adam:ONE

What is the adam:ONE Security Gateway?

Businesses are in need of a robust security gateway to safeguard against the increasing threats of cyberattacks and data breaches. A security gateway acts as a critical barrier between the internal network and potential external threats—monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

Founded in 2014, the highest objective for ADAMNetworks has always been the development of advanced cyber security solutions that allow individuals and companies to interact both safely and simply online.

In August of 2022, founder David Redekop showcased the culmination of these efforts when he presented a live demonstration of the adam:ONE Security Gateway at the BlackHat USA Conference in Las Vegas. Since then, the adam:ONE firewall addition has become a trusted cybersecurity solution for small and large businesses, homes, schools, and home schools worldwide.

In short, adam:ONE® provides best in breed blocklisting with aggregated threat intelligence which blocks IP to IP traffic.

Why use adam:ONE?

adam:ONE® is able to quickly and easily detect and prevent malware and ransomware infections in real-time. This solution is essential for any organization looking to protect its network from modern threats. But don’t take our word for it; take a look at some of adam:ONE’s unique characteristics:

Key Features

DDTS® Don’t Talk to Strangers

ZeroTrust Egress control that denies all outbound IP connections unless verified by an approved DNS lookup. This prevents all C2 malware that use direct outbound connections as part of the attack vector from executing. It also provides immunity against data extortion by preventing exfiltration of data from the protected network.

Adaptive AI®

ZeroTrust connectivity made practical through the use of AI. The default is “Deny All”. An adaptive “Allow List” is dynamically built as AI verifies the safety of requested domains. All websites are checked against an AI graph. Conenction requests are either automatically allowed, denied, or sent fro human inspection based on teh graph score. Allowed connections are automatically added to the dynamic “Allow List”.

Malware & Ransomware Rely on Real-Time Communication to Operate

For most modern malware and ransomware viruses to work on a computer, they require an ongoing connection to the outside world. These lasting connections, often referred to as “Command & Control (C2)”, are used by cyber criminals to transfer data between the infected machines and their control center. By utilizing adam:ONE®, this line of communication is immediately disabled and data exfiltration is prevented.

Preventing Lateral Movement Within the Network

In many cases, once a machine is infected with malware or ransomware, the cybercriminals will attempt to move laterally with the network to infect other devices. This is done to gain a more significant foothold within the network and increase the chances of completing their attack. With adam:ONE® in place, any attempts by the malware or ransomware to spread laterally within the network are immediately detected and stopped. This allows the IT staff to isolate the infected machines quickly and prevent further damage.

Isolating Machines

With adam:ONE®’s holding tech functionality, we can segment all machines from the internet and isolate the devices known to be infected. This provides an additional layer of protection and ensures that even if the malware or ransomware is not entirely removed from the machine, it will not be able to communicate with the outside world and cause further damage.

adam:One® Network Logs

adam:ONE® produces comprehensive network logs that can be used to track down the source of the infection and determine how the malware or ransomware could gain access to the network in the first place. This information can then harden the network further and prevent future attacks.

What's the difference between a firewall and a security gateway?

Firewalls are primarily focused on controlling access based on predefined rules at the network and transport layers.

Security Gateways offer a broader range of security functions, including advanced threat detection, content filtering, and detailed inspection at the application layer. They provide more comprehensive protection and policy enforcement for both inbound and outbound traffic.

Both firewalls and security gateways are crucial for a robust security posture, often working together to provide layered defense mechanisms.

Hear about the adam:ONE from ADAMnetworks representatives

In June 2024, after attending the InfoSecurity Europe conference in London, England, ADAMnetworks representatives Stan and Steve joined some of our WyoSupport team to talk more about their product.

"One of our main vision points is that We Protect People."

Why was adam:ONE created? The adam:ONE security gateway was developed after founder David Redekop had an internet search go wrong while surfing websites at home with his 9 year old son. Being well acquainted with the technology field, David searched for a firewall solution to protect his loved ones from malware and predatory content. After an exhaustive search, David realized that there wasn’t an acceptably secure solution for his family.

So he created one. Stan pointed out during the podcast that, “at ADAMnetworks, one of our main vision points is that We Protect People.” To this day, AdamNetworks chooses people over technology.

"We're gonna' SLAM that GATE closed."

What does adam:ONE do? Unlike many other cyber security systems, adam:ONE responds in real time not only to recognize threats and “known bad” websites, but to categorize and filter all outgoing requests from the devices on the system. Rather than “failing open” on websites that are not known to be safe, adam:ONE blocks access to those sites before an individual has the opportunity to open the system to potential malware attacks. And if an employee has inadvertently allowed a breach, adam:ONE prevents lateral movement in the network so that those holes can be detected and stopped without spreading to the entire network.

Steve explained it this way: “One of the analogies that we use is that of a paddock. . .a farmyard. adam:ONE is the gate. And right now [before adam:ONE], all of your “livestock”, all of your information and livelihood is just streaming through your gate because you’re failing open. So basically, you didn’t lock the gate. Everything is escaping. It’s wide open. What ADAM does is we’re going to come in and we’re gonna’ SLAM that gate closed and we’re going to put the best darn farm gate you’ve ever seen on your paddock. The second we do that, we’re going to find the other holes in your fence.”

Additionally, adam:ONE checks EVEN KNOWN SAFE sites and sites on the “allow list” to be sure that nothing has changed and they are still safe every time a user attempts to “open the gate” to an outside website.

"Disrupt your users for 10 minutes, or a ransomware attack is going to disrupt your whole life."

Where is the balance between usability and convenience and inconvenience and security? Operating under a “fail open” system is decidedly a convenient option for anyone who surfs the internet. But the sacrifice for instant access is a dangerously insecure network. When you choose an adam:ONE Security Gateway system, you understand that security is on a spectrum with convenience on one end and security on the other.

When asked how he would respond to a frustrated employee who can’t access email links from their favorite potentially unsafe websites, Steve pointed out that it is easy to explain to an employee the risks associated with unknown websites, but it is incredibly difficult and to deal with a potentially catastrophic cyber attack on your systems. In his words, “Disrupt your users for 10 minutes, or a ransomware attack is going to disrupt your whole life.” That said, administrators on the adam:ONE account will always have the option to allow any sites that they want to the firewall’s “allow list.”