As organisations accelerate digital transformation, the modern enterprise network has expanded far beyond firewalls, data centres and office LANs. Today’s infrastructure includes thousands of APIs, SaaS integrations, IoT sensors, OT systems, remote endpoints and vendor-managed services, each representing a potential entry point for attackers. In short, network security is no longer just about protecting your own systems. It’s about securing the entire digital supply chain connected to your network...
The Hyper-Connected Attack Surface
Enterprise networks now rely on a dense web of third-party connections: payment processors, identity providers, logistics platforms, cloud storage, analytics services, collaboration tools and hundreds of API-based data flows.
Meanwhile, edge ecosystems (manufacturing sensors, HVAC controls, CCTV cameras, PoS terminals, access control readers and smart building systems) are increasingly IP-enabled and connected to core networks.
This creates three urgent challenges:
- Unverified third-party access to sensitive systems
- Unsecured APIs carrying critical data
- Poorly protected edge devices acting as network weak points
Attackers are exploiting these gaps to bypass perimeter defences, move laterally, and compromise entire estates through a single exposed integration.
API Security: The New Front Line
APIs now underpin the majority of digital services, but many remain poorly documented, unaudited or overlooked entirely. API abuses — from credential stuffing and token theft to injection attacks and shadow API exploitation — are rising sharply. In 2026, best practice includes:
- Continuous API discovery to identify undocumented or forgotten endpoints
- Strong authentication and authorisation for every API
- Schema validation and payload inspection
- Zero Trust access control for machine-to-machine communications
- Real-time threat detection for abnormal API usage patterns
All of which means that APIs aren’t just integrations: they are critical infrastructure, and they must be treated accordingly.
Securing the Edge: IoT, OT and Smart Devices
Edge devices are often the weakest link in the network because they are:
- Rarely patched
- Hard to monitor
- Built with limited security controls
- Managed by third parties or facilities teams
To strengthen edge resilience, organisations are implementing:
- Network segmentation and micro-segmentation for all IoT/OT assets
- Dedicated VLANs for building systems and smart devices
- Strict device identity and certificate-based authentication
- Continuous firmware monitoring and vendor patching SLAs
- NDR (Network Detection & Response) tools tailored for east–west traffic
The goal here is to ensure that a compromised edge device cannot be used to pivot deeper into the network.
Third-Party Risk: Continuous, Not Annual
Vendor risk assessments can no longer be a box-ticking exercise. With attackers increasingly targeting supply-chain providers, organisations must adopt continuous validation of third-party networks, privileges and connections. This includes:
- Least-privilege access for vendors
- Real-time monitoring of third-party activity
- Automated revocation of dormant or risky connections
- Contractual obligations for security hygiene and patching
- Shared incident response playbooks with critical suppliers
As we approach 2026, network security is shared security. With APIs, SaaS and edge devices becoming fundamental pillars of the enterprise network, traditional perimeters have dissolved. The organisations that thrive will be those that recognise the new reality: your network is only as secure as its least-protected connection.
Securing the digital supply chain is now central to protecting the modern enterprise.
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Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash
