How to choose a cloud network security solution for your enterprise

Enterprise IT dashboards process data from numerous connections, portals and applications each day. All are vulnerable to a single misconfigured firewall or unprotected API. For companies moving to hybrid and multi-cloud environments, the question evolves beyond whether they need to protect their cloud. Rather, what is the best cloud network security solution for enterprises?

Organisations need scalable systems that balance automation and human oversight. The best solutions adapt to new threats without disrupting business operations.

Choosing a provider that understands the core principles of cloud security

When an organisation plans for a cloud-native environment, it may benefit from using a vendor. A third-party provider understands the technical and strategic foundations of cloud security. With the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in nearly every industry, your provider must have a plan to prevent breaches that starts with permissions and builds from there.

In a 2025 report, researchers found that 97% of organisations reporting an AI security incident failed to secure access properly. The massive number of breaches each year underscores the importance of carefully selecting cloud-specific providers. When evaluating companies, focus on a few crucial measures.

To narrow the options down to the top five providers, the following criteria were used.

Adaptable and scalable detection and response	Vendor support for enterprise workloads
Compliance built for the cloud	Integration with common cloud-based platforms like AWS and Azure
Performance ratings	Reviews and user experience

Each element received a score between one and five, with five being the highest. The result was five excellent providers that will work as a cloud network security provider for most enterprises.

What is the best cloud network security solution for enterprises?

The results of applying the method yielded five top contenders, listed below in order of preference. The best provider for your business is the one that fits your integration and service needs.

1. Darktrace

Darktrace offers self-learning cybersecurity products. Its machine learning system, called Cyber AI Loop, is used to identify subtle changes in behavioural patterns in enterprise networks, public and private clouds and SaaS apps. The approach differs from customary rule-based cybersecurity products in that the system continuously evolves without requiring staff reconfiguration.

Darktrace provides real-time detection and autonomously responds to new and emerging threats. Its software integrates with other services, like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Dashboards display live incidents and automate remediation in seconds, freeing security teams from the constant need to chase issues.

Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and globally supported, the company enables enterprises by combining AI with practical usability.

2. Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks’ product, Prisma Cloud, provides visibility in applications, APIs and networks. It can find drift in configurations, enforce zero-trust policy and automate compliance reporting.

For organisations with workloads in multiple regulatory environments, Prisma Cloud’s single-pane visibility streamlines security teams’ efforts to monitor workloads from development to runtime. Systems can prioritise and remediate vulnerabilities before they reach production. Many Fortune 500 organisations trust the company’s products because of its long track record of reliability and innovation.

3. Zscaler

With remote and hybrid work becoming increasingly popular, Zscaler’s Zero Trust Exchange platform enables users to access applications securely without traditional VPNs. The platform has an architecture that uses identity as the new perimeter and employs least-privilege access for every session.

Zscaler decrypts and inspects network traffic in real time to protect against data leaks and phishing attempts. With its global infrastructure, the software can support hundreds of thousands of employees and help multinational organisations with offices in multiple countries consistently apply security policies.

4. Fortinet

Fortinet’s FortiGate Cloud Security extends firewall capabilities to the cloud, offering full-layered security and unified threat intelligence that combines network, application and endpoint visibility, along with FortiGuard AI-based analytics.

Businesses can use Fortinet to consolidate complex infrastructure. Fortinet provides secure SD-WAN, intrusion prevention and sandboxing on a single platform. Consolidating actions alleviates management oversight responsibilities by offering a granular approach to security. Its different licensing and deployment models appeal to enterprises, along with assorted workloads split between on-premises and cloud deployments.

5. CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike Falcon uses an endpoint protection and cloud workload protection platform based on lightweight agents that capture behavioural data from thousands of endpoints and send the data to a centralised analytics engine. CrowdStrike’s primary selling point is its speed of detection and response, which enables analysts to visualise threats and scale enterprise-wide with a lightweight, cloud-based application.

Falcon integrates with security information andt management and is used by enterprise customers with a strong focus on threat intelligence and speed of containment. The provider strives to secure important risk areas to stay ahead of potential breaches, while adhering to a code of ethics and stringent compliance measures.

Comparing the top cloud network security providers

Each provider offers top security for enterprises. The table below summarises key facts for quick comparison.

Provider	Strength	Best for	Support
Darktrace	AI self-learning model with autonomous response	Enterprises using hybrid or multi-cloud environments	24/7 support for enterprises
Palo Alto Networks	Unified visibility and automated compliance measures	Regulated industries like finance and health	Phone and web assistance and community help
Zscaler	Secure access	Distributed and remote teams	24/7 access to senior engineers
Fortinet	All-in-one security	Mixed cloud and internal network organisations	Local and remote support options
CrowdStrike	Real-time threat response	Companies that need rapid detection and response	Managed threat monitoring

Finding the best cloud network security solution for your enterprise

Select security solutions that align with your enterprise’s operational requirements, rather than prioritising brand recognition. Seek solutions with API integration, flexible routing and AI-driven analytics for digital transformation. Platforms with AI-driven analytics and continuous compliance monitoring can benefit organisations with digital transformation initiatives.

Security also impacts the user’s experience. Highly restrictive policies or high-latency gateways may lead users to seek workarounds to improve their experience. Solutions like Zscaler and Darktrace enable fast and controlled access to applications without the friction.

Budget is also a consideration. The subscription-based pricing supports scaling and centralised dashboards, offloading the burden of maintaining the system from in-house teams. Consider both the license cost and the expenses of training and monitoring.

Secure your organisation’s future with confidence

A quality cloud network security solution protects business operations, data and brand reputation. An enterprise security team can best provide monitoring through features that scale with your company. Consider your requirements, weigh the pros and cons of each vendor, and select a platform that scales and provides the most protection both now and in 10 years.

Author: Nathan Musser, WebFX

Image source: Unsplash