What is a Cloud Network and How Does It Impact IT Teams?

A cloud network creates an option for corporate infrastructure that doesn’t require a physical server, nor a physical space, making it increasingly attractive for companies with a widely-distributed workforce. Cloud networking goes beyond simply hosting applications in the cloud — it can include security infrastructure that is built in the cloud. This is becoming increasingly popular. According to recent research conducted by Enterprise Strategy Group and sponsored by OpenVPN, 73% of respondents use as-a-service or cloud-based security tools for secure remote access. 

Whether your team is hybrid or remote, or you have several offices spread across multiple networks, cloud networks are an increasingly popular option. 

But what does cloud networking mean for your IT team? Does it mean a heap of extra work for them to sort through, or just another puzzle piece that will require constant monitoring and system maintenance from your team (not to mention downtime)?? 

To help you decide on the right infrastructure for your network and business, we’ve got the details you need to know about what cloud networking actually is — and how it may impact your IT team. 

What is a cloud network?

A cloud network is a type of IT infrastructure that enables organizations to connect and manage their resources, applications, and services through cloud-based platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Digital Ocean. Unlike traditional networks that rely on physical hardware on-premise to create a Wide Area Network (WAN) for secure communication, cloud networking leverages virtualized network resources that operate over the internet or a private cloud infrastructure. Network components like virtual routers, virtual firewalls, virtual load balancers, and entire network layouts can be defined through software logic.

Essentially, cloud networking outsources physical hardware to a third-party service provider via virtual network components. 

This is increasingly popular with businesses of all sizes. Cloud networking has gained significant traction over the past decade, and it’s not slowing any time soon. In fact, according to recent research: 

• 84% of companies are anticipated to use private cloud services.
• 51% of IT spending will shift from traditional tools to cloud solutions by 2025.
• 92% of companies are expected to adopt multi-cloud strategies.

How cloud networking works

There is a running joke in the movies that nobody really knows how “the cloud” works. But in reality, cloud networking is actually quite simple. 

Cloud networking integrates multiple networking functionalities