As users and consumers of data, most of us are so accustomed to having immediate access to the content, apps and data we need, that the lines between ‘desktop’ and ‘cloud’ applications have become well and truly blurred. It’s to the point where a majority of users probably don’t even care.
But from a technology perspective, the shift to the cloud, and the widespread availability of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) have represented a breathtaking change in the technology and software industries, making the ‘where’ of data and application storage irrelevant.
Microsoft first rolled out its Azure cloud platform on February 1st, 2010. Over the last decade, the company’s cloud offerings have expanded exponentially, putting a host of powerful applications from Microsoft 365 into anyone’s hands. When it was first announced in 2008, very few people would have been able to grasp the far-reaching impact of this new software platform. Together with companies like Amazon and its AWS platform, this was truly the dawn of widespread adoption of the Software as a Service (SaaS) model for software delivery through the web.
Legacy of collaboration
Up to that point, well-known applications and ‘drives’ such as SharePoint and OneDrive had traditionally been installed locally, in on-premise servers and corporate data centers. These proved to be fast and convenient, particularly if you were an employee inside the protected walls of the organization’s network. They made it possible to quickly store, access and share even ‘heavy’ documents and files with colleagues. The popularity of centralized storage grew rapidly, thanks to its ease of use and the convenience of maintaining ‘version control’ among teams.
However, there is always room for improvement. With a growing workforce that has become more mobile and agile, it made a lot of sense to move resources to the cloud where they would be even more accessible. This not only saved time and budget, but it also freed up organizational manpower to focus on the applications rather than maintaining physical storage.
Cloud versatility. Seamless security. Happy users.
With all of this movement of resources to the cloud, the relevance of cloud-based security frameworks such as SASE continue to grow.
As we’ve seen during the pandemic, bad actors have increasingly relied on sophisticated phishing attacks and other schemes, often impersonating employees to gain access to corporate networks and their resources.
NetMotion’s SASE model works seamlessly with Microsoft’s cloud services to mitigate these risks by focusing on identity-centric security and reducing the risk that bad actors can move laterally through a network. The solution also supports the most direct, secure connection possible and lessens the impact of latency.
When combined, Microsoft’s cloud services and NetMotion allow employees to leverage Microsoft cloud apps while removing the risk of compromise. All without sacrificing on user experience – an especially important factor with so many employees continuing to be mobile.
Key benefits
- SASE, built on a zero trust security posture
Microsoft’s conditional access solution alongside NetMotion’s software-defined perimeter (SDP) ensure that every connection to a corporate resource (such as SharePoint) is contextually analyzed and approved by both the user and the application itself. Without that explicit approval, resources remain ‘dark’ or hidden on the network, virtually eliminating the risk of exposure.
Contextual policy engine
NetMotion gives IT teams powerful policy engine parameters, ensuring the absolute best performance and security measures for users and corporate resources. This allows IT teams to prioritize mission-critical applications in order to ensure top of the line connectivity and bandwidth, even on poor quality Wi-Fi or cellular networks. In addition, traffic can be selectively tunneled, without losing visibility or control, providing tremendous flexibility.
Optimized user experience
NetMotion is the only security platform on the market that actively improves end user experience. Troubleshooting remote employees’ devices is simplified. Collaboration with teammates remains intact, connections are maintained and not dropped, and both audio and video traffic are optimized for the best experience. The result is fewer trouble tickets and happier, more productive users.
For more information about how Microsoft Cloud Services and NetMotion improve security and user experience together, check out the Microsoft Cloud Services data sheet here.
Continue reading…
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