AlgoSec

Security teams often anchor their strategy around environments: on-prem, cloud, multi-cloud, etc. But applications today don’t respect those boundaries. They hop between them (sometimes in all three) in a single transaction flow. So here’s a shift more teams need to make: Don’t just secure environments. Secure the paths an application takes across environments. Because the real risks aren’t only in the cloud itself... they’re in the touchpoints between cloud ↔ multi-cloud ↔ on-prem. Under-discussed blind spots include: - Identity handoff across heterogeneous environments - Policy drift when a single app spans three security models - Latent dependencies on on-prem systems long after “migrating” - Traffic flows that make sense to developers but break segmentation assumptions Hybrid isn’t just an architecture; it’s an interdependency problem. Until security teams map and govern application paths end-to-end, hybrid complexity will continue to outpace traditional controls.

Ever feel like seeing your entire network is impossible? Like, no matter how many dashboards you open, something’s always missing? Here’s how one company went from "living on a prayer" to full clarity: A big financial services firm—hundreds of firewalls, thousands of VMs, hybrid multi-cloud chaos was at (what we call) level 3 automation. It got some stuff done, but: - Manual checks were still needed for validation and risk - No real end-to-end view of application connectivity - Visibility gaps everywhere Then they leveled up to Level 5 automation and suddenly: - Every cloud and on-prem network in view - Applications discovered and changes simulated automatically - Policy provisioning faster and way less error-prone - Compliance? Solid across the board Bottom line: what felt impossible at Level 3 became reality at Level 5. Full visibility. Smarter automation. Fewer headaches. If you’ve been wondering whether holistic network visibility is doable—it is. And this company just proved it.

This is the mental shift network security teams and cloud/security ops teams need to make to keep their security strategy sharp in 2026: - Instead of building security from the inside out (network first), build it application‑first - Map your business apps and how they connect - Prioritize risks in real time — not after things break - Use application‑centric security to speed up deployments and updates without compromising safety - Teams need need to come together around a unified, risk-driven strategy This isn’t just about protecting what’s running — it’s about accelerating how you deliver technology, with security built in, not bolted on.

So… you bought into the automation hype! You’re officially where every ambitious IT leader lands: “Okay, now how do we actually scale this thing?” Here’s a story worth stealing from... A large government agency supporting 20+ departments hit the same wall you’re probably staring at: - 1,100 firewalls - Endless change requests - Critical teams waiting months for approvals Three. Whole. Months. Just to push a change. They knew “manual with a dash of scripting” wasn’t cutting it anymore. So, they made the leap from Level 4 (conditional automation) to Level 6 (very high automation) — and they didn’t do it recklessly. They embedded business context into every decision, so low-risk changes could move on their own while high-risk ones still got human review. What were the results? - Reduced change processing time from 3 months to 2 weeks - Streamlined onboarding and provisioning across departments - Improved scalability and policy consistency across 1,000+ devices - Enhanced responsiveness to agency needs while reducing risk The moral of the story: when you automate with context instead of chaos, scaling stops being a dream and starts looking like this.

If you want your cloud security posture to hold up in 2026, focus less on adding controls and more on reducing the policy surface area you’re responsible for, because your policy count will always grow faster than your team’s ability to reason about it... Here's what actually matters going into 2026: 1. Consolidate policies before you scale anything else Cloud multiplies policy volume; consolidation is the only sustainable counterweight. 2. Re-evaluate segmentation based on real traffic, not intended design Most segmentation strategies don’t survive contact with east–west movement. 3. Interrogate “normal-looking” internal traffic Agent chatter (like MCP wrapped in HTTPS) is becoming a major lateral movement vector. 4. Shift from visibility to interpretability You don’t need more dashboards, you need to understand what the traffic means in context. 5. Remove human interpretation from repetitive rule decisions Humans can’t keep up with tens or hundreds of thousands of policy objects; workflows must be deterministic. Where should security teams focus first? - Policies should be fewer, cleaner, and aligned to application boundaries (not infrastructure diagrams) - Segmentation must be verified, not assumed - East–west traffic should be treated as a primary control objective, not a supporting detail - Policy logic should be explainable to any operator, not just the person who wrote it - Internal agent-to-agent communication needs active governance, not passive trust Agree? Disagree? Add your take below. And tag someone who should be part of this conversation.

Ever feel like managing network changes is a constant firefight? Many security teams spend more time chasing manual tasks than actually improving security. Based on our experience, here's a few expert tips to help create the right automation framework for your org: - You don’t need to leap to full automation overnight. Most teams start at Level 2 or 3, getting structure + smart policy-change recommendations. - Visibility and control remain key. As automation increases, validation and risk assessment stay tightly managed. - High-value automation frees your team. At Level 5, low-risk changes can be auto-implemented, letting SecOps focus on higher-impact work. - Zero-touch isn’t a pipe dream. By Level 6, many change requests run automatically with human oversight where it matters most. The takeaway? Even small steps in automation can reduce risk, speed up changes, and give your team back time to focus on strategy.

Most security teams know they need more automation, but few know where they actually stand. Modern networks are too complex for manual change processes, yet many organizations are still stuck somewhere between spreadsheets and “semi-automated” workflows. A structured maturity model can help you see the gap and the next step. Quick pulse check: Where’s your team today? Once you've selected your level, tell us what’s helping you move forward or what’s holding you back in the comments.

Even mature cloud teams are still tripping over policy blind spots and independent research from GigaOm confirms. Below are the 3 biggest pitfalls found in the GigaOm report and share our expert take on what they mean for network security teams. We feel a tiny bit qualified to give our expert take because GigaOm name AlgoSec in the report an Outperformer for addressing these same challenges. Which of these priorities is most urgent for your team? #gigaom #NetworkSecurity #HybridEnvironments #cloudsecurity

As security leaders experiment with AI-driven automation, the real challenge isn’t just running 20x faster. It’s doing so while maintaining control, agility, and security guardrails that keep operations safe. The promise of AI in security automation isn’t about replacing human oversight — it’s about amplifying it. When done right, AI becomes the force multiplier for efficiency and precision, allowing teams to automate confidently without sacrificing visibility or compliance. The key question for every CISO right now: Where can AI truly enhance our efficiency and where do we still need human judgment to keep risk in check?

"With 60 percent of organizations now managing at least 250 business applications across hybrid multi-cloud environments, relying on traditional firewall policy-based network security is no longer effective. Building security around networks and infrastructure creates blind spots, inconsistent policies, and a higher risk of misconfigurations and downtime. These challenges only intensify as more applications are deployed and existing applications require updates. Applications are the backbone of modern business, and security strategies need to be aligned accordingly." That is the wisdom and expertise from our Field Chief Technology Officer, Kyle Wickert showcased in Solutions Review's Cybersecurity Awareness Month expert opinion roundup.