Cloud security and the channel
The channel should skill up on cloud to allay customer fears, says Jason Ellis
There are still concerns around cloud adoption, and security seems to be a recurring one. Here lies an opportunity for the channel to offer sound consultancy around the benefits and risks of cloud.
Cloud computing is a major shift within IT towards a service provision model. This change will take time, so making cloud computing a success will hinge on the relationship between the channel and customer. Customers need to be confident that their information can be protected if they are going to keep spending.
Security and compliance technologies should evolve to provide the visibility that will drive this confidence.
Businesses need cloud providers to go beyond verbal assurances or written service level agreements (SLAs). They need real-time visibility of their cloud vendor’s security posture so they can trust that their information is being secured and managed in accordance with their governance policies.
Security and compliance tools will be required that manage distributed multi-tenant clouds and across on-premise offerings. Industry standards will also help drive the transparency. S-CAP, for example, may prove a common way to query cloud infrastructure about its security posture.
Standards can be applied across various security tools, such as compliance solutions, to provide assurance that the right controls are in place.
The development of cloud-based security services will help simplify security management and increase the focus on what is relevant for customer businesses.
And as cloud computing continues to evolve, organisations need support from the channel in order to choose the model that works best for them.
Cloud computing is an exciting trend that is driving the IT industry forward and propelling the evolution of the information economy.
The channel needs to give customers access to the right information and advice, encouraging greater productivity and more collaboration, and providing a path for organisations to seize opportunities with confidence.
Jason Ellis is EMEA channel vice president at Symantec