Cloud Computing

Ensuring Secure, Reliable, High-Availability Networking In The Cloud

Cloud computing is part of the ongoing evolution of information technology, and it has large potential economic advantages. But it also presents some formidable challenges. As organizations migrate IT capabilities from private, internal networks to the open dispersed environment of "the cloud," they also relinquish the controls they're accustomed to. Security, performance and availability may all be compromised--if adequate steps aren't taken to ensure them.

CloudShield's Network Application Platform provides the network intelligence that service providers and telecommunications companies need to assure robust, reliable service in the cloud computing era. CloudShield's platform has an unmatched ability to fully inspect, secure and manage network traffic transparently at line speeds, helping service providers turn the cloud from an unpredictable patchwork into a unified, policy-driven network. Service providers can furnish the kind of security and quality customers expect and demand. In so doing, providers can gain key competitive advantages and create new, revenue-generating services such as secure DNS services and managed behavioral intrusion detection.

Security
As mission-critical data and resources move out of tightly controlled corporate networks into the open cloud environment, security becomes a central concern. CloudShield's unrivalled ability to monitor all traffic contents--including packet payloads and sessions--in real time, makes it the ideal platform for securing cloud-based communications. CloudShield and its partners offer a variety of solutions for protecting critical infrastructure such as DNS servers, and for managing routing to ensure that traffic is delivered safely through trusted nodes. Examples include CloudShield's built-in Flow ID capability and DNS Defender Application, as well as Alcatel Lucent's powerful ALG detection engine (a part of ALU's Traffic and Control & Security Solution).

DNS Defender Application
Alcatel-Lucent Traffic Control & Security Solution (TCSS)

Performance
With multiple organizations sharing cloud-based resources for time-critical tasks, a variety of potential performance conflicts arise. Avoiding these problems requires fine-grained services management. The CloudShield platform is tailor-made for the job, monitoring and managing traffic in real time to prioritize business needs, meet quality of service (QoS) agreements and make the most cost-effective use of network bandwidth. Solutions include Alcatel-Lucent's AGYA software (a part of ALU's Traffic and Control & Security Solution), which provides complete monitoring and control for policy-based management and traffic prioritization. In addition, CloudShield's built-in Flow ID capability, combined with IBM Tivoli NetCool. software, can establish customer portals to monitor performance across the cloud. CloudShield can also manage end-to-end routing to further optimize network performance.

Alcatel-Lucent Traffic Control & Security Solution (TCSS)

Availability
Availability is a third key concern raised by cloud computing. As vital resources such as mail servers leave the enterprise and enter the cloud, organizations run the risk of unacceptable network delays and impaired availability. ISPs can help ensure availability by establishing redundant high assurance access to customers. CloudShield IP security plays the vital role of protecting this critical infrastructure from attack, through DNS defense, BGP defense and access controls. In so doing, CloudShield helps create an assured pipe from end-to-end.

DNS Defender Application

Blade Hardware for Easy Deployment
CloudShield's IBM BladeCenter PN41 Blade provides a complete hardware platform that slips into standard blade cabinets without the addition of any new boxes or appliances. CloudShield can thus deploy transparently in the network without re-architecting the cloud. The PN41 Blade scales from 20 Gbps for a single blade to 280 Gbps for a 14-blade chassis to greater than 1 Tbps per rack. The PN41 runs CloudShield's secure real-time network operating system (CPOS) — allowing multiple applications to be virtualized on one or more blades.

Learn more about the PN41

Broadest Application Set
The CloudShield platform supports the industry's broadest array of network applications, including best-of-breed solutions for infrastructure security, services management, gateway functions, lawful intercept, data retention and more. In addition to a wide range of commercial applications from CloudShield and independent software vendors, CloudShield's rapid programmability and open development environment allow system integrators and customers to create on-demand applications for an ever-changing cloud computing landscape.

Learn more about applications