One of the latest solutions to help MSSPs keep enterprises safe comes from

Netskope

and

VMware

.

Even amid COVID-19, or perhaps especially because of it, cloud deployments remain a top priority for enterprises. Research firm IDC recently

revised its outlook for 2020

, noting that while organizations will spend less on other areas of IT, they will continue to invest in infrastructure that supports cloud services for remote work. This puts extra pressure on managed security service providers. After all, the more potential points of leakage, the greater the chances of a breach. With employees connecting to confidential data from across the country, and even the world, organizations need more cybersecurity protections than ever.

Netskope and VMware have developed ways to address the security challenges inherent to a remote-first workforce. Their respective software platforms work together to oversee cloud, web and private applications, endpoints and SD-WAN networks.

Accelerated Need for Security

Netskope’s Dave Rogers

To be clear, Netskope and VMware were working on the endeavor before the coronavirus pandemic hit. That’s according to Dave Rogers, vice president of global alliances and channel sales for Netskope, in comments to Channel Futures.

“Now [the partnership] has accelerated as remote working has become the norm, and the majority of people, devices, data and applications are outside the traditional network and security perimeter,” he said.

Further, Rogers explained, the Netskope-VMware collaboration differs those of other vendors, namely in that it is not “marketing-driven.”

Rather, he said, “Netskope and VMware have together developed highly functional technical integrations that deliver holistic workforce enablement and security solutions to users anywhere in the world, regardless of device, cloud, web or private application,” he said. “It’s also important to note that Netskope and VMware have complementary, not overlapping or competing, products. This creates less friction in our mutual channels, including Dell Technologies, and facilitates simpler, deeper engagement with our MSSP partners.”

Sharing and Pairing Technologies

Here’s how Netskope and VMware are pairing their cloud security technologies, so MSSPs understand the benefits for clients:

Sharing threat indicators.

In this scenario, Netskope coordinates with VMware’s

Carbon Black

cloud-native endpoint protection platform; then the companies combine their capabilities to remediate the threats. Netskope’s platform also can classify devices and increase or decrease access privileges depending on characteristics. For example, if VMware Carbon Black does not reside on the endpoint, Netskope makes note and restricts the device’s activities.

Providing visibility, governance over use of devices and the cloud.

Netskope and VMware’s Workspace ONE work together, in this instance. Security experts can automatically deploy the Netskope client onto Workspace ONE-managed devices to govern cloud services. Administrators also can set specific access controls or security policies based on whether a device is managed or unmanaged. Coverage encompasses all access methods, including native mobile apps and sync clients. Finally, VMware Workspace ONE can use Netskope discoveries to oversee manual or automated workflows for reestablishing acceptable use from managed devices.

Improving network performance


.

Here, Netskope and VMware’s VeloCloud SD-WAN controls monitor traffic so real-time apps (think VoIP, video conferencing, etc.) work as they should, no matter where employees are accessing them.

Netskope’s Sanjay Beri

Sanjay Beri, CEO of Netskope, called the Netskope-VMware collaboration “very timely and important” as enterprises prioritize work-from-home efforts for the foreseeable future, due to COVID-19.

VMware’s Patrick Morley

Patrick Morley, general manager and senior vice president for VMware’s security business unit, agreed.

“The shift to a largely remote workforce has put a burden on organizations and employees, who are determining the optimal way to work while staying more secure,” Morley said in a press release. “One such consideration is how to extend IT and security best practices outside of the traditional office. Our collaboration with Netskope simplifies how organizations can more securely and effectively run their business and do their jobs from anywhere, whether…

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