In our previous blog, The states of data, Part 2: Why visibility is key for protecting data at rest, we discussed the importance of discovering data; classifying it; assigning the right permissions; and getting rid of redundant, obsolete, or trivial data to protect data at rest. While doing all this can get you started, achieving data security takes more than that.

The adoption of cloud computing has become a cornerstone of modern business operations today. However, this shift brings forth significant concerns about data protection and security. Cloud security assessment plays a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Organizations must prioritize this process to identify vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and establish robust security measures within their cloud environments.

Cybersecurity skill gaps and shortages are often cited as a major reason that many organizations fail to implement effective security tools and practices. The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) conducts an annual survey of the cybersecurity labor market in order to measure trends over time. This year’s research is largely in line with previous years, though there are changes and improvements in several areas.

At the 2024 AVANT Special Forces Summit in Phoenix in September, Cato Networks won the 2024 Vendor Net Promoter Score Award. AVANT is a technology services distributor (TSD) based in Chicago and a Cato partner. Cato was recognized for achieving a net promoter score (NPS) of 93 across two categories: An NPS score measures how likely customers are to recommend a company or its products and services to others. To put things in perspective, the average NPS score for a technology vendor is 64.

Technology is always brimming with advancements, and it is more prominent in the financial sector. As financial institutions increasingly rely on digital infrastructure to enhance operations, customer experience, and security, they also face growing challenges in mitigating the risks that come with it, such as cyber threats, system failures, and other operational vulnerabilities.

We’re excited to announce that Kivera, a cloud security, data protection, and compliance company, has joined Cloudflare. This acquisition extends our SASE portfolio to incorporate inline cloud app controls, empowering Cloudflare One customers with preventative security controls for all their cloud services.

I am excited to announce the immediate availability of Mobile Checks and mobile end-user self-remediation for 1Password Extended Management Device Trust customers.