Top 10 Cloud Network Security Solutions
By Sheila Morgan | Published: 2025-03-31 | Category: Cloud Network Security
About Cloud Network Security
Cloud network security involves strategies, policies, controls, and technologies designed to protect network infrastructure, data, and applications hosted within cloud environments. It addresses threats specific to cloud architectures and ensures secure connectivity and access.
How We Evaluated
Providers were evaluated based on their breadth of features, performance and reliability metrics, integration capabilities with other security tools and cloud platforms, ease of management, customer support quality, and overall market presence. Scores reflect a composite assessment across these dimensions.
Rating Criteria
- → Feature Breadth
- → Performance & Reliability
- → Integration & Ecosystem
- → Management & Usability
- → Support Quality
- → Threat Intelligence
The Best Cloud Network Security
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Visit Website →Offers a comprehensive set of native network security services within the AWS cloud, including firewalls, WAF, DDoS mitigation, and network segmentation tools.
Target Audience
Organizations using AWS Cloud
Service Offerings
AWS Network Firewall
Managed network firewall service providing traffic filtering capabilities for Amazon Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs).
- Stateful Inspection
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
- Web Filtering
- Centralized Deployment (via Firewall Manager)
AWS WAF
Web application firewall that helps protect web applications or APIs against common web exploits.
- SQL Injection Protection
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Mitigation
- Managed Rules (AWS & Marketplace)
- Custom Rules
AWS Shield
Managed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection service safeguarding applications running on AWS.
- Standard (Free, Automatic) & Advanced Tiers
- Layer 3/4/7 Protection (Advanced)
- 24x7 DDoS Response Team (Advanced)
AWS Security Groups / Network ACLs
Fundamental firewall capabilities controlling inbound and outbound traffic at the instance (Security Groups) and subnet (NACLs) level.
- Stateful (Security Groups) / Stateless (NACLs) Filtering
- Rule-Based Control
Scorecard (Overall: 7.7 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Usage-Based
Pay-as-you-go based on deployment hours, data processed, rules evaluated. See AWS pricing calculator.
Pros
- + Seamless integration with the vast AWS ecosystem.
- + Pay-as-you-go pricing model aligned with cloud consumption.
- + Managed services reduce operational burden.
- + Scalable infrastructure built on AWS global network.
Cons
- - Primarily designed for protecting AWS resources.
- - Native features might not be as advanced as leading third-party specialists.
- - Managing security across multi-cloud requires third-party or higher-level AWS tools (e.g., Control Tower).
Verdict
"An essential consideration for securing AWS workloads, providing robust and deeply integrated network security controls native to the platform."
Microsoft Azure
Visit Website →Provides a suite of native network security services integrated within the Azure cloud platform, including firewalls, DDoS protection, WAF, and private connectivity options.
Target Audience
Organizations using Azure Cloud
Service Offerings
Azure Firewall
Managed, cloud-based network firewall service protecting Azure Virtual Network resources.
- Stateful Firewall
- Threat Intelligence Filtering
- Application/Network Rule Sets
- Centralized Management (Premium SKU adds IDPS, TLS Inspection)
Azure DDoS Protection
Provides protection against volumetric and protocol DDoS attacks for Azure resources.
- Always-On Monitoring
- Adaptive Tuning
- Attack Analytics
- Standard and Basic Tiers
Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Protects web applications from common exploits and vulnerabilities, deployable with Application Gateway or Azure Front Door.
- OWASP Core Rule Sets
- Bot Protection
- Custom Rules
- Rate Limiting
Azure Network Security Groups (NSGs)
Basic stateful packet filtering firewall to control traffic to Azure resources.
- 5-Tuple Rules (Source/Dest IP, Port, Protocol)
- Applied at NIC or Subnet Level
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Usage-Based
Pay-as-you-go based on deployment hours, data processed, and features enabled. See Azure pricing calculator.
Pros
- + Deep integration with the Azure platform and services.
- + Simplified procurement and billing for Azure customers.
- + Scalable and managed services reduce operational overhead.
- + Strong integration with Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Cons
- - Primarily focused on protecting resources within Azure.
