Top 10 Hybrid Cloud Security Solution Companies in 2021

Cloud maturity comes with greater cloud diversification which is why 84% of respondents on a recent IDG survey admitted to moving workloads away from public clouds to different environments. But how do you keep up with the security vulnerabilities that might arise from this diversification and fragmentation? This article discusses ten software solutions that can help address this challenge. 

Table of Contents

• • Key Must-Have Features of Hybrid Cloud Security Software
  • Top 10 Hybrid Cloud Security Software in 2021

Key Must-Have Features of Hybrid Cloud Security Software

Hybrid cloud is slowly but surely becoming the de-facto operating environment for mid-sized to large organizations. As cloud adoption becomes more mature, organizations are fast realizing that different environments are suited to different types of workloads and applications. Therefore, a judicious mix would be more effective than a one-size-fits-all model. 

Key Features of Hybrid Cloud Security Software

In 2020, 84% of respondents of IDG’s The State of IT Modernization 2020 survey said they had moved select workloads from a public cloud to an alternative cloud or non-cloud environment. Another research report by NutanixOpens a new window found that 46% of companies have increased their hybrid cloud investments due to the pandemic. 

That’s because a hybrid cloud infrastructure allows you to retain your on-premise, physical data centers, and servers while giving remote employees the flexibility to gain from cloud-hosted resources. However, security can be a major concern for organizations when adopting the hybrid cloud. Distributed assets, diverse hosting environments, and disparate network architectures can make it difficult to achieve a single pane of truth and centralize security governance. 

According to FireMon’s 2020 State of Hybrid Cloud Security report, nearly 60% of survey respondents were deploying new cloud services faster than they can secure them. This makes it crucial to adopt purpose-built hybrid cloud security software to protect your enterprise, even as you scale your multi-faceted operating environment. 

Ideally, your hybrid cloud security software should include: 

• • Comprehensive cloud coverage: The software must be able to connect with, scan, and manage, your entire cloud footprint spanning multiple public cloud providers as well as virtual machines. Whether you use AWS, GCP, or Azure, or even a bespoke offering like IBM Cloud, check for coverage across the resources you need. 
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning: This is increasingly becoming a top priority for cloud security software. AI & ML can power intelligent automation and analysis, uncovering vulnerabilities and threats that remain hidden from traditional analysis or manual assessment and even recommend remediation steps. 
  • Container support: As containerization becomes a popular strategy for application development and DevOps, companies need hybrid cloud security software to protect workloads inside containers. This is an especially important use case for ISV customers, digital enterprises relying on container-based app development and system integrators. 
  • Security analytics and data visualization: Sophisticated security analytics and data visualization dashboards give you centralized visibility into the asset distribution across your entire hybrid landscape. You can find and explore correlations, inspect vulnerabilities, enforce policies, and visualize key security metrics from a consolidated dashboard. 
  • SIEM integrations: Finally, the hybrid cloud security software must be able to connect with your security information and event management (SIEM) system so that it can automatically send security incident alerts, trigger workflows, and inform ticket resolution. 

Also Read: Top 10 Cloud Data Protection Companies in 2021

Top 10 Hybrid Cloud Security Software in 2021

While most cybersecurity vendors provide some degree of protection for hybrid cloud environments, you need a solution that’s purpose-built to handle the unique requirements of a hybrid, multi-faceted IT landscape. Here are our top recommendations in this segment, arranged in alphabetical order. 

Disclaimer: This is a curated list based on publicly available information and may include vendor websites that sell to mid-to-large enterprises. Readers are advised to conduct their own final research to ensure the best fit for their unique organizational needs.

1. Alert Logic Hybrid Cloud Security 

Overview: Founded in 2002, Alert Logic is a managed detection and response (MDR) provider that supports various IT infrastructure landscapes, including the hybrid cloud. In addition to MDR, it has a host of other capabilities like firewall protection, network intrusion detection, and security integrations for specific cloud-based environments. While Alert Logic has extra features for AWS customers, it provides powerful protection for all your endpoints, storage hosts, and network systems. 

Key features: The key features of Alert Logic Hybrid Cloud Security include: 

• • Threat management with analytics, real-time alerts, incident verification, and remediation
  • Web application firewall as a service 
  • Network intrusion detection system for hybrid and containerized landscapes 
  • Additional security integrations for AWS and Microsoft Azure 
  • Log data normalization and analysis augmented by human intelligence 
  • Machine-learning and real-time behavior analysis for endpoint protection 

USP: A major USP of Alert Logic is its managed services value proposition, leveraging 150+ in-house cybersecurity experts to provide human-augmented threat intelligence. Along with its ML and automation capabilities, this ensures that your hybrid cloud infrastructure is protected end-to-end, 24/7. 

