Using cloud technologies to drive innovation, streamline processes, and stay competitive comes with challenges. This is especially true for maintaining a robust and consistent security structure in an increasingly complex digital environment.
The rapid adoption of cloud technologies and digital transformation initiatives have prompted many organizations to seek point solutions to solve specific cloud security problems. This often leads to tool proliferation, Palo Alto Networks observes, which introduces another set of challenges that hamper the ability to manage cloud security.
Instead, modern enterprises require a holistic approach to cloud security management that supports, rather than hinders, the timely achievement of business outcomes. By moving to a platform approach, organizations can drive innovation, achieve operational efficiencies, and gain a competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving digital environment.
More and more cloud security tools
Organizations currently use more than 30 tools on average for general security, with six to ten tools dedicated to cloud security. According to the 2023 State of Cloud-Native Security Report, up to 75 percent of organizations say the number of cloud security tools they use creates blind spots that impair their ability to prioritize risk and prevent threats.
This flood of tools has various causes. Organizations typically use three to ten cloud service providers (CSPs), each with their own set of tools. Ad hoc implementation of separate tools is common as new threats emerge. Likewise, it is common for companies to introduce new tools without properly evaluating them or integrating them into existing systems.
Unpredictable security situation
However, security cannot be sustained as organizations deploy more tools, resulting in a fragmented and unmanageable security posture. Day-to-day security tasks like finding vulnerabilities or accessing effective permissions for all users are challenging at best. In addition to creating a high security risk, tool proliferation leads to redundancy, inefficiency, cost, data silos, confusion, stress, and staff turnover. Not surprisingly, 77 percent of organizations say they have a hard time figuring out what security tools are required to meet their security goals. To a certain extent, however, companies know the answer: 81 percent say they would benefit from a centralized security solution covering all their cloud accounts and services.
Comprehensive consolidation
To overcome the challenges posed by tool proliferation, organizations must consider consolidating existing cloud security tools and taking a platform approach to cloud strategy. By unifying point solutions under a single, comprehensive platform, organizations can streamline their security management, reducing the complexity and costs associated with managing multiple point solutions.
A platform-centric strategy helps organizations develop a consistent approach to managing their security posture across different clouds. It also provides all-important visibility across the application lifecycle and cloud resource allocation. Ultimately, consolidation through the platform approach will enable organizations to strengthen their cloud security and maximize cloud benefits.
Gartner also highlights the consolidation in its recent Market Guide for Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms. Analysts believe that traditional point solutions result in fragmented risk views and excessive alerting, while a platform approach enables a single, developer-focused, integrated solution for managing the risks of cloud-native applications.
Business and organizational benefits
Consolidating cloud security tools isn't just a solution to the challenges associated with the proliferation of many discrete tools. It also brings business and organizational benefits to efficiently achieve and maintain security goals. Consolidation benefits include:
- Improved security and risk management: Consolidation protects a company's assets, intellectual property, and customer data. By reducing the risk of data breaches and regulatory fines, organizations can build trust, which is the foundation for long-term success and growth.
- Increased operational efficiency: Effective cloud security solutions automate security processes, allowing IT to focus on strategic goals rather than managing a glut of point tools. The smooth delivery of secure applications reduces the time to market for new services and products. This improves operational efficiency, resulting in cost savings and increased business productivity.
- Improved compliance and governance: A comprehensive CNAPP helps organizations comply with industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Enterprises can develop a unified security fabric across their cloud environment with centralized policy management and real-time monitoring capabilities that simplify compliance and reduce the risk of non-compliance.
- Scalability and flexibility: With a cloud-native security solution, organizations can extend their security coverage to the cloud infrastructure as needed. Built-in adaptability makes it possible to keep up with changing business requirements and new threats. With the flexibility to scale security, they are free to explore new opportunities and increase their digital footprint.
- Seamless integration with DevSecOps: Shifting to DevSecOps is difficult when organizations need to integrate multiple point solutions. A unified cloud security platform covering all phases makes the DevSecOps transition easier. The single platform approach is more efficient and helps organizations deliver secure applications faster.
About Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks, the global leader in cybersecurity solutions, is shaping the cloud-based future with technologies that transform the way people and businesses work. Our mission is to be the preferred cybersecurity partner and protect our digital way of life. We help you address the world's biggest security challenges with continuous innovation leveraging the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, analytics, automation, and orchestration. By delivering an integrated platform and empowering a growing ecosystem of partners, we are the leaders in protecting tens of thousands of businesses across clouds, networks and mobile devices. Our vision is a world where every day is safer than the one before.