Cloud computing is more than just a technology advancement — it’s a way of life. It has shaped how we work. It has enhanced how we live. And it has changed how we interact with one another. The open framework of the cloud has propelled a movement that reaches far beyond just technology. It’s the foundation of a culture that is rich with content sourced through shared services and community contributions.

Underpinning the cloud applications that fuel our service-obsessed culture are containers and microservices — two foundational elements in cloud app development that ensure the tools we use every day are delivered quickly and reliably, with continuous updates and feature improvements. These two technology pillars are what make using cloud-native applications so appealing. No service disruptions for major updates, regular feature enhancements that keep pace with user demands for innovation, and the ability to use the applications/services immediately.

Companies like Red Hat have led the charge for open source for many years. By applying its user-driven innovation approach to cloud development technologies, Red Hat has made open-source cloud application development ultra-usable and even more secure. It has, in essence, accelerated how we use the cloud, paving a faster path to digital transformation for thousands of enterprises.

The Significance of Security in a Cloud-First World

Against the backdrop of digital transformation, enterprises are taking the opportunity to rethink their security strategy. Consider this: Trust is fundamental to any digital transformation. There is no efficiency, community or customer experience without trust. Security is the critical lynchpin to establishing trust among end users.

Prioritizing security can be a significant differentiator for your business. Putting security first means not only looking at cloud-delivered security solutions, but actively evaluating vendors on their cloud development practices and ensuring security is threaded into every layer of every cloud application created and deployed in your business.

So, just how do you thread security into the core of your cloud strategy without slowing innovation or derailing the migration? Consider the Autobahn. It doesn’t have a speed limit, but it does employ a great many guardrails to protect motorists. In that same vein, enterprise cybersecurity isn’t a holdback, but a physical and philosophical balustrade that detects threats, protects data and safeguards privacy as it speeds enterprises across hybrid cloud terrain. The next chapter of security is all about providing frictionless tools and parameters for individuals and departments to use when implementing cloud projects.

The guardrail analogy extends to DevOps security as well. Consider the concept of containers. Containers act as the fabric for cloud-based application development. They make it possible to reuse critical parts of code to speed the process for development. Without baking security into every step of the DevOps process, organizations run the risk of hardening vulnerabilities in the core of their code, which might then extend to multiple applications. So, incorporating and enforcing secure principles at every stage of application development supports innovation at cloud speed while imbuing trust among your consumers.

The Significance of IBM Security and Red Hat

Cloud and security are the Batman and Robin of technology — two great forces that work better together. The combination of IBM Security and Red Hat empowers organizations to reimagine how cloud-native security can propel the business forward with speed and control all in one.

Imagine:

• Embedding security within your DevOps toolchain to embed access management and reduce risk at the point of app creation.
• Implementing intelligent protection and privacy to your data stores.
• Leveraging real-time threat detection and incident response to enhance the security of your containers.
• Gaining visibility to vulnerabilities in your production workloads with security analytics and AI.
• Orchestrating workflows to take automated remediation against emerging vulnerabilities and attacks.

The combination of IBM and Red Hat fuels organizations’ increasing need to “shift left” on their security strategy. Threading security throughout the development process reduces the burden on today’s already overwhelmed IT and security staff, empowering them to advance the business fearlessly.