GigaOm Radar for Hybrid Cloud Data Protectionv5.0

1. Executive Summary

Hybrid cloud data protection is a comprehensive approach to securing data across both on-premises and cloud environments. It integrates various technologies and strategies to ensure the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of data, regardless of where it is stored or processed. This technology is crucial for modern businesses because it allows them to leverage the benefits of both private and public clouds while maintaining robust security and compliance standards.

Hybrid cloud data protection encompasses a suite of tools and practices designed to secure data in mixed environments. It includes features such as AI/ML threat protection, cloud access security broker (CASB) integration, zero-trust architecture support, automated policy management, data sovereignty controls, advanced analytics reporting, unified management interfaces, and container and microservices protection. Emerging technologies like blockchain for data integrity, quantum-resistant encryption, serverless function security, AI-based anomaly detection, immutable backups, data masking and tokenization, self-healing systems, and secure access service edge (SASE) are also becoming integral parts of this ecosystem.

The significance of hybrid cloud data protection derives from its ability to provide comprehensive security across diverse environments. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud services, the complexity and risk associated with data management and security rise. Hybrid cloud data protection ensures that data is safeguarded against threats, compliant with regulations, and available for recovery in case of failures. It addresses the particular challenges posed by hybrid environments, such as data sprawl, varying security postures, and compliance requirements across different jurisdictions.

Hybrid cloud data protection is essential for organizations of all sizes and industries. It is particularly critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government that handle sensitive data, breaches of which can have severe consequences. IT departments, cybersecurity teams, and compliance officers are directly involved in implementing and managing these solutions. However, the benefits extend to the entire organization, ensuring business continuity, protecting intellectual property, and maintaining customer trust.

Business Imperative: From a CxO perspective, hybrid cloud data protection is a strategic necessity. Chief information officers (CIOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs) must ensure that the organization’s data is secure across all environments to protect against data breaches and cyberattacks. Chief financial officers (CFOs) and chief operating officers (COOs) are concerned with the financial and operational impacts of data loss and downtime, making robust data protection essential for mitigating these risks. For CEOs and board members, ensuring data security and compliance is crucial for maintaining the organization’s reputation and meeting regulatory requirements:

1. Data Security: Protects sensitive and critical data from unauthorized access and breaches.
2. Regulatory Compliance: Ensures adherence to global data protection regulations, avoiding costly fines and legal issues.
3. Business Continuity: Minimizes downtime and data loss, ensuring operations can continue smoothly in the event of an incident.
4. Operational Efficiency: Streamlines data management and security processes, reducing the burden on IT and security teams.

In an era when data is among the most valuable of assets, hybrid cloud data protection is not just a technical necessity but a strategic advantage. It empowers organizations to leverage the flexibility and scalability of cloud services without compromising on security or compliance. By adopting comprehensive hybrid cloud data protection solutions, businesses can ensure their data is secure, their operations are resilient, and their reputations remain intact in the face of evolving cyberthreats. Whether for a small enterprise or a large multinational corporation, investing in robust hybrid cloud data protection is a critical step toward sustainable growth and success in the digital age.

This is our fifth year evaluating the hybrid cloud data protection space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. While in previous years we’ve looked at solutions for large enterprises and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) in separate reports, this year we’ve looked at the space as a whole and produced one Radar report. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.

This GigaOm Radar report examines 24 of the top hybrid cloud data protection solutions and compares offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) outlined in the companion Key Criteria report. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading hybrid cloud data protection offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.