Cloud vs On-Premises: Here’s What You Need to Know.

Cloud this. Cloud that. “On-premises vs. Cloud.” You’ve heard the conversations and seen the endless amounts of internet content around it. At this point, it’s impossible not to have your – and/or your security team’s – head in the cloud(s).  

Consider this blog as an opportunity to discover cloud resources: we’ll take a closer look at what the cloud actually is (including the difference between cloud and on-prem computing resources), what this means for your security posture and your organization’s specific needs, and, you guessed it, a bit about how Tufin tackles all things cloud. 

Decisions, Decisions: How Cloud Solutions Compare to On-Premises Environments

We know you might already know the difference, but to quickly lay down some specifics and key differences, let’s look at cloud computing and on-premises solutions side-by-side to ensure an informed decision is being made.   

On-Premises Environments

With an on-premises infrastructure (also known as in-house or on-prem), software applications are run on a company’s own hardware infrastructure. Not only is the company responsible for the physical on-site location/storage of said hardware, but also the maintenance that comes with it.  

Many companies to this day are still very comfortable with having complete control and ownership of their systems and data centers, tasking their internal IT teams and IT Infrastructure to handle all operations and situations pertaining to it.  

Another advantage? Avoiding compatibility issues with external software vendors, and greater flexibility/freedom for customization. That said, there are some other considerations to take in mind, and it’s why many companies prefer cloud computing.   

Cloud Environments

In a cloud computing environment, cloud software is stored and managed by a third-party provider. Without physical “ownership” of the associated hardware, end– user access just requires an internet connection and a virtual interface (like a web browser and/or software as a service [SaaS]).  

Cloud computing eliminates those higher upfront costs or the need for an upfront investment of aforementioned hardware, as well as ongoing maintenance costs (including necessary upgrades, from both an operational and compliance standpoint) for the system(s).   

So why has there been this gravitation to cloud environments as of late? It harnesses the potential to enhance workload efficiency, minimize operational hiccups, simplify compliance, and streamline network security operations. Plus it provides scalability, is easier to monitor and maintain, and is more cost-effective (cost savings! Yes, in this economy.).  

Here are a few more notable cloud computing benefits:   

• Reduces the continued burden of legacy infrastructure 
• Prioritizes security transformation to keep pace with demands 
• Enables the requirements for an adaptive, “futureproof” infrastructure 
• Bridges visibility and process gaps

What Cloud Doesn’t Mean or Guarantee  

As one can infer above, cloud computing does not have the same kind of control as an on-prem system, and a lot of trust in organizations’ sensitive data is therefore put into these third-party systems. That said, cloud is not inherently more secure than on-premises, especially since cloud providers don’t include security of their own.   

For all the benefits of cloud there are needs for additional security controls. Thankfully, there’s a way to address that. 

Getting Your Cloud Platform in Formation

Technologies and platforms exist to simplify the protection, compliance, and management of network and cloud infrastructure(s).  

We acknowledge we’re not the only service provider out there that has dabbling in cloud on their Dopler, but our mission as a company is to empower network and security teams with end-to-end visibility, actionable insights, continuous compliance, and best-in-class automation to ensure – and accelerate – secure application deployment, and, the biggie, revenue growth.  

That said, every approach is different, and it’s why we feel so strongly about how Tufin’s cloud capabilities really take your needs to heart (whether you’re leaning toward Microsoft Azure, Palo Alto Prisma Access, or another cloud service provider that best suits your organization).  

Ready to Hop On Board?

If this all jives with your business needs, that’s great! But it doesn’t have to be a leap of faith. In fact, we’ll supply you some wings.  

We won’t bog you down right now with all the details, especially after you may still be digesting all of the info above, but there’s a place for that here. Like what you see, can’t get enough, and/or ready to run with it? Book a hands on-demo with our team and we can keep that momentum going for a proper takeoff to the cloud security skies.