Cloud-based apps are hailed as technology for the modern age. Specifically, they are software applications that operate and store information on the internet (in the clouds) rather than on a user’s local server or machine.

Using cloud apps allows for more flexibility and productivity, especially when it comes to the handling of data. These apps can simplify data backup and recovery, provide shared storage, save space on the computer, and allow for cloud collaboration in real-time.

Cloud computing, however, brings new security challenges to organizations and individuals looking to protect their data.

As recently as November 2021, Microsoft announced Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. Defender is a line of cybersecurity technology offered by Microsoft Corporation, and Defender for Cloud Apps is the latest upgrade from Microsoft Cloud App Security.

Defender for Cloud Apps is specifically designed for safer cloud computing and for the adoption of cloud apps without compromise to security. With the recent rebranding comes improved and expanded capabilities that offer better app behavior monitoring and application governance.

According to one Microsoft article, Defender for Cloud Apps “provides rich visibility, control over data travel, and sophisticated analytics to identify and combat cyber threats across all your Microsoft and third-party cloud services.”

The Defender for Cloud Apps framework reportedly allows you to discover and control shadow IT, protect your sensitive information anywhere in the cloud, protect against cyberthreats and anomalies, and assess the compliance of your cloud apps.

The days of relying solely on “blinky light firewalls” to give you a sense of security are gone. Today, there is a need for a cloud-based security solution that will control cloud access. So, if you find yourself quite often working in the cloud or using cloud apps, consider getting protected with the new Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. You can access it from Microsoft 365 Admin Center or directly through the link: https://portal.cloudappsecurity.com.