EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES THAT ENTERPRISE CIOS SHOULD INCLUDE IN A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT WITH CLOUD SERVICE PROVIDERS ?
In order to retain the trust of customers , when things do go wrong , SLAs need to deliver . There is a common perception that SLAs look good on paper , until the day you really need them . The challenge for service providers is to ensure the SLA is reflective of the service and the customer feels there is a joint investment with the provider . Executives from NETSCOUT , Cloud Box , Pure Storage , NetApp respond .
GAURAV MOHAN , VP SAARC AND MIDDLE EAST , NETSCOUT
Middle East business leaders are particularly aware of the hazards that come in a digital oriented organisation and crafting a service level agreement , SLA with cloud security service providers demands meticulous attention to key considerations to effectively safeguard digital assets and operations . cloud are provided . This visibility empowers enterprises to maintain control and awareness of their digital infrastructure , crucial for effective risk management
To address these challenges , IT professionals who want to empower their organisations to innovate with confidence are increasingly recognising the importance of combining service assurance , cybersecurity , and business analytics to establish the business assurance that transforms IT into a true partner in the organisation ’ s success .
It is imperative to establish clear definitions of responsibilities within the shared responsibility model . By delineating the roles of both the cloud provider and the enterprise , potential misunderstandings are mitigated , and critical security management gaps are avoided
The SLA must prioritise comprehensive visibility , ensuring that tools and methods for discovering , tracking , and reporting on assets in the
Compliance assurance should be addressed within the SLA , outlining how the cloud security service provider assists in meeting regulatory standards . This includes ensuring visibility into data location , access controls , and alignment with regulatory requirements
Collaboration between IT , security teams , and the cloud service provider is also crucial . Encouraging ongoing communication and cooperation fosters a culture of joint problem solving and knowledge sharing .
In a nutshell , a well-crafted SLA with cloud security service providers establishes a robust framework for protecting digital assets and maintaining operational integrity in the cloud , ensuring security , compliance , and resilience .
32 INTELLIGENTCIO MIDDLE EAST www . intelligentcio . com