Cloud technology may be maturing, but so are the threats that surround it. According to the 2023 Cloud Security Report, 95% of security professionals are worried about public cloud security, 38% about data privacy, 29% about data security and leakage risks – this after 76% had experienced a security incident over the past year. Managing security within a thriving cloud ecosystem has become a priority for the enterprise as threats become increasingly cohesive and persistent.
Obviously, the solution isn’t to opt out of the cloud and slam down the digital walls. Enterprises are well aware of the benefits of cloud. This is reflected in the increased spend on cloud infrastructure services that reached an impressive $73,7 billion in the last quarter of 2023 which was an increase of 20% on the same period in 2022.
The answer is to select an architecture that takes security as seriously as its features.
Mitigating the risks with a trusted architecture
Microsoft Azure has also seen growth over the past year, gaining market share on AWS and Google by almost two percentage points globally. The platform has continued to gain impressive ground since its launch in 2010 and two of the driving forces behind this growth are Microsoft’s laser focus on security and R&D.
In July 2023, Microsoft announced two new security service edge (SSE) products known as Microsoft Entra Internet Access and Microsoft Entra Private Access, both designed to prioritise identity and access management within the cloud as part of the company’s commitment to zero trust network access. The announcement wrapped Azure Active Directory into the Microsoft Entra portfolio to make it easier for companies to find and prioritise their security protocols within a central bouquet of services.
Focusing on productivity and security
Microsoft’s Shawn Bice, the corporate president of cloud security, defined the company’s approach as one that helps customers do more with the built-in security of Microsoft Azure because: “…cloud security is a problem you manage, not a problem you solve.”
Azure focuses on empowering through security rather than on creating a series of uphill battles that verified users have to win in order to do their jobs. Security is woven into the operational fabric of the platform and, thanks to constant investment, it uses the latest developments in AI and automation to ensure that this security remains agile and relevant.
The state-of-the-art security wrapped into the Azure ecosystem consists of several key layers. There’s the outside layer that protects the Azure datacentre and includes perimeter security, access control, two-step identity validation, and physical security. There are the advanced cybersecurity teams that include more than 10,000 security and threat intelligence experts with more than 15,000 partners specialised in the security ecosystem to ensure enterprises have the tools and support they need. Then there’s the intelligence underlying the entire Microsoft fabric that’s capable of blocking 4,000 attacks per second, tracking threat actors, and synthesising more than 750 million signals a second.
Microsoft Azure is considered one of the most secure cloud platforms in the world because it pays attention to the risks. Mint is one of Microsoft’s trusted partners and we have the expertise to ensure your Microsoft Azure cloud platform can deliver on the innovation promises it makes without compromising on your security.
If you’re looking for a smart way to mitigate security risks within the Azure architecture, take this 10-minute assessment designed to help you gain an overview of your security. We will help you find the best route to optimising everything within your cloud ecosystem, from security through to productivity.
