Cloud environments are diversifying. Recent survey data found that 67 percent of respondents were using the public cloud and 45 percent opted for the private cloud, with many clearly doing both.
From a performance perspective, adopting a mix of public and private clouds makes sense for organizations: While some data and services are ideal for the cloud, others are better kept close at hand. When it comes to security, however, the complexity of managing both offsite and on-premises environments can prove challenging. As a result, complete network security management is now critical for companies to effectively handle hybrid cloud deployments at scale.
Key Concerns in Cloud Security
While many companies are making the move to public clouds for high-consumption applications that benefit from cloud agility but don’t pose a significant data risk, it’s almost impossible for businesses to shift entirely offsite. “Many companies still have both branch offices and data centers,” notes Ajay Uggirala, director of product marketing for SonicWall. “They have both on-premises solutions and use the public cloud, and they want a solution that can secure both.”
According to survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance, 81 percent of companies experienced “significant security concerns” in large cloud projects, with 57 percent primarily worried about regulatory compliance and 42 percent experiencing network outages due to human errors or device configuration changes. Proactive detection of security threats is the top priority to address these issues, followed closely by concerns about visibility.
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Finding a Balance with Complete Cloud and Network Security
While effective security often starts with firewalls, Uggirala says that SonicWall offerings go beyond firewall basics. “They have a lot of security features built in, from virtual private networks, sandboxing and intrusion detection systems to application control anti-virus tools.”
Recent testing of the NSv 470 virtual firewall in Amazon Web Services demonstrated consistent performance across feature deployment. Even when using the full suite of virtual firewall features, traffic throughput dropped only 0.06 gigabit per second compared with basic firewall functions.
SonicWall also offers physical appliances to help companies secure on-premises private cloud deployments. For example, its next-generation firewalls and Secure Mobile Access gateway appliances deliver complete security for remote access to corporate resources, whether they’re hosted on-premises, in the cloud or in hybrid data centers. For small businesses, the SMA series provides policy-enforced access control for any user on any device, while the TZ, NSa, NSsp and NSv firewalls offer a flexible-license stacking model combined with SonicWall’s Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection, earning a perfect score from ICSA Labs for providing complete security without breaking budgets.
SonicWall’s Network Security Manager, meanwhile, helps companies get the best of both worlds. “NSM offers cloud-native support for both on-premises physical appliances and cloud firewalls, and provides complete visibility into cloud and on-prem environments no matter where they’re located or how they interact,” says Uggirala.
RELATED: Learn about how to stay against the growing threat of ransomware attacks.
ZTNA and SASE: The Future of Effective Hybrid Management
In much the same way that cloud deployments are continually evolving, so too are security solutions. For example, zero-trust network access (ZNTA) makes it possible for businesses to reduce the risk of unauthorized access by requiring users to prove their identity rather than assuming trust based on device, location or login credentials.
SonicWall’s secure access service edge (SASE) solution, Cloud Edge Secure Access, “offers edge-to-edge cloud protection and Firewall as a Service to help companies secure moving perimeters,” says Uggirala.
While both public and private cloud adoption continue to ramp up as remote work becomes commonplace and companies look for ways to better manage multiple data sources, effective hybrid security is critical. Businesses need the peace of mind that comes with comprehensive management of both physical devices and virtual firewalls in the cloud — and they need the functionality offered by ZTNA and SASE deployments to effectively manage emerging threats.
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