WEI Tech Exchange

As companies adopt multi- or hybrid cloud strategies at a rapid pace to accelerate digital initiatives, the advantages of this technology are not without its challenges. In this blog post, we explore the current state of digital acceleration and cloud security, and how businesses can find an integrated cloud solution that works best for their existing ecosystems.

The State Of The Cloud

As we enter 2024, this marks an ideal time to briefly review the current state of the cloud and where security fits into this technology. For starters, the 2023 Fortinet Cloud Security Report reveals that 69% of businesses use at least two different cloud providers. The multi-cloud approach can provide significant benefits, from cost-effectiveness to flexibility and scalability. However, IT leaders need to be mindful of:

• A lack of visibility and control over cloud environments.
• The difficulty of finding the right staff with cloud expertise, which can contribute to misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in setting up the cloud.

Organizations are understandably prioritizing the prevention of cloud misconfigurations and securing key cloud apps. This has led to an increased adoption of multi-layered security models, enhancing protection across platforms and complementing native provider capabilities.

Exploring Cloud Security Solutions

Cloud platforms face heightened vulnerability to cyber-attacks due to their internet accessibility, as businesses across all industries frequently transmit sensitive data across these channels. The potential consequences of security breaches, such as significant data loss, downtime, and damaged brand reputation, underscore the necessity of implementing robust cloud security measures.

Common elements of effective cloud security protocols include:

• Multi-Factor Authentication
• Data Encryption
• Stringent Access Controls
• Real-Time Threat Monitoring

Organizations can mitigate the risks of system downtime, financial losses, and reputation damage by prioritizing investments in these cybersecurity controls. 

Fortunately, Fortinet Security Fabric is designed to provide a holistic approach to cloud security, enabling businesses to secure all their applications, data, and infrastructure from a central location.

Seamless Integration With Cloud Platforms And Ecosystems

Cloud platforms offer organizations flexibility and scalability for efficient operations, data processing, and customer service innovation. As cloud adoption presents various challenges, seamless cloud-native implementation is important.

Fortinet Security Fabric excels in this regard, ensuring consistent security for all applications. Its solutions seamlessly integrate with most cloud platforms. Let’s explore how Fortinet Security Fabric collaborates with various public cloud platforms.

Fortinet offers SaaS, VM containers, and API-based protection to deliver natively integrated security functionality for AWS. This security solution includes the following to provide a powerful defense against cyber threats:

• Firewalls
• Security Gateways
• Intruder Prevention
• Web Application Security

With a host of features, Fortinet provides seamless security for the AWS environment.

These features effectively complement existing AWS security tools such as GuardDuty and Security Hub.

For Microsoft Azure and Office 365 users, the Fortinet Security Fabric provides these services to enforce consistent security and visibility across multi-cloud infrastructure:

• Comprehensive Protection
• Automated Management
• Native Integration

Fortinet offers a full suite of threat protection features tailored for Microsoft Azure, including next-generation firewalls, cloud-based management of global security infrastructure, and intrusion prevention systems designed for hybrid-cloud environments.

For Office 365 users, Fortinet provides automated protection against web and email threats, identity solutions, and complete reporting and visibility tools to enhance overall cybersecurity measures.

Fortify your Microsoft Azure and Office 365 experience with Fortinet Security Fabric for consistent security and visibility across multi-cloud infrastructure.

Fortinet Cloud Security for Google Cloud offers resilient enterprise security for both on-premises data centers and cloud environments. The Security Fabric provides multi-layered protection for cloud-based applications, incorporating network, application, and cloud platform security features.

This extensive solution is accessible through virtual machines, containers, and SaaS offerings, seamlessly integrating Fortinet Security into the Google Cloud infrastructure.

Fortinet Cloud Security for Google Cloud delivers multi-layered protection for on-premises and cloud environments.

The Open Fabric Security Framework

The Fortinet Open Fabric ecosystem provides a holistic approach to security by bringing together technology and threat-sharing collaborations. Fortinet’s partners leverage an open-ended architecture, collaborative power, integration, interfaces, and complimentary solutions for automation and their protection. The result is a broad range of solutions that are available to enable advanced end-to-end security across various environments.

The Fortinet Open Security Fabric: Uniting technology and collaborative power for advanced end-to-end security.

Final Thoughts

The shift to cloud architecture offers organizations agility, scalability, and cost savings. However, with growing reliance on cloud platforms and issues on cybersecurity, merging cloud-native features is the ideal approach to enhance security in your cloud application journey.

Fortinet Security Fabric offers comprehensive next-gen security controls, visibility, and policy management across multiple clouds, which empowers organizations to easily manage their security posture while continuing to reap the benefits of cloud architecture.

Are you ready to take your cloud journey to the next level? Contact our team of experts at WEI, and we’ll be happy to get you started with a thorough assessment of your existing cloud environment.

Next steps: Managing and securing data, applications, and systems has become more arduous and time-consuming with the rise of cloud adoption and the expansion of the digital attack surface. To help remedy this, FortiAnalyzer offers a powerful log management, analytics, and reporting platform that features a single console to manage, orchestrate, and respond. Download our free tech brief below to read.