What is Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS)? Definition and Benefits
Definition of Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS)
Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) provides security services that combine technology, people, and processes on a subscription basis hosted and managed by cybersecurity cloud providers such as ArmourZero. Similar to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), SECaaS solutions have become increasingly popular and important for many organisations as a way to ease the responsibilities of in-house IT teams, scale security needs as the business grows, and avoid the costly maintenance of on-premise alternatives.
Regardless of your industry or organisation’s size or complexity, a robust cybersecurity infrastructure is key to protecting your assets. However, common problems persist for IT personnel monitoring or managing potential threats: a constant triage of alerts, dispersed information that is challenging to gather, and a lack of time, tools, skill sets, or resources to effectively protect your organisation.
In today’s world, with applications in the cloud and users connecting from everywhere, adopting on-premises-based security solutions alone is increasingly difficult.
Reality check:
More SaaS applications are in use than those hosted locally, e.g., email.
More work is performed off the office network than on it, e.g., work-from-home.
Benefits of Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS)
A true SECaaS provides nothing less than the following benefits:
1. Cost Savings
Eliminates the significant cost of deploying on-premise security solutions in your office or data centre, such as hardware appliances, servers for management consoles, and their databases. This includes the elimination of on-premise services.
Subscription tiers offer higher discounts with more subscriptions.
2. Time Savings
No need to purchase hardware or software. Security protection starts almost instantly, not in weeks.
3. Faster User Provisioning
Automated user provisioning replaces tedious on-premise user installations.
4. Improved Threat Response and Enhanced Security
24/7 security threats and alerts monitoring, 365 days a year.
5. Access to Expertise
Access to highly skilled security experts without the need to employ them directly. Allows your IT team to focus on what’s important for your organisation while leaving the administrative tasks to us.
6. Access to the Latest Technology
No longer need to worry about ever-changing or obsolete solutions; technology is continuously updated and covered by the service.
7. Seamless Updates
Updates can be easily deployed wherever your users are connected to the internet to ensure you receive the latest patches.
8. Flexible Pricing
Easy and flexible pricing options, allowing you to pay for what you need with monthly or yearly subscription choices.
9. Licence Management
Centralised view and storage of all licences in one console, including start and expiry dates.
SECaaS Subscription Model
You only need to pay a flat fee based on the unit price, depending on the service to which you have subscribed, with no other hidden service costs! For example, in Email Security Protection as-a-service, you just need to pay a flat “service fee per user,” which includes the technology’s licence. You have the option of choosing either a monthly or annual subscription basis.
Comparison between Traditional On-Premise and SECaaS
Infrastructure Setup
Traditional on-premise deployment is often highly costly. It requires the purchase of servers or appliances along with databases, software, licences, and, not to be overlooked, the facilities and utilities necessary to ensure the on-premise infrastructure functions optimally.
As on-premise deployment centralises all security policies and patches locally, all traffic for remote and off-network users is routed through a complex configuration and access controls, leading to a suboptimal user experience, such as with virtual private networks (VPNs).
Cloud applications, on the other hand, were designed to be accessed directly through local internet connections. There is no need to deal with the aforementioned complexities. With cloud-delivered SECaaS models, security is brought directly to the users.
Cost Analysis
Cost comparison varies depending on the solution, scope, and many other factors. However, nothing is simpler than subscribing to SECaaS, which includes both infrastructure and all the essential services.
Below is an approximate cost comparison between traditional methods and SECaaS. You can observe a significant price difference due to the evolution of technologies and services.
Written by: Vivian Wong (Co-Founder at ArmourZero)
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