Businesses of all sizes are increasingly moving their operations to the cloud. This transition, while offering numerous benefits such as scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, also introduces a new set of security challenges. FortiCloud emerges as a robust solution, providing a comprehensive suite of security and management services designed to protect and streamline cloud-based operations. This blog post discuss into the features, setup, benefits, and use cases of FortiCloud, offering insights into how it can fortify your cloud environment.
Features
FortiCloud is a Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that offers a wide array of tools and services to secure cloud-native applications effectively and scalably. It encompasses three main categories of tools: those delivering Security-as-a-Service, such as FortiWeb Cloud for web application protection and FortiCASB for securing SaaS applications; tools for managing other security tools, including FortiGate Cloud and FortiManager; and FortiCare for tracking assets, licenses, RMAs, support tickets, and more.
One of the standout features is its unified login system, which simplifies access to all Fortinet Cloud portals. This system is complemented by secure two-factor authentication, ensuring that access to services and resources is both easy and secure. Additionally, FortiCloud offers a single-pane dashboard for managing network access, assets, and services, significantly reducing IT resources by centralizing deployments and network analysis.
Setup
Setting up FortiCloud is straightforward. It begins with signing up for a free account, which instantly unlocks access to a range of Fortinet cloud products and services. The setup process involves registering and provisioning your Fortinet devices to cloud management services, managing your FortiCloud account settings, and configuring role-based access control (RBAC) for the entire FortiCloud suite. For businesses requiring more advanced features, FortiCloud Premium licenses are available, enabling free trials and multi-tenancy with FortiCloud organizations.
Benefits
The benefits of employing FortiCloud are manifold. Firstly, it saves time and resources by allowing network access, assets, and services to be managed through an intuitive dashboard. This centralized management approach enhances on-premise security with advanced threat protection and two-factor authentication. Secondly, it provides complete visibility into your network, offering a detailed listing of assets, product and services information, and easy navigation between FortiCloud portals. Lastly, it extends fabric security across your network, offering unified zero-day threat updates and real-time analytics for endpoint, application, and network security intelligence.
Use Cases
FortiCloud caters to a wide range of use cases, making it a versatile solution for businesses across various industries. Some of the key use cases include:
- Cloud-Based Application Protection: For organizations adopting a cloud-only approach, FortiCloud offers comprehensive protection for cloud-based applications, data, and services. It includes tools like FortiWeb Cloud for web application protection and FortiCASB for securing SaaS applications such as Microsoft 365 or Salesforce.
- Unified Logins and Easy Access: With its unified account management and single sign-on features, FortiCloud provides secure and seamless access to multiple services with a single account. This simplifies navigation between FortiCloud portals and services, enhancing user experience.
- Asset Management: As businesses grow, managing an increasing number of assets becomes complex. FortiCloud’s Asset Management portal simplifies this process, allowing businesses to view, organize, and manage their assets efficiently.
- Security for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs): SMBs face the same security threats as large enterprises but often lack the resources and personnel to address them. FortiCloud delivers Security-as-a-Service from the cloud, providing easy-to-configure and easy-to-use tools for protecting cloud-based data and workloads.
FortiCloud stands out as a comprehensive solution for securing and managing cloud-based operations. Its wide range of features, straightforward setup process, and significant benefits make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to enhance their cloud security posture. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, FortiCloud offers tailored solutions to meet your specific needs, ensuring that your cloud environment is secure, efficient, and resilient.