With new challenges ahead, it's useful to recognize the evolution of B2B security architecture in order to understand the future.

In the past, the perimeter was hardened with static controls. This architecture was suitable for static and known communication interfaces, and there wasn't much coordination between the appliances and the application layer.

Today, security controls get past the perimeter to service specific needs. Technologies span from perimeter to core applications, server farms, and databases that harden critical applications and data. The DMZ-based deployment is not replaced, but rather complemented with controls at critical demarcation points for applications and data. The security appliances are more identity-aware as they frequently communicate with backend infrastructure to enforce controls.

In the future, cloud-based services will complement application and data security, with the emergence of application and data controls in the cloud. Technologies such as antimalware, script analysis, URL filtering, IPS and web application firewall in the cloud will be high on the security professional's wish list for securing B2B transactions. At the same time, organizations will look to more distributed enforcement methods that require network and physical technologies to be still on-premises.