- - Features may lag behind specialized third-party vendors.
- - Multi-cloud management requires additional tools (like Azure Arc or third-party solutions).
Verdict
"The default choice for securing Azure environments, offering tightly integrated and convenient network security controls for Azure-native workloads."
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Akamai Technologies
Visit Website →Known for its vast CDN, Akamai provides robust cloud security solutions focused on protecting applications and infrastructure from DDoS attacks, web threats, and securing enterprise access.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Media, E-commerce, Public Sector
Service Offerings
Akamai Prolexic
Cloud-based DDoS mitigation service designed to protect entire data centers and network infrastructure.
- Volumetric DDoS Protection
- Application-Layer DDoS defense
- Global Scrubbing Centers
- SLA Guarantees
Akamai App & API Protector
Combines WAF, bot management, API security, and DDoS protection in a single solution.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Bot Mitigation
- API Security
- DDoS Protection
Akamai Enterprise Threat Protector
Cloud secure web gateway providing DNS and URL filtering and threat protection.
- DNS Security
- URL Filtering
- Threat Intelligence Integration
Akamai Guardicore Segmentation
Software-based micro-segmentation solution for network visibility and control across data centers, clouds, and endpoints.
- Micro-segmentation
- Network Visualization
- Breach Detection
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription / Usage-Based
Often based on bandwidth, traffic volume, or features enabled. Contact sales.
Pros
- + Unmatched scale and performance of its global edge network.
- + Industry-leading DDoS mitigation capabilities (Prolexic).
- + Strong WAF and bot management features.
- + Acquisition of Guardicore adds micro-segmentation strength.
Cons
- - Can be expensive, particularly for DDoS protection services.
- - User interface and management can sometimes be complex.
- - Focus is more on edge security and segmentation than traditional firewalling.
Verdict
"A premier choice for organizations requiring high-performance edge security, best-in-class DDoS protection, and increasingly, micro-segmentation capabilities."
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Netskope
Visit Website →A leading Security Service Edge (SSE) and SASE provider, focusing on cloud-native security for data protection, threat prevention, and secure access to cloud services, apps, and websites.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Mid-Market
Service Offerings
Netskope Security Cloud Platform
An integrated platform offering CASB, SWG, ZTNA, and data protection capabilities.
- Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
- Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Netskope Cloud Firewall
Provides firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS) capabilities for outbound traffic from users and branch offices.
- Application & Port Control
- URL Filtering
- Threat Protection
Netskope Public Cloud Security
Offers CSPM and security for IaaS environments.
- Continuous Security Assessment
- Compliance Monitoring
- Workload Protection
Scorecard (Overall: 7.7 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription
Typically per-user, per-year subscription. Contact sales.
Pros
- + Strong focus on data protection and context-aware policies.
- + Comprehensive SSE/SASE platform.
- + Good visibility into SaaS and IaaS usage.
- + Cloud-native architecture (NewEdge network).
Cons
- - FWaaS capabilities might be less extensive than dedicated NGFW vendors for certain use cases.
- - Market presence is growing but still smaller than some legacy giants.
Verdict
"A leader in SSE/SASE, ideal for organizations prioritizing cloud application security, data protection, and Zero Trust access with a cloud-first approach."
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Cloudflare
Visit Website →A global network platform providing security, performance, and reliability services, including robust DDoS mitigation, WAF, Zero Trust network access, and network firewall capabilities.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Mid-Market, SMB, Developers
Service Offerings
Cloudflare Magic Transit
Provides DDoS protection and traffic acceleration for network infrastructure.
- BGP-based DDoS Mitigation
- Network Firewall Capabilities
- Traffic Acceleration
Cloudflare Magic WAN
Connects and secures corporate networks, replacing legacy WAN architectures.
- SD-WAN Functionality
- Integrated Security Services
- Global Network Backbone
Cloudflare Gateway
A secure web gateway component of Cloudflare's SASE offering (Cloudflare One).
- DNS Filtering
- HTTP Filtering
- Browser Isolation
- Data Loss Prevention
Cloudflare WAF
Protects web applications from common vulnerabilities and attacks.
