metal servers, virtual machines, containers, IoT, and cloud instances.
• Latest Stable Version: Guardicore Segmentation Security Platform v51.3, Guardicore Platform Agent 7.0.0-v51.3.
• End of Support Date: Not explicitly stated; OS support is continuously expanded.
• End of Life Date: Not explicitly stated.
• Auto-Update Expiration Date: Not explicitly stated.
• License Type: Subscription model, paid annually upfront. Licensing is based on the number of protected assets (VMs, bare metal servers, VDI, desktop, container nodes), with different licenses for servers versus desktop/laptop/VDI.
• Deployment Model: SaaS management is the most common, with on-premises management options available. The solution supports data centers, multicloud environments, and endpoints, utilizing a mix of agent-based sensors, network-based data collectors, virtual private cloud (VPC) flow logs, and agentless functionality.

Technical Requirements

• RAM:
  • Aggregator: 32 GB.
  • ESC Collector: 4 GB.
  • Sensor: 2 GB.
• Processor:
  • Aggregator: 8 vCPUs.
  • ESC Collector: 4 vCPUs.
  • Sensor: 2 vCPUs.
  • General: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU @ 2.20GHz or better.
• Storage:
  • Agent: 200 MB free disk space.
  • Aggregator: 100 GB.
  • ESC Collector: 30 GB.
  • Sensor: 30 GB.
• Display: Standard browser support for the web console.
• Ports: Network communication is central to its function, requiring appropriate port configurations.
• Operating System:
  • Agent: Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2012+, various Linux distributions (CentOS/Rocky/RHEL, Debian, Ubuntu, etc.), AIX, Solaris, FreeBSD, HP-UX.
  • Management: Typically Linux-based for on-premise deployments, or SaaS managed.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation's technical requirements vary based on the component. Agents are lightweight, demanding minimal disk space, which facilitates broad deployment across diverse endpoints. Management components, such as aggregators and collectors, require more substantial resources (RAM, vCPUs, and storage), consistent with enterprise-grade security platforms designed to process and manage extensive network data. The platform's broad operating system support, encompassing modern and legacy systems, as well as various cloud platforms, underscores its adaptability to complex and heterogeneous enterprise IT environments. This flexibility allows organizations to deploy the solution across their entire infrastructure without significant compatibility hurdles.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: Guardicore Segmentation Security Platform v51.3, Guardicore Platform Agent 7.0.0-v51.3.
• OS Support: Comprehensive, covering modern and legacy Windows and Linux, AIX, Solaris, FreeBSD, and HP-UX. It extends across bare-metal servers, virtual machines, containers, IoT, and cloud instances. Agentless support is available for Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) resources on Azure and AWS.
• End of Support Date: Not explicitly stated; however, OS support is continuously expanded to meet customer needs.
• Localization: English is supported.
• Available Drivers: Not applicable, as it is primarily a software-based solution that utilizes agent-based sensors and network data collectors.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation demonstrates extensive compatibility across a wide array of operating systems and deployment environments, ranging from on-premises data centers to multi-cloud and hybrid architectures, including specialized support for IoT and OT devices. The continuous expansion of OS support and the provision of agentless options for PaaS environments highlight Akamai's commitment to broad compatibility and future-proofing the solution. Support is available 24/7 via phone, email, and a support portal, ensuring continuous operational assistance.

Security Status

• Security Features:
  • Granular, AI-powered microsegmentation.
  • Real-time and historical visibility of application dependencies and network flows.
  • Prevention of lateral movement within the network.
  • Integration of threat intelligence, defense, and breach detection capabilities.
  • Enforcement of Zero Trust principles.
  • Flexible asset labeling for contextual policy enforcement.
  • Policy enforcement decoupled from underlying infrastructure, allowing changes without downtime.
  • Managed threat hunting services (Akamai Hunt).
  • Deception features, including honeypots, to enrich telemetry and detect threats.
  • Integrated reputation analysis and DNS firewall capabilities.
  • Continuous device discovery and integrated fingerprinting for IoT and OT devices.
  • Automated compliance reporting and detailed audit logs.
• Known Vulnerabilities: No specific known vulnerabilities are explicitly detailed in the provided information.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable in the traditional sense; however, the platform integrates threat intelligence for proactive blocking of active threats.
• Certifications: Specific security certifications are not explicitly mentioned in the provided information.
• Encryption Support: Cloud encryption is listed as a feature.
• Authentication Methods: Not explicitly detailed, but the platform's broad integration capabilities imply support for existing enterprise authentication systems.
• General Recommendations: Implement security policies at the server level for effective protection. Utilize clear and consistent labeling for assets to facilitate precise microsegmentation.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation offers a robust security posture by enforcing Zero Trust principles through granular microsegmentation, real-time visibility, and advanced threat detection. Its core strength lies in preventing lateral movement, a critical capability against modern threats like ransomware. The platform integrates threat intelligence and provides deception capabilities, enhancing its ability to detect and respond to breaches. Support for diverse environments, including legacy systems, IoT, and OT devices, ensures comprehensive coverage. The focus on policy-driven security, decoupled from infrastructure, and automated compliance reporting further solidifies its strong security rating.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Specific benchmark scores are not provided in the available information.
• Real-World Performance Metrics:
  • Fast and non-disruptive deployment.
  • Simple, AI-based policy creation.
  • Fast and intuitive ongoing updates.
  • Scales easily as needs evolve.
  • Minimal impact on performance.
  • Policy enforcement is decoupled from infrastructure, avoiding complex network changes or downtime.
  • Reduces latency and improves download speeds for Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) components.
• Power Consumption: Not directly applicable to the software itself; the solution aims for efficient resource utilization on host systems.
• Carbon Footprint: Not directly applicable.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • Faster to deploy than traditional infrastructure segmentation approaches.
  • More agile, cost-effective, and secure compared to legacy firewalls.
  • Displaces legacy firewalls by offering a software-only approach.
  • Utilizes its own enforcement point, unlike some microsegmentation tools that rely on operating system firewalls (e.g., Windows desktop firewall or Linux iptables).
  • Features are comparable to other cloud security solutions like Trend Micro Hybrid Cloud Security.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation prioritizes speed, ease of deployment, and scalability while maintaining minimal performance impact. Its software-based architecture and decoupled policy enforcement significantly reduce operational overhead and prevent downtime, making it a highly efficient solution for dynamic IT environments. The platform is designed to be less disruptive and more flexible than traditional, hardware-centric firewall segmentation methods, offering a streamlined approach to security.

