The cloud computing era is fully underway. To keep your employees, customers, and overall organisation safe, having a firewall (or multiple firewalls) in place is key. Here, you can learn more about firewalls in the cloud era and how to find the right one for your business.

– 94% of enterprises use cloud services.

– Global cloud computing is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.1% from 2023 to 2030.

Like most businesses, you likely operate in the cloud. For example, you might store all of your customer data in the cloud or supply your employees with cloud-based applications to use.

No matter what scale you use cloud computing services on, you need to have a firewall. This is so that you can boost your cloud security and protect your business from potential cyber threats. Failure to use a firewall will expose your cloud operations and open up vulnerabilities, which you obviously don’t want to happen.

Firstly, though, let’s take a look at some of the most common cloud-based platforms and applications that businesses are currently using.

 

The Most Popular SaaS Platforms

Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms have skyrocketed in popularity over recent years. As of today, millions of businesses around the world use SaaS platforms every single day. Here are some of the most popular ones that your business should consider using:

Microsoft 365

With Microsoft 365 for business, your employees can work productively from any location at any time, whether they’re working from home or in the office. Microsoft 365 has all the tools they need for connectivity and collaboration, including classic programs like Word and Excel, so it should be a priority for you.

If you’ve yet to get a Microsoft 365 license, use bytes.co.uk. They’re a cloud solution provider and trusted Microsoft Partner who will be able to get a license agreement that suits you. On top of this, when using Microsoft 365, you’ll have access to 24/7 technical support if you (or any of your employees) ever need it.

Google Workspace

Google Workspace is another great cloud-based platform. It’s a collection of all the essential Google apps, including Gmail and Google Drive, so your entire organisation can experience seamless productivity.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a well-loved CRM platform that’s perfect if you’re looking to improve how you manage customer data and customer relationships. With over 150,000 companies around the world using Salesforce, you should consider it, too—especially if you’re using an outdated CRM.

 

Best Firewalls for the Cloud

So, here’s the important question: which firewalls should you use for the cloud? The good news is that the market is stacked with lots of different cloud firewalls to choose from. You have the likes of Cloudflare WAF, Sophos Firewall, SonicWall, CrowdStrike, and more to choose from.

Remember, most high-quality cloud firewalls aren’t free, meaning that you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee to get your hands on one. However, for the small price of a cloud firewall, you can better protect your business in the cloud era and give yourself some much-needed peace of mind. After all, no business owner on the planet wants to fall victim to a cyberattack that could have been prevented if a firewall had been in place.