Editorial comments: Alert Logic is an excellent hybrid cloud security solution if intrusion detection and response is a top use case at your organization. Not only does it support all major cloud instances, including AWS, Azure, GCP, VMware, container platforms, and private clouds, but it also integrates with your existing security tools such as McAfee, Auth0, Palo Alto Networks, etc. 

2. Armor Anywhere

Overview: Founded in 2009, Armor Cloud Security provides workload security and analytics tools for private-public and hybrid cloud environments. It includes threat detection and response mechanisms, as well as compliance controls for your enterprise data no matter where they reside. Importantly, Armor has its own private cloud product, where you can choose to host your security solution and associated workloads/data insights, along with coverage across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, hybrid cloud, and private cloud. 

Key features: The key features of Armor Anywhere include: 

• • Endpoint threat detection and response in real-time 
  • Next-generation antivirus to block malicious executables 
  • Security incident correlation, evaluation, and visualization
  • Log data management by ingesting data from cloud-native services 
  • Unified visibility into assets across your multi-faceted hybrid environment 
  • Compliance matrix for IT landscapes that are ready for PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and other standardized audits 

USP: An important USP of Armor Anywhere is its ability to clearly visualize data and spot correlations. This helps formulate better cybersecurity strategies, keeping in mind historical trends and anticipating future risks. 

Editorial comments: Companies with hybrid cloud environments who are eager to gain from cloud-native security logs should definitely consider Armor Anywhere – particularly for its rich analytics capabilities. 

Also Read: What Is Cloud Computing? Private, Public, and Hybrid Cloud Basics

3. Cloudvisory 

Overview: Cybersecurity veterans from leading organizations like AWS, Voltage Security, HP, and Oracle founded Cloudvisory in 2013. The company was acquired by security intelligence giant FireEye in 2020 but continues to be available as a standalone security solution for hybrid environments. It is compatible with a wide range of systems (including AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, OpenStack, virtualized, and bare-metal) and also supports DevSecOps workflows. 

Key features: The key features of Cloudvisory include: 

• • Machine learning capabilities to detect correlations and predict threats 
  • Microsegmentation policies to categorize and protect individual workloads 
  • Orchestration remediation of non-compliance and policy enforcement 
  • Agentless monitoring of network flows across system environments 
  • Protection coverage for specific applications, containers, and cloud virtual machines 
  • Least privilege security controls and security event visualization 

USP: Cloudvisory has a powerful governance module. Not only is it compliant with all major regulations and standards, but it also automatically detects system alterations to enforce the ideal compliance policies. Thanks to micro-segmentation and machine learning, you can automate a significant portion of your hybrid cloud security governance activities. 

Editorial comments: For companies looking to implement a granular security strategy – drilling down to the workload levels – Cloudvisory is an ideal solution. It also helps navigate the complexities of a hybrid landscape, prioritizing key signals and incidents using machine learning. 

4. CloudKnox 

Overview: CloudKnox is an identity and security controls provider that uses its unique activity-based authorization model to protect your hybrid cloud. It also works as a permissions management platform, giving you visibility into privilege creep, high-risk roles, and real-time anomalous activity. CloudKnox is purpose-built for hybrid environments, compatible with all major public clouds as well as virtual machines. 

Key features: The key features of CloudKnox include: 

• • A unified dashboard consolidating multiple clouds, assets, workflows, identities, and resources 
  • Activity-based authorization (in addition to role-based authorization) for every action 
  • Automated alerts based on unusual activity, geo-location, and endpoint type
  • Non-compliance discovery as per industry regulations and standards 
  • Out of the box and customizable reports for comprehensive auditing 
  • Context-rich forensics to enable root cause investigations 

USP: The biggest differentiator when using CloudKnox is the company’s privilege creep index. This is a proprietary metric that assesses the overall risk levels of your hybrid cloud environment and updates it every hour to reflect the aggregate of high-risk privileges, especially for the aggregate of all high-risk privileges. 

Editorial comments: At a time when so many of us are working from home, distributed systems are the new normal. CloudKnox gives you visibility into identity privileges and their impact on security irrespective of your hosting environment. Using smart dashboards, data analytics and visualization, and the unique privilege creep index, you can get ahead of identity-related risks and secure your infrastructure. 

