Automation and Consolidation the Two Critical Forces in Multi Cloud Security Solutions

The ongoing mass adoption of cloud technologies by businesses is hard to miss. Businesses have digitally transformed themselves with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and remote and hybrid working. The cloud has enabled them to bridge that gap. The path ahead gets only more exciting now with Augmented/Virtual reality (AR/VR), metaverse, gaming, and even quantum computing joining the forum.

While 56% of organizations have experienced increased attack volumes over their cloud, almost 67% admitted to being hit by ransomware. Cloud-derived technologies are a profitable investment for many businesses. Still, they also face many challenges, including disparate technologies, dependency on legacy systems, gaps or vulnerabilities in the network, etc. This gave rise to SASE or Secure access service edge, which quickly gained relevance as one of the top-notch multi-cloud security solutions among businesses because of the enormous benefits it delivers. SASE empowers businesses with its three core capabilities; Authentication Gateway Distribution, Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) functionality, and Zero Trust. However, there are still many identifiable challenges that IT teams have discovered and have been struggling with while deploying this solution too, such as:
   - Poor consolidation
   - Time-consuming manual labor
   - Disparate systems and technologies
   - Gaps in app classification

It often leads to team-wide frustration and hinders the progress of the business. This is where automation and consolidation step in. They have been identified as major forces, especially in enabling small and mid-sized businesses to transition easily to the cloud and run hybrid environments effectively.

Consolidation: Which of the scenario is easier? Multiple login screens with numerous portals and different management capabilities that lengthen the learning curve of professionals and require painstaking efforts, or a single converged platform that removes complexities? Nowadays, multiple cybersecurity orchestrators provide a single-entry platform that eliminates the need for manual work, facilitates seamless integration across systems with various technological maturity, and is user-friendly.

Automation: The most significant advantage businesses can leverage by automating their cloud is reducing TCO or the Total Cost of Ownership. This is because modernized cloud solutions can be streamlined to integrate the following automation in one go:
    - Business policy
    - Security policy
    - Device configuration
    - Global compliance and regulation processes
Once the business defines its policies, the software automatically updates them on every device across the organization. Moreover, any upgrades or changes in modern compliance, reporting, and other regulatory policies will be enforced in an agile manner across the organization. Automation thus takes care of day-to-day maintenance, allowing your business to allocate resources to more important goals and tasks.

Professional multi-cloud security solutions companies can help businesses maximize visibility, evaluate security in their cloud environments and address them accordingly. It is also wise to consider investing in advanced tools like firewalls, cloud security platforms that integrate protection across multiple environments, and managed detection and response (MDR) services. This can help businesses propagate a security-first culture while strengthening their cyber defense and setting a course for futuristic growth.