Security-as-a-Service Moves To The Cloud

Security services protecting companies from malicious online attacks are starting to move to the cloud. Zscaler, a Santa Clara company started by Jay Chaundry, is posed to relieve companies of the hassle of monitoring network traffic and reducing malicious attack from malware and adware. While Zscaler's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) approach to security just lifted the curtain on its offering, it is by no means the only game in town.

Many security products today, such as firewalls and VPNs, protect corporate networks and servers from threats that originate on the Internet. But more recent threats infect end-users accessing the Internet using bots, phishing and malicious active content. As security threats become more advanced, network protection has to evolve in order to keep pace, and moving security to the cloud may be the best way to keep current and protected.

Panda Security, which launched their 100 percent channel sales program, P3, this week, also believes that there is an advantage to cloud computing. By moving to the cloud, VARs have the opportunity to enhance their service offerings while offering better protection for customers.

While customers will always appreciate enhanced service and additional peace of mind, VARs who make use of the cloud can experience benefits as well. "From a channel position, using the cloud makes things less intensive on us," said Roy Meihe, president and CEO of AAAntivirus.

When it comes to staying current with viruses, malware and spyware, using the cloud as a resource means that VARs and their customers have greater access to databases that are updated in real time.

"Using the cloud allows both us and VARs to maintain larger a database," said Dan Dufault, director of channel marketing for Panda Security. "Working in the cloud means you can fix and respond to threats and potential threats on a second-by-second basis."

The added security of constant updates in real time allows VARs to spend their time doing the little things for customers, like providing enhanced services that likely aren't available if a customer buys directly from a vendor.

As customers begin to realize that the protection being offered by Security-as-a-Service is just as competent as traditional security applications, they will also realize that it will reduce their costs -- not to mention that some products can provide end-to-end security instead of simply focusing on a single security vulnerability like email.

"Using the cloud minimizes the amount of resources and bandwidth needed to fully protect all of a customer's systems," said Jim Addlesberger, president and CEO of NavigateStorage. "I think it's something that customers are embracing and will continue to embrace as they grow."