Also Read: Cloud Security Basics: AWS, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure & OracleOpens a new window

5. Fortinet Hybrid Cloud Solution for Enterprise and Mid-Size Business 

Overview: Fortinet is a globally recognized leader in cybersecurity, catering to over 455,000 customers around the world. Its flagship solution, Fortinet Security Fabric, also powers its hybrid cloud solution in the enterprise and mid-size business segment. Fortinet has an impressive range of services to help your hybrid deployment, including prioritized technical support, guided implementations, employee training, certifications, and even cybersecurity career guidance for veterans. 

Key features: The key features of Fortinet Hybrid Cloud Solution include: 

• • Network security autoscaling to provide coverage across all your hybrid cloud assets 
  • Centrally managed security provisioning and multi-layered workload protection 
  • Security log analysis and monitoring for stringent compliance 
  • Inter-cloud workload migration through site-to-site VPN connectivity
  • Coverage for all your infrastructure, including Oracle Cloud, IBM Bluemix, and Azure Stack 
  • Persistent connection segmentation for end-to-end network security 

USP: A major USP of Fortinet is its native support for Oracle, including Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and OCI Classic. Further, the solution is built on the company’s Security Fabric, which boasts adaptive cloud security, zero trust access, and its own global threat intelligence database. 

Editorial comments: Companies with a long-term investment in the hybrid cloud should consider Fortinet as a promising partner, owing to its software solution as well as its robust service capabilities. Fortinet has authorized training centers and NSE certifications to build your in-house cybersecurity expertise and strengthen your long-term security posture. 

6. Guardicore Centra 

Overview: Founded in 2013, Guardicore Centra offers sophisticated network segmentation based on a software-only architecture. This security platform is a more intelligent alternative to legacy firewalls, helping you visualize, segment, and protect your assets across physical data centers, public clouds, or a hybrid cloud environment. Guradicore has a robust policy engine that maps your entire IT environment, providing you with recommendations depending on the resulting asset classification. Guardicore is powered by artificial intelligence. 

Key features: The key features of Guardicore Centra include: 

• • Consistent policy enforcement across all operating environments, including Linux
  • A flexible allowlist and denylist for speedy risk reduction 
  • Software-driven segmentation model for faster results without network downtime 
  • Legacy compatibility for Windows 2003, CentOS 6, and RHEL5, and AS400
  • Sophisticated breach detection capabilities, including a threat intelligence firewall
  • A visual map providing contextual insights on network, assets, processes, users, and traffic flows

USP: Guardicore’s AI-powered asset segmentation is what sets it apart among hybrid cloud security solution providers. The platform uses AI to prioritize your vital applications and apply segmentation policies without disrupting workflows. Additionally, Guardicore uses collectors to obtain visibility into endpoints where agents cannot be deployed. 

Editorial comments: For companies who need an agent-based hybrid cloud security solution with a distributed, host-based firewall, Guardicore Centra is an excellent option. Its integration capabilities with 50+ security and infrastructure management tools make it highly adaptable for most IT environments. 

Also Read: What Is Cloud Storage: Private, Public, Hybrid and Community Cloud Storage 

7. Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security Solution 

Overview: Kaspersky is widely known for its consumer-grade and enterprise solutions, covering a broad spectrum of use cases from managed services to endpoint protection and security tools for email servers. The company offers a hybrid cloud security solution that enables borderless security across your IT infrastructure, managed and hosted by Kaspersky. The solution brings together its capabilities in endpoint security, endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat sandboxing, and cloud security to create a tailored solution for hybrid cloud. 

Key features: The key features of Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security Solution include: 

• • Protection for physical and virtual servers, as well as specific data channels in a private cloud 
  • End-to-end protection for all workloads (including IAAS) via a managed hosting 
  • Unified orchestration through borderless protection, accessed via an enterprise-level console 
  • 24/7 support provided by the Kaspersky team across 200 countries 
  • Multi-layered real-time protection, powered by machine learning
  • Agentless or light agent-based protection for virtualized assets

USP: Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security Solution brings all the benefits you could expect from an enterprise cybersecurity platform (behavior analysis, anti-ransomware, threat intelligence, file integrity, etc.) to a hybrid cloud environment. This is further aided by multi-layered resource utilization control at the web, device, and application level. 

Editorial comments: Kaspersky is a trusted vendor in the hybrid cloud space. If you are leveraging Citrix for desktop virtualization, Kaspersky’s solution will bring Citrix and VMware-ready protection out of the box. Finally, it operates on a one-console, one-license model to simplify billing even if you implement a multi-application solution suite. 

8. Qualys Cloud Platform 

Overview: 1999-founded cybersecurity provider Qualys has an established global presence and is listed on NASDAQ. It has over 10,300+ customers, including several Fortune 100s, and its flagship Qualys Cloud Platform offers a comprehensive solution for hybrid cloud security. It embeds sensors across your distributed IT infrastructure, collecting data and giving you visibility in near-real-time. Not only does Qualys integrate with all major public clouds, but it also has on-premise hardware scanners and container sensors for multi-ecosystem environments. 

