Software-defined networking is turning concern about security in the cloud on its head

In an era when enterprises always have to grapple with processing large amount of information through big data technology, security has emerged as the most important measure to accomplish their goals. Against this backdrop, software-defined networking is turning concern about security in the cloud on its head, enabling a winning model for protecting businesses, says GlobalData.

Protecting a business network has traditionally meant plugging in a bunch of different security ‘appliances’, in each business location, to protect all the many different devices and machines connected to the LAN or WAN.

However, managing the process can be a nightmare for enterprises of even a modest size, to the point where many often simply give up. The trend now is moving toward using the cloud (and software-defined networks) to deliver security protection wherever it may be needed.

John Marcus, Principal Analyst for Enterprise Cloud and Security Services at GlobalData, says: “The benefits of this security-as-a-service approach don’t just accrue to harried IT/security managers and security product vendors: network operators are set to generate huge revenues by partnering with the vendors to enable their solutions.”

For example, in August 2018, DOSarrest Internet Security selected global connectivity and communications service provider Epsilon’s Infiny on-demand connectivity platform to connect and optimize DDoS protection, virtual firewall, and other security solutions across the globe.

Marcus adds: “For a business customer, getting something like a virtual firewall delivered on demand where needed and managed by the provider as part of the deal eliminates multiple headaches.

“For the security technology developer, using the cloud and software-defined networks eliminates go-to-market and supply chain inefficiencies, making delivering their solutions much simpler. Service management and monitoring can be included as part of the package, but huge gains from centralizing support and a vast increase in reach and scale make it worth packaging a high value solution at attractive prices.”

Businesses and security vendors are not the only ones to gain from the cloud-enabled model. Network and cloud platform operators like Epsilon (or digitally evolving telcos like BT, Telefonica, or Verizon) stand to gain by creating a platform for technology adoption and generating revenues through their high-value host platforms.

Marcus concludes: “With such B2B partners having a single platform to procure and manage underlying connectivity, rapidly provisioning on-demand services via a web-based portal and iOS or Android mobile apps, the network or cloud service provider becomes the established home for an ecosystem of partner businesses and their customers. In this way, they turn concerns around cloud security on their head by enabling a model where everybody from consumer to provider to enabler wins.”