For many organizations, cloud migration has resulted in an unprecedented transformation in computing, dramatically improving agility, automation, scalability, and performance. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of connectivity. Cloud connectivity is largely based on decades-old technologies that have only incrementally improved over time, saddling enterprises with static, complex solutions for connecting their completely modernized compute infrastructure.
Why is this the case?
Traditional networking vendors, who have been outfitting data center connectivity for years, are plagued by their own success and inertia. When you have a cash cow product line that has worked for years, it’s amazingly difficult to scrap it and start with a blank slate based on updated market requirements.
The cloud service providers would be the next logical step, but even they have their own business-driven rationale for not closing this gap. Why would they build simple, secure connectivity solutions that encourage their customers to adopt a hybrid-cloud or multi-cloud approach when so much of their business model relies on single-cloud consolidation?
Multicloud networking with legacy technologies
As we’ve seen, even building secure internet access for cloud workloads can be a challenge. Stitching together secure connectivity across multiple clouds and your data centers means the challenge grows several fold, requiring a patchwork of site-to-site VPNs, firewalls, transit gateways, peering policies, and more.
What’s worse is that since the configuration of all of these assets is based on network layer port and IP ACLs, the policies must constantly be updated based on the dynamic nature of cloud workloads.
The impact?
Either someone spends all day (every day) updating policies, or your developers need to wait for networking and security teams to get around to it. Neither of these is a palatable option!
The whole process is complex, slow, and costly, and results in a situation where nobody is happy.
The rise of modern multicloud networking
Fortunately, as needs arise, the vendor community often responds with innovative new solutions. Zscaler is at the forefront of solving these multicloud networking challenges with workload communications via Zscaler Cloud Connector.
Zscaler Cloud Connector simplifies and automates the process of securely connecting cloud and data center workloads to each other and to the internet. Built on Zscaler’s proven Zero Trust Exchange platform, the solution eliminates the cost, complexity, and hassle of connecting cloud workloads using legacy technologies.
Zero-touch deployment and automated policy configuration through deep integration with native cloud services and automation tools means that Cloud Connector can be auto-deployed across multiple clouds in minutes. And because it’s built on zero trust, your attack surface is minimized, dramatically reducing the risk of a data breach.
If any of the challenges in this post sound familiar, it’s time to take a look at workload communications made possible through Zscaler Cloud Connector. Reach out today to schedule a demo.
