How Cloud Computing Improves Your Security Posture

Cloud computing

Over the past decade, there has been a phenomenal shift of traditional security technology into cloud computing environments. Cloud-based servers like Microsoft Azure have transformed the way organizations are building IT infrastructure and protecting their data.  

With cybercriminals advancing at a rate difficult for law enforcement to keep up with, cloud adoption is one of the best ways to protect your data in the modern threat landscape. Right now, about ninety percent of businesses are in some stage of cloud adoption.  

Why Some Businesses Still Favor On-Prem

Although cloud computing has become a mainstream delivery choice for security services and infrastructure, many businesses remain hesitant to make the move. The primary reason is the misconception that on-premises systems have better security aptitude, and that cloud technology will harm your security posture. But that is simply not the case.  

The reality is that many organizations lack the tools, expertise, or funding to maintain security infrastructure with the required level of compliance. This leaves networks and on-premises systems extremely vulnerable to attacks. Properly secured cloud solutions provide access to higher levels of protection that were previously not possible. 

Here are three reasons to move your business-critical systems to the cloud to improve your security posture:  

Streamline Identity and Access Management (IAM) 

Cloud security limits the possibility of authentication and authorization threats by streamlining identity and access management (IAM).  

Through its linked, global coverage, the cloud provides every member of your team with only one login credential. With a cloud-facilitated single sign-on process, each of your employees can access what they need. Plus, when they access certain data, it leaves a full audit trail. Meaning you can track all the access points your staff has used when a breach occurs through computer forensics.  

Access to required programs, data sets, and other materials can also be easily limited to certain team members. Secure elevated privileges that allow for critical IT maintenance are enforced using role-based, limited scope credentials that expire after a set time period. And, if an employee leaves, access to your network can be shut down almost instantly. 

Scale Up

With unlimited amounts of storage and computing power on demand, security intelligence is able to use high-performance computing and analytics to evolve the technologies protecting your data. Security tools, cloud-aware security apps, and secure monitoring and management mean it’s easier than ever to share this defense across your company.  

Your company is expanding, with locations across the country or globe. Eliminate the headache of setting up individual IT systems with cloud computing. Multiple locations are easily set up for security when your networks are cloud-based. Simply plug the access points in, turn them on, and connect to the Internet. You can instantly have secure access to your data, your programs—and all the resources of your cybersecurity infrastructure. As your business scales, so does your security technology.  

Improve Automation

The bigger your company becomes, the more automation you need. Cloud-based computing makes it easy to connect your satellite branches and set up effective automation of necessary services and tasks. As an additional advantage, your networks are more secure by design.  

People are the number-one threat in cybersecurity. The more automation you have, the less you need a human to wade into the IT and network infrastructure and the less harm – on purpose or by mistake – can happen. By limiting human access to your security program, you limit human error, helping ensure the defenses of your network remain secure. 

The capabilities of cloud networks, when it comes to cybersecurity, are enormous and growing every day. If you’re looking to improve your security posture, using the cloud is the answer. Plus, you also get all the basic benefits of cloud solutions: flexible capacity with lower capital cost outlay, improved availability and business continuity, interoperability, portability, network resilience, reversibility and elasticity of resource allocation on demand. 

The Future

Today, many businesses are transitioning into multi-cloud environments. Multi-cloud environments are a model of cloud computing, organizations use a combination of public and private clouds to distribute applications and services. With the cloud environment constantly changing and becoming more complex it’s important start migrating your network to the most secure form of technology now.  

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Ken Perkins

Biography coming soon.

Megan Miller

Megan Miller’s energy and passion for learning flow into all aspects of her work. As the Growth Manager, North America, she brings a background in sciences which she has transitioned to the tech sector in her role at Difenda.

With a Bachelors of Science in Geology, Megan is a lifelong learner who is voracious about learning anything she can get her hands on about cybersecurity. Her positive energy has built a sales strategy with a focus on expanding in the United States while nurturing the Canadian presence. She is responsible for recruiting and training the sales team. Together with the company’s leadership, she creates the sales process and the company’s product strategy in order to better serve the customer base. This ensures that our customers have a highly trained and highly motivated team to help them every step of the way, Megan has completed Microsoft SC-900 training and working towards mastering Microsoft.

Whether at work or play, Megan is fully committed. She took her love of hockey all the way to the semi-professional level as a competitive hockey player. Megan loves all things sports including water skiing, scuba diving, cycling, and snowboarding. She also enjoys time with family and reading about alternative energy, innovation, and cybersecurity.

