Majority of organisations across Australia have a number of cloud applications or infrastructure in their environment. However, chances are that your organisation isn’t cloud native or ‘born in the cloud’. A variety of legacy and operational applications and infrastructure are still in use, thus developing a hybrid-cloud environment.
There is common knowledge that cloud applications can dramatically simplify and streamline how users get the resources they need to work effectively. However, with more and more public clouds and public facing cloud applications, an average organisation’s perimeter is expanding and increasing in vulnerable attack points including basic identity and user access management. A smooth journey to the cloud can be delivered by following a few simple principles for secure access.
What you need are authentication and access tools that make it easy for you to support a hybrid environment spanning both on-premises and cloud-based applications.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Majority of multi-factor authentication tools these days are applicable in both on-premises and cloud environments. A lot of our customers are concerned that they may need to change their MFA solution when extending to the cloud – however, tools such as RSA’s SecurID allows customers to make the most of their existing investment when moving to the cloud, and affords flexibility to move the environment at their own pace.
Deliver an Easy-to-Consume and Frictionless User Experience
As you move to the cloud, you want to ensure that your end users are able to operate in a cybersecure environment with minimal barriers to entry. After all, the ability to quickly and effortlessly access resources is a major reason people want to use apps in the cloud in the first place. Why get in the way of that by placing undue demands on them in the form of complex authentication processes?
Seek out a solution that affords users the freedom to work in whatever way is best for them, by allowing them to have easy to use access, with as minimal convergence obstacles as possible. Simplicity and frictionless access is key here with users just wanting to simply to simply log in and go, with virtually no effort. Solutions that leverage user behaviour and other “behind the scenes” intelligence to learn the differences between good users and bad are making this a reality, by minimizing the need for additional authentication and ensuring that access controls are in proportion to levels of risk.
Build a Bridge Across Apps to IT
With a myriad of applications across the on-premises and cloud environments, it is fair to assume that an identity and access management tool covering both presents as a security risk. However, a single authentication solution across both landscapes can create a secure integrated environment that bridges apps to IT by consolidating the applications in one place and applying protection measures for user access. One solution for all apps, creating simplicity and security.
To learn more about Cloud Security Strategy and 2019 Guide, download here:
