Protecting Your Organization’s Cloud

What are the chances that your organization has moved some of its data, systems, programs and applications to the cloud? Quite high. According to a Synergy Research survey of IT professionals, spending on private cloud and cloud-enabled solutions grew by 16% between the second quarters of 2015 to 2017. During that same period, traditional, non-cloud data center hardware and software dropped 18%. It is easy to understand why these days, cyber security threats are coming in through many new channels and vulnerabilities that are not part of the traditional IT infrastructure such as, mobile devices and cloud-based applications. The following prevalent trends in the enterprise highlight why it is essential to monitor your network with a Cloud Network Access Control (Cloud-Based NAC). 

Company Networks Go Global

Organizations are becoming perimeter-less. Traditional IT perimeters have been torn down by the adoption of BYOD, IoT devices, telecommuting and cloud computing. Therefore, one can no longer look at the network as a defined infrastructure within a physical firewall. The network is essentially global without boundaries. According to a Gallop News Service poll from 2015, 37% of U.S. workers had telecommuted for work, and this was up by 30% from the last decade but four times greater than the 9% found in 1995. Perimeter-less companies require continuous risk-monitoring and risk-assessment that can match the ever increasing mobile and cloud-based reality and this can be performed best via the cloud. 

Flexibility and Scalability

Cloud NAC solutions are agile enough to support operations for the ever-morphing enterprise. Traditional perimeter-based NAC is inflexible and will work in perimeter-based corporate environments, however in modern, agile environments, such as cloud-based or globally-spread organizations, on-premise NAC deployment becomes cumbersome. However, as a cloud software, cloud NAC implementation will adjust and adapt along with developing policies and requirements within the organization. This allows for scalability, a crucial element at times of rapid growth and while managing changes such as reorganization, mergers and acquisitions, new offices, etc. 

Rapid Service Implementation

Organizations of all sizes require rapid deployment of security measures, fast adoption of NAC policies and procedures, and in some cases, the ability to immediately deploy network security in offices around the world. Key strengths of cloud network security include rapid deployment as well as immediate on-demand support services. 

Pay-as-you-go

In maintaining a competitive edge, affordability is more important than ever, and cloud computing excels at helping companies become more lean while having the option to pay only for the services that they use. This pay-as-you-go model is typically more affordable for businesses than standard software and hardware licenses. Therefore, cloud NAC is ideal for preserving organizations’ resources and helping small companies to secure the network access for all personal mobile devices. Cloud NAC eliminates the concern over time, costs, or resources associated with installing and maintaining hardware and software as well as keeping everything up to date. 

Machine Learning

Machine learning takes NAC knowledge and experience from other organizations and applies that priceless learning to your organization. This sharing of compliance and other valuable data and experience can be accomplished most efficiently and affordably in the cloud. Thankfully, companies no longer have to reinvent the wheel. Machine learning makes advanced services much more accessible to SMBs at an affordable price. 

In conclusion, these days when the traditional organization perimeter is making room for the mobile workforce and telecommuters, BYOD adoption, IoT devices and international global offices, it is time to adopt the appropriate network security approach, and a Cloud NAC in particular, helping business growth via scalability and affordability.

##