Microsoft Cloud App Security Hits General Availability

Microsoft is putting its Adallom acquisition to good use this week as it launches general availability of Microsoft Cloud App Security.

According to an announcement on Wednesday, its Microsoft Cloud App Security service helps companies “design and enforce a process for securing cloud usage” and start controlling cloud app security via policy within minutes.

Microsoft Cloud App Security will address the growing threat of Shadow IT. According to recent data from Microsoft, on average, each employee uses 17 cloud apps, but many organizations have no idea what is in use or whether these apps meet their security or compliance requirements. What’s more, in 91 percent of organizations, employees grant their personal accounts access to the organization’s cloud storage.

A separate study earlier this year by Blue Coat’s Elastica Cloud Threat Labs team found that sensitive data leaks can cost an average organization up to $1.9 million, highlighting the financial impact of Shadow IT.

According to Microsoft, the product has two main components: “discovery of cloud usage in the company using log-based traffic analysis and granular control for sanctioned apps leveraging API-based integration.”

In a blog post announcing Microsoft Cloud App Security, Microsoft said the product includes:

App Discovery: Cloud App Security identifies all cloud applications in your network—from all devices—and provides risk scoring and ongoing risk assessment and analytics

Data Control: With special focus on sanctioned apps, you can set granular controls and policies for data sharing and loss prevention (DLP) leveraging API-based integration. You can use either out-of-the box policies or build and customize your own

Threat Protection: Cloud App Security provides threat protection for your cloud applications leveraging user behavioral analytics and anomaly detection

Original post published at http://talkincloud.com/cloud-computing/microsoft-cloud-app-security-hits-general-availability