Are You in Sync with Your Security Vendor?

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, the relationship between a security vendor and its customer is more critical than ever. As information security professionals, the pressure to ensure robust security postures is constant. Yet, the tools and services relied upon often fall short due to a fundamental disconnect between vendors and their customers. Traditional security products, once purchased, are frequently left in the hands of customers who may lack the resources or expertise to maintain, update, or even configure them optimally. This disconnect not only erodes the value of the security investment but also increases the risk to the organization.

The advent of cloud-native security services, such as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), offers a solution by bridging this gap. These services introduce a shared responsibility model where both vendor and customer work in tandem to ensure continuous security effectiveness. This shift requires a paradigm change in how security is managed and how value is extracted from the investment. In this whitepaper, we will explore the inherent gap in traditional security models, the transformative nature of cloud-native services, and how aligning vendor and customer interests can enhance security outcomes and business performance.

The Problem with Traditional Security Products

Traditional security products, once deployed, often become the sole responsibility of the customer. This approach assumes that customers have the necessary expertise, time, and resources to manage these tools effectively. However, this assumption is frequently flawed. Security teams are stretched thin, and maintaining complex security infrastructures can be a daunting task.

Customers must ensure that products are up to date, correctly configured, and optimally utilized. Yet, vendors typically have limited visibility into how their products are being used post-purchase. This lack of insight means vendors cannot assist customers in identifying misconfigurations, outdated components, or underutilized features that could otherwise enhance the security posture.

The consequences of this disconnect are significant. Misconfigured or outdated security products can introduce vulnerabilities rather than mitigate them. The customer may not realize the full potential of their investment, leading to a poor return on investment and increased risk exposure. Furthermore, when issues arise, they may go unreported, leaving both vendor and customer unaware of critical security gaps.

The Shift to Cloud-Native Security Services

The rise of cloud-native security services, epitomized by SASE, represents a fundamental shift in how security is delivered and managed. Rather than placing the entire burden of maintenance on the customer, these services adopt a shared responsibility model.

In this model, the vendor takes on the responsibility of maintaining the security infrastructure. This includes ensuring that the security service is always up to date, patched, and resilient against emerging threats. Meanwhile, the customer focuses on configuring the service to meet their specific business needs, ensuring that the security policies align with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.

This shared responsibility model fosters a continuous partnership between the vendor and the customer. Vendors are motivated to provide ongoing support, guidance, and insights to help customers fine-tune their configurations and maximize the value of the service. Customers, in turn, can rely on their vendor as a trusted partner who is equally invested in their security outcomes.

The Need for Continuous Alignment Between Vendor and Customer

The essence of modern security management lies in the continuous alignment between the security vendor and the customer. This alignment is crucial for maintaining a robust security posture, optimizing the value derived from security investments, and minimizing risk.

In traditional models, this alignment is often absent due to the disjointed nature of security product deployment and management. However, with cloud-native solutions like SASE, alignment is built into the service design. Both parties are incentivized to stay in sync. The vendor continuously monitors the service, proactively addressing potential issues before they impact the customer. At the same time, the customer has access to tools and expertise that allow them to adjust and refine their security posture in real-time.

This ongoing collaboration ensures that security is not just a one-time setup but a dynamic process that evolves with the threat landscape and the business’s changing needs. Legacy solutions, by their very nature and design, cannot support this level of continuous alignment and collaboration. They are built for static environments and are ill-equipped to handle the fluid and interconnected nature of modern business operations.

Cato SASE Cloud Platform – Designed for Continuous Alignment

The Cato SASE Cloud Platform is engineered to embody the principles of continuous alignment between vendor and customer. At its core, Cato’s platform integrates networking and security into a single cloud-native service that is fully managed by Cato. This approach eliminates the silos of traditional security architectures, providing a seamless experience for customers.
From a technological perspective, Cato’s SASE platform offers several key advantages:

• Unified Management and Visibility: Cato provides customers with a single pane of glass to manage and monitor their entire security infrastructure. This unified approach ensures that customers have real-time visibility into their security posture and can make informed decisions about their configurations.
• Proactive Threat Prevention: Cato’s security services are continuously updated and maintained by Cato’s expert team. This proactive approach ensures that customers are always protected against the latest threats without the need for manual intervention.
• Scalability and Flexibility: The Cato platform is designed to scale with the customer’s needs, whether they are expanding globally, migrating to the cloud, or adopting hybrid work models. Cato’s infrastructure can dynamically adjust to support these business changes without compromising security.

Operationally, Cato’s commitment to continuous alignment extends beyond technology. Cato works closely with customers to understand their unique business needs and challenges. Whether it’s supporting digital transformation initiatives, ensuring seamless cloud migration, or enabling secure mergers and acquisitions, Cato’s team is always in sync with the customer’s objectives. This partnership approach ensures that the customer not only achieves their security goals but also drives their broader business outcomes.

The Conclusion

The disconnect between security vendors and customers has long been a source of frustration and risk. Traditional security models, which place the entire burden on the customer, are no longer viable in today’s complex threat environment. The shift to cloud-native security services, like Cato’s SASE Cloud Platform, represents a new era of security management where responsibility is shared, and alignment is continuous.

By staying in sync, both vendor and customer can ensure the highest levels of security, optimize the value of security investments, and support the dynamic needs of the modern business. The future of security lies in this collaborative approach, where success is measured not just by the technology deployed but by the outcomes achieved together.