User Reviews & Feedback

• Strengths:
  • Offers granular, AI-powered segmentation and comprehensive visibility into network activity and application dependencies.
  • Ease of integration with cloud applications, firewalls, and SIEM products.
  • Effective in restricting and controlling east-west traffic.
  • Highly scalable and integrates well with cloud resources.
  • Centralized management simplifies policy changes and overall administration.
  • Provides instant threat intelligence and proactive blocking of active threats.
  • Utilizes its own enforcement point, offering a distinct advantage over solutions relying on OS-native firewalls.
  • Offers unlimited flexibility in labeling schemas for assets.
  • Well-suited for large enterprise organizations with thousands of servers.
  • 24/7 support availability.
  • Proven effectiveness in preventing ransomware and containing cyber threats.
  • Includes agentless support for PaaS resources.
• Weaknesses:
  • Frequent major version releases can be time-consuming and disruptive to operations.
  • Some users report challenges with support and a perceived lack of public knowledge about the product.
  • Desire for enhanced user policies and payload-level inspection.
  • Requests for more customizable honeypots and a broader catalog of systems for deception.
  • Long-term policy management could benefit from greater automation, potentially through integration with platforms like Chef, Puppet, or Ansible.
  • Stability is rated as moderate (6 out of 10) by some users, with calls for improvement.
  • Initial rollout can be complicated, requiring careful change management to avoid disruptions.
  • Monitoring and reporting capabilities may lag behind some competitors.
  • Integration with broader SIEM and SOAR systems could be smoother, particularly for large enterprises with complex security stacks.
  • The interface is not always intuitive, requiring a good level of product knowledge to operate effectively.
  • Requires additional servers for the aggregator role.
  • Initial configuration can be complex.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Enforcing Zero Trust principles across the enterprise.
  • Preventing ransomware attacks and containing cyber threats.
  • Accelerating compliance with regulations such as PCI, Swift, and GDPR.
  • Ring-fencing and protecting critical applications.
  • Securing cloud migrations by providing visibility and control.
  • Safeguarding remote workforces.
  • Protecting endpoints across the network.
  • Replacing or augmenting traditional internal firewalls.
  • Implementing microsegmentation and controlling lateral movement across various environments (e.g., UAT, Production, Development).
  • Securing IoT and OT devices through continuous discovery and policy enforcement.
  • Controlling and auditing third-party access to IT environments.

Summary

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation is a comprehensive, software-based microsegmentation solution designed to enforce Zero Trust principles across diverse enterprise environments. Its core strength lies in providing granular, AI-powered visibility into network traffic and application dependencies, enabling organizations to define and enforce precise security policies that prevent lateral movement of threats. The platform supports a wide range of operating systems, including modern and legacy Windows and Linux, as well as specialized environments like AIX, Solaris, FreeBSD, HP-UX, IoT, and OT devices, across on-premises data centers, multi-cloud, and hybrid architectures. It offers both agent-based and agentless deployment options, with SaaS management being the most common.

Key strengths highlighted by users include its exceptional visibility, ease of integration with existing security tools, scalability, and effectiveness in controlling east-west traffic and preventing ransomware. The solution's own enforcement point and flexible asset labeling are also highly valued. However, some users note challenges with frequent major updates, a desire for more advanced policy automation, and a need for improved monitoring and reporting capabilities. Initial deployment and configuration can also be complex, requiring careful planning.

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation is particularly well-suited for large enterprises seeking to implement Zero Trust, secure cloud migrations, achieve compliance, and protect critical assets and endpoints from advanced threats. While it offers robust security features and broad compatibility, organizations should be prepared for potential complexities during initial setup and consider the need for continuous learning to leverage its full capabilities. The platform's commitment to continuous OS support expansion and 24/7 support are significant advantages for enterprise users.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.