Cloud-Based Security Solutions Are Gaining Momentum

Even though cloud-based security solutions are becoming more and more popular, a lot of enterprise customers are still skeptical about the reliability of these tools.

What efforts should developers make to increase the credibility of their products? What things to consider when buying a security system with a cloud at its core? You will find all answers below.

The demand for cloud security solutions is growing

Cloud technology is booming these days because it provides game-changing advantages to users. Cloud can quickly provide plenty of new digital resources, thus allowing any organization to scale its infrastructure, systems, and apps. Cloud-based solutions are much cheaper and easier to deploy than traditional software products.

Cloud-based security tools can bridge the competence gap as customers outsource important tasks to a qualified service provider. This is important when you launch a new project and lack resources to protect it with a professional security system. With a specialized vendor, you get sufficient expertise and support.

In many cases, there is hardly any alternative to cloud security solutions. For example, companies with geographically scattered offices and systems find it more cost-efficient to buy a cloud security tool than select a hardware or software system for each of its branches. Here, extensive scalability and ease of deployment are the fundamental pros of such solutions.

Cloud infosec tools have been around for many years. However, the pandemic has demonstrated new use cases that have proved their effectiveness. Almost all types of on-premises solutions can be deployed in the cloud today. These include Cloud Access Security Broker systems, Data Loss Prevention solutions, Single Sign-on technology, etc. We now live in times when any firmly established security product should use the cloud in some way.

At the same time, some customers are still not ready to transfer security into the cloud. Some businesses have their own internal policies that limit the range of information that can be operated using cloud services. Even if corporate or government rules do not prohibit transferring specific systems into the cloud, customers prefer to be careful in this matter and refuse to do it.

Let us hope that soon it will be cheaper and easier for SMBs to comply with cloud-related regulations than to build a security system from scratch.

Today, security tools often use a multi-cloud environment. Interoperability between different clouds is a distinct trend in today’s market. This is one of the competitive advantages of cloud solutions.

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How affordable is cloud-based security?

Low price is a big advantage of cloud solutions. Is the same true for cloud security? The larger the company and the more complex its infrastructure, the more cost-efficient a cloud security solution becomes. Cloud security services use a pay-as-you-go approach. They charge customers only when resources are consumed. This model allows businesses to deploy their defensive tools like, for example, a firewall, in a truly short time and pay for the protection of specific resources.

Payment plans presuppose paying for the use of system features that are currently needed. This model is implemented by using tokens that customers activate and deactivate when needed. 

Traditional software is typically delivered “as is.”  The vendor may provide support but is not responsible for its operation. A similar model applies to cloud services and the provider’s liability, except that the vendor takes on obligations related to the availability of the service and takes a reputational blow if a serious breach happens. In some countries, there are government acts (the EU’s GDPR) that impose responsibility for the security of personal data on the cloud security provider.

If the management team looks five or ten years ahead, they should not consider on-premises solutions. It is necessary to carefully study the licensing scheme and also understand how the new cloud system will interact with solutions currently in use.

A service-level agreement (SLA) should always be on your checklist too. It reflects the provider’s commitment to service continuity as well as other terms and conditions.

How to choose the best security tool?

The “API first” concept implies doing more things via a programming interface rather than with the help of a graphical one. When selecting a solution, it is important to use the application programming interface (API) as real-time incident response involves the automation of many processes. Pay attention to the API capabilities to integrate with other systems.

There are several scenarios of selecting a cloud security tool. Mature security teams choose a particular vendor they already worked with. Organizations with less mature security teams focus on the price aspect.

Modern cloud security solutions may boast a decent level of integration. Most vendors have plenty of ready-made tools and scripts for interaction with other systems their customers may be using.

What is the future of cloud security?

The mass migration of businesses’ infrastructures online will be the main driving force for the development of the cloud security niche. The growing use of AI am ML technologies will also positively affect the evolution of cloud services that offer security solutions. The future of this market can be viewed in the context of these three trends:

• Further development of cloud-based security platforms. Vendors to create more attractive offers, features, and conditions for clients.

• Changes of public opinion to step up confidence in this segment of security tools.

• More regulatory initiatives to help businesses move to the cloud.

Conclusion 

Although some customers are still reluctant to move their important information security systems to the cloud, the mass transition to remote work and the increasingly enticing offers from vendors push the cloud security market up. Many players warmly receive the state initiatives to regulate this sector.

A key element that might give a new impetus to the development of cloud security is the growing confidence of customers in cloud service vendors. The number of affordable cloud-based security solutions is constantly increasing. Unsurprisingly, many businesses stop considering purchasing on-premises products.