Key features: The key features of Qualys Cloud Platform include: 

• • Real-time analysis of cloud and on-premise asset data to detect threats 
  • Continuous monitoring and immediate threat remediation with a single click 
  • A centralized dashboard governing your cloud, on-premise, containerized, and IoT assets
  • A massive threat intelligence knowledge base, informed by 6 billion+ IP scans per year 
  • Encrypted databases to store security information
  • Deployment on the cloud or on-premise 

USP: Qualys’ biggest USP is its extensive range of sensors to keep a watch on your various IT assets irrespective of where they reside. You can choose a mix of cloud agents, remote scanners, local scanners, passive scanners, out-of-band sensors, container sensors, and SaaS connectors, protecting your end-to-end hybrid landscape. 

Editorial comments: Qualys is among the most compelling alternatives available for agent-based hybrid cloud security with cloud and on-premise deployment options. Combined with the company’s robust threat intelligence database and dedicated solutions for private clouds, you can adopt this solution for most enterprise environments. 

Also Read: IBM Cloud GM on Why Hybrid Cloud Meets the Needs of Most Businesses

9. Skybox Security Posture Management Platform

Overview: The Skybox Security Posture Management Platform analyzes and visualizes hybrid environments, giving you contextual insights on vulnerabilities and possible threats. The company was founded in 2002 and serves several Fortune 1000 businesses, owing to its multi-cloud and hybrid cloud-ready solution architecture. Skybox even integrates with 150+ enterprise apps for networking, cloud management, IT management, threat intelligence, and cybersecurity. 

Key features: The key features of Skybox Security Posture Management Platform include: 

• • Vulnerability analysis, risk scoring, and remediation prioritization
  • Automated mapping of the potential attack surface to reduce risk exposure
  • Secure change management capabilities using automated, closed-loop workflows 
  • Hybrid network audit and compliance using automated policy management
  • Centralized firewall management across the IT landscape, including firewall rule set audits 
  • Vulnerability discovery and transparent remediation for greater accountability 

USP: One of the most significant differentiators of Skybox is its role-based reporting feature. It continuously monitors and logs security information. Moreover, different teams can view this data from their role-based perspective to create custom reports and collaboratively find the root cause of incidents. 

Editorial comments: Skybox is ideal for companies with an existing security landscape that is deeply entrenched. Its 150+ native integrations enable seamless retro-fitting with your current environment, not to mention its hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-premise compatibility. Finally, its network modeling and analytics feature allow you to close gaps before they can cause serious threats. 

10. Trend Micro Cloud One 

Overview: Global cybersecurity giant Trend Micro has been around for 30+ years, and its flagship Trend Micro Cloud One platform offers comprehensive coverage across AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and other public providers, in addition to VMware-based private clouds and on-premise storage. The solution leverages advanced automation to accelerate vulnerability discovery and enforce compliance. Trend Micro also offers security services when migrating to the cloud. 

Key features: The key features of Trend Micro Cloud One include: 

• • AI and ML for vulnerability analysis, prioritization, and workflow automation 
  • An in-house bug bounty program to stay a step ahead of zero-day attacks
  • 15 global research centers powering the threat intelligence database 
  • Managed detection and response to augment in-house capabilities 
  • Protection for cloud-native applications and workloads 
  • Native integrations and restful APIs to power a variety of integrations 

USP: In addition to app and workload protection, Trend Micro Cloud One offers dedicated coverage for your open source assets. The company has partnered with Snyk to bring open source security management capabilities into the Trend Micro Cloud One platform, addressing one of the most crucial gaps in cybersecurity today. 

Editorial comments: Digital-native companies such as ISVs or system integrators should consider Trend Micro Cloud One as a viable solution for hybrid cloud security, especially if you have existing open-source dependencies. The company’s rich expertise and R&D in cybersecurity make it highly capable of standing up to zero-day attacks. 

Also Read: Top 10 Cloud Security Challenges 2021 Needs to Address

Let us now consider how these solutions stack up in terms of the five must-have capabilities we discussed earlier. 

As enterprise IT environments evolve, diversification of hosting environments to suit different workloads, applications, and data types will only increase. It is imperative to couple this digital transformation with a robust security strategy that scales as you grow. A hybrid cloud security solution powered by one of the top ten companies we discussed will simplify your journey and allow you to expand into new technology areas confidently. 

What are your thoughts on the need for more robust hybrid cloud security? Comment below or let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!