- OWASP Top 10 Protection
- Custom Rules
- Rate Limiting
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription / Usage-Based
Offers free tiers, fixed-price plans (Pro, Business), and custom Enterprise plans. Some services are usage-based.
Pros
- + Massive global network edge infrastructure ensures high performance and low latency.
- + Excellent DDoS mitigation capabilities.
- + Easy-to-use interface and configuration.
- + Transparent pricing models, including free and affordable tiers.
Cons
- - Traditional enterprise firewall features (deep packet inspection across all ports/protocols) are less mature than NGFW vendors.
- - Enterprise support quality can vary compared to legacy vendors.
Verdict
"A top choice for performance-sensitive applications, robust DDoS protection, and modern Zero Trust/SASE architectures, particularly strong for web-facing assets and distributed networks."
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Cisco
Visit Website →Offers a range of cloud security solutions, including cloud-delivered firewall, secure web gateway (Umbrella), workload protection (Secure Workload), and network analytics.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Mid-Market, Public Sector
Service Offerings
Cisco Umbrella
A cloud-delivered security service providing DNS-layer security, secure web gateway, firewall, and CASB functionality.
- DNS Security
- Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
- Cloud-Delivered Firewall (CDFW)
- CASB
Cisco Secure Cloud Analytics (formerly Stealthwatch Cloud)
Provides threat detection and network visibility across public cloud environments.
- Behavioral Analytics
- Threat Detection
- Network Traffic Analysis
Cisco Secure Firewall (formerly ASA/Firepower)
Includes virtual appliances (Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual) deployable in cloud environments.
- NGFW
- IPS
- VPN
- Advanced Malware Protection (AMP)
Scorecard (Overall: 8.0 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription
Primarily subscription-based, often per user or per device. Contact sales.
Pros
- + Extensive integration capabilities within the Cisco ecosystem (SecureX).
- + Strong threat intelligence via Talos.
- + Mature networking and security portfolio.
- + Umbrella provides effective and easy-to-deploy edge security.
Cons
- - Portfolio can feel fragmented with multiple product lines and management consoles.
- - Licensing models can sometimes be complex.
Verdict
"A compelling option for organizations heavily invested in Cisco networking or seeking strong integration across various security domains, particularly with Umbrella for edge and remote access security."
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#4
Location: 5 Shlomo Kaplan St, Tel Aviv, Israel / 959 Skyway Road, Suite 300, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States Get Directions
Founded: 1993
Check Point Software Technologies
Visit Website →A long-standing cybersecurity leader offering the CloudGuard platform for comprehensive cloud security, including network security, posture management, and workload protection.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Mid-Market
Service Offerings
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security
Provides advanced threat prevention and automated network security for public, private, and hybrid clouds.
- Cloud Network Firewall
- Advanced Threat Prevention
- Automated Security Policies
- High Availability
CloudGuard Posture Management
Delivers CSPM capabilities for visibility, compliance, and governance across multi-cloud environments.
- Compliance Auditing
- Misconfiguration Detection
- Visualization
CloudGuard Workload Protection
Secures serverless functions, containers, and applications in the cloud.
- Serverless Security
- Container Security
- Application Security
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription
Licensing typically based on resources protected or throughput. Contact sales.
Pros
- + Comprehensive cloud security portfolio under the CloudGuard umbrella.
- + Strong threat intelligence (ThreatCloud).
- + Mature firewall technology adapted for the cloud.
- + Unified management console (Infinity Portal).
Cons
- - Can be perceived as expensive.
- - Some newer cloud-native features might be less mature than competitors'.
Verdict
"A solid choice for enterprises, particularly those with existing Check Point deployments, seeking robust and unified security across hybrid and multi-cloud environments."
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Fortinet
Visit Website →Offers a broad portfolio of security products, including cloud network security integrated within its Security Fabric architecture, featuring virtual firewalls and cloud-native services.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Mid-Market, SMB, MSSPs
Service Offerings
FortiGate Cloud
Cloud-based management platform for FortiGate devices, including virtual appliances.
