Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 86 | Page 69

t cht lk services , a critical requirement for modern business operations . The benefits of SSE include :

t cht lk services , a critical requirement for modern business operations . The benefits of SSE include :

• Enhanced Security Posture : SSE implements proactive security measures to protect against advanced threats , with real-time threat detection , encryption , and data loss prevention .
• Secure Access to Cloud Services : It ensures secure connectivity and seamless access to cloud services , establishing secure tunnels , authenticating users , and applying security policies to safeguard data .
• Improved Network Performance : SSE minimises latency by bringing security closer to the network edge , resulting in faster and more reliable network performance , particularly for latencysensitive applications .
• Bandwidth Optimisation : SSE optimises bandwidth utilisation by managing traffic intelligently , ensuring that critical applications receive the necessary resources .
• Cost Efficiency and Scalability : SSE streamlines network architecture , reducing the need for separate security appliances at every location . It offers scalability to adapt to changing business needs .
• Flexible Scaling : It allows organisations to adapt their network and security infrastructure efficiently as per evolving requirements .
SSE versus SASE
SSE and Secure Access Service Edge , SASE are occasionally confused , but they serve different scopes . SASE is a broader framework that encompasses SSE , combining networking and security services in a cloudnative architecture .
SASE offers a comprehensive approach to network and security , ensuring secure access to resources regardless of the user ’ s location . Components of SASE include network and security integration , identitycentric access , and a zero-trust architecture .
While SSE and SASE have distinct scopes , they can synergise . SSE can be integrated into a broader SASE framework to enhance network edge security and provide localised security services , enabling organisations to establish a comprehensive security posture across their network .
By considering SSE and its potential integration into a broader SASE architecture , businesses can strengthen their security posture and optimise their network infrastructure . SSE is not just about security ; it ’ s about a holistic approach to network performance and protection , and we believe that the integration of SSE , alongside existing solutions , will help businesses achieve this . p
Multi-cloud score card for African IT managers
In the past , cloud adoption was defined by the best fit for the business with one provider . Today , companies do not need to put their eggs into one proverbial digital basket . Multi-cloud allows companies to pick the best options across cloud providers to create a cloud framework that dips corporate toes into multiple digital pools .
However , it introduces challenges . The answer lies in the following simple steps :
1 . An analysis that unpacks what workloads the organisation wants to migrate .
2 . Classify the services by asking if the software is platform-based or if it ’ s infrastructure .
3 . The location of the data must be navigated to ensure tight costs and even tighter controls with smooth access and compliance controls .
4 . Does the cloud provider have a presence in the region where you want to put your data . Is it just one data centre or multiple data centres ?
5 . Does your business want to scale easily or is this service simply a server bolted on ? This allows you to make decisions that align with growth and performance .
6 . A cost analysis is the big bell that must be rung at this point . Your ingress and egress costs , your overall costs , these must be transparent before the first step .
7 . Is your business ready to pay the costs associated with storage compute ?
8 . Do you know how much it costs for your data to move smoothly between data centre , business and customer ?
9 . Knowing the costs means knowing how to build the cheapest framework that delivers the best service .
10 . Compliance and data resiliency are next . How resilient is the solution you have on the table ? Will it be backed up and scalable ?
11 . Security and governance are critical for any multi-cloud development . You want to know if these are built into the platform and services provided .
12 . Is your role to manage and monitor data while the service provider does the rest .
13 . Avoid vendor lock-in and mitigation . Can you move your workloads ? Can you move your services ? Can you change your cloud provider ?
14 . The final step is to unpack all this data into a decision matrix that allows you to take a clear look at every one of these points and weigh them so you can assess which cloud providers are best for your business .
It is this visibility that allows companies to thrive within a multi-cloud framework without surprises and with results .
Pieter le Roux , Modern Platform Lead , Altron Karabina
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