Natasha Phanor

As the Microsoft Partner Manager at Difenda, Natasha Phanor is responsible for driving growth within our Microsoft Partnership. With six years in the industry, she offers a fresh, energetic approach, and the ability to focus on our customer’s needs throughout the entire process. Natasha has the innate ability to foresee customer needs and solve problems before they arise, which creates a smooth road for each customer she encounters.

As the recipient of the Outstanding Services Partner of the Year Award in 2018, it is clear that Natasha responds quickly to customer needs, creates a platform for understanding a customer’s business requirements, and walks them through the process to ensure their complete satisfaction.

In her spare time, Natasha is as energetic and passionate as she is on the job. A self-proclaimed foodie-extraordinaire, she enjoys dinner parties, traveling, downhill skiing, hiking, biking, and reading. Natasha has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in Dance, from Ryerson University.

Lisa Templeton

Lisa Templeton is the perfect combination of human empathy and technological prowess. In her role as People Services Manager, she takes care of our team members to support them in their daily work, as well as on their personal life paths. Happy employees make for happy customers, and Lisa excels in giving our employees the tools they need for success in order to become the best possible versions of themselves. Along with employee formation, she shines in the service delivery support domain to continuously improve the process. Her 24 years of experience in IT Operations and Service Management help her create quality and efficiency at Difenda.

Having attended the Information Systems Management certificate program at Ryerson University, and with various other certifications to her credit, Lisa is perceptive and innovative when it comes to information technology, but also sensitive to the needs of her human constituents. Responsible for achieving the first privately owned company HDI Support Center certification in Canada, she has also designed and implemented Service Management excellence programs and 24×7 IT Operations departments for multiple IT organizations, and has created corporate rewards and recognition programs to keep her employees engaged and motivated.

On the personal side, Lisa passionately supports the cause of breast cancer research, having lost her mother to the disease. She reads voraciously in her spare time, and enjoys the art of home renovation. The summer months also bring time on her boat and exploring new hiking trails.

Miranda McCurdy

Miranda McCurdy uses her myriad super powers in all aspects of her job and personal life. As the Marketing Director at Difenda, Miranda McCurdy brings over a decade of experience to the table, which includes expertise in all facets of operations, brand management, and content marketing, as well as a multitude of successful strategies for the ever-expanding digital world. She is an expert at simplifying the message the company is trying to send, filling in gaps in the information, and strengthening the content in order to create compelling narratives that strengthen the brand and developing programs that bring teams together.

With several Addy Awards issued by the American Advertising Federation Cleveland to her credit, and her never say die attitude, Miranda understands both the broader picture and the minute details that are needed to successfully market a product. With her abilities to harness both the talent needed to spread the message, as well as to create the message itself, she is an integral cog in the company’s ability to communicate with customers and other stakeholders.

When she is not building a brand, she shares her ability to fill the gaps in her community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and the Charleston Food Bank. In her spare time, Miranda spends time with her family, enjoys fitness and health, paddle boarding, reading, and arts and crafts.

Juliana Zaremba

Connections are the name of the game for Juliana Zaremba. As Strategic Partnerships Director, she is responsible for Difenda’s channel partnerships and the development and ownership of the channel partner program. She is also responsible for the global Microsoft Partnership, including the creation of strategic plans with MSFT contacts that will facilitate the continued growth of the business and establish certification and training protocols in all security technologies. Her role is multifaceted, as she acquires partners, manages relationships with them, and develops strategies that will provide cutting edge security solutions to our customer base. Another integral aspect of her job is to facilitate growth.

With a Bachelor’s in Math from the University of Waterloo and 14 years of experience from her previous roles at Herjavec Group and CDW, her cutting edge focus and ability to develop long-lasting relationships and strategies provides world class security solutions to our customer base.

Juliana thrives on connections outside of work as well. She is a philanthropist and contributor with Women4Change based in Hamilton. This group of local women is passionate about supporting local causes, and she focuses her efforts around Women in STEM. She is also a member of Club Italia in Niagara Falls and supports their youth events throughout the year.

When not managing the Microsoft Global partnership, Juliana enjoys reading, often reading several books at once. Juliana enjoys exploring the Niagara Escarpment with her family, as well as sharing meals and experiences with her extended family. Juliana’s competitive nature has her always trying new things, like Whoop band challenges and Peloton.

Jeffry Jacob

Biography Coming Soon