- Centralized Management
- Reporting
- Zero-Touch Provisioning
FortiGate VM
Virtual appliance version of the FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) for deployment in cloud environments.
- NGFW Features
- VPN Gateway
- Intrusion Prevention
- Application Control
FortiCASB / FortiCNP
Cloud security solutions providing visibility, compliance, data security, and threat protection for SaaS applications and cloud infrastructure.
- CSPM
- Threat Detection
- Data Security
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription / Perpetual
Mix of hardware, software licenses, and subscriptions. Virtual appliances often licensed by vCPU. Contact sales.
Pros
- + Very broad security portfolio (Security Fabric).
- + Strong integration between products.
- + Competitive pricing, especially for bundled solutions.
- + High-performance virtual firewall options.
Cons
- - Management interface can be complex due to the sheer number of features.
- - Cloud-native security offerings are evolving but sometimes lag behind specialists.
Verdict
"A strong contender for organizations already invested in the Fortinet ecosystem or those looking for a wide range of integrated security tools, including robust virtual firewalls for cloud."
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Zscaler
Visit Website →A cloud-native security provider specializing in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), offering Zero Trust network access and secure web gateway functionalities delivered via a global cloud platform.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Mid-Market
Service Offerings
Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA)
A cloud-based secure web gateway providing threat protection, data loss prevention, and secure internet access.
- Cloud Firewall
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
- Sandboxing
- URL Filtering
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)
Provides Zero Trust access to private applications hosted in data centers or public clouds.
- Application Segmentation
- Secure Remote Access
- Eliminates need for traditional VPNs
Zscaler Cloud Protection (ZCP)
Extends Zero Trust to cloud workloads and applications.
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
- Cloud Workload Communications Security
Scorecard (Overall: 8.0 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription
Per-user, per-year subscription model. Contact sales for specific pricing.
Pros
- + Pioneer and leader in Zero Trust architecture.
- + Scalable global cloud infrastructure (Zero Trust Exchange).
- + Strong performance and reliability.
- + Simplified security stack for remote and cloud access.
Cons
- - Focus is primarily on access security, less on infrastructure-level firewalling within the cloud VPC/VNet.
- - Integration with some third-party tools can require effort.
Verdict
"Excellent choice for organizations prioritizing Zero Trust access and web security delivered via a robust cloud platform, especially for distributed workforces."
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View Top Ranked Provider
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Palo Alto Networks
Visit Website →Offers Prisma Cloud, a comprehensive Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) providing extensive network security controls across multi-cloud environments.
Target Audience
Enterprise, Mid-Market, Public Sector
Service Offerings
Prisma Cloud - Network Security
Delivers cloud network security capabilities including micro-segmentation, web application and API security (WAAS), network visibility, and threat detection.
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
- Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP)
- Cloud Network Security (CNS)
- Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)
VM-Series Virtual Next-Generation Firewalls
Virtual instances of Palo Alto Networks' NGFW deployable in various cloud environments.
- Threat Prevention
- Application Control (App-ID)
- URL Filtering
- Segmentation
Scorecard (Overall: 8.3 / 10.0)
Pricing Model
Subscription
Typically based on credits consumed or resources protected. Contact sales for quote.
Pros
- + Comprehensive CNAPP platform covering multiple security domains.
- + Strong threat intelligence integration (Unit 42).
- + Broad multi-cloud and hybrid cloud support.
- + Mature virtual firewall offering.
Cons
- - Can be complex to configure and manage.
- - Higher price point compared to some competitors.
Verdict
"A market leader providing extensive and robust cloud network security capabilities, best suited for organizations needing comprehensive protection across complex cloud environments."
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Final Recommendation
The cloud network security market features a mix of established security vendors extending their portfolios to the cloud and cloud-native specialists. Leaders like Palo Alto Networks offer comprehensive CNAPP platforms, while Zscaler excels in Zero Trust access. Fortinet and Check Point provide broad, integrated security fabrics. Cloudflare and Akamai leverage massive edge networks for performance and DDoS protection. Native cloud providers like AWS and Azure offer deeply integrated solutions for their respective platforms.
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