Enterprise Management Associates’ (EMA) latest research report, “Cloud Network Traffic Data: Empowering Network and Security Operations in the Hybrid, Multi-Cloud Era”, examines best practices to improve the observability of cloud traffic.
Earlier research by EMA has revealed a crucial insight: IT personnel in hybrid, multi-cloud enterprises recognise the pivotal role of network flow data (49%) and packet data (38%) in monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimising their cloud networks. However, a mere 29% expressed complete satisfaction with their current monitoring tools, indicating a pressing need for enhanced collection and analysis of network traffic across their cloud networks.
EMA’s new research explored how organisations collect, store, and analyse network traffic data in public cloud environments and their approach to both packet data and flow data in the cloud.
Benefits and challenges
The survey of 250 IT and cybersecurity professionals has revealed that the top benefits of analysing cloud network traffic are reduced security risk, operational efficiency, and faster detection and resolution of security incidents. Despite its advantages, only 50% of enterprises are completely effective in collecting and analysing cloud network traffic.
Organisations are grappling with a host of challenges in collecting and analysing packet data in the public cloud. These include security risks, traffic encryption, and data quality issues.
Packet data
This independent research, sponsored by BlueCat Networks and NETSCOUT, also found that an overwhelming 93% of enterprises anticipate packet data to play an increasingly critical role in cloud security operations over the next two years.
“Packets and flows are essential cloud observability data,” Shamus McGillicuddy, vice president of research for network infrastructure and operations at EMA. “They augment the metrics, logs and traces (MELT data) that cloud teams depend upon. This research found that enterprises do better with cloud traffic observability when they take a unified approach to data collection and storage, ensuring good data quality across clouds and on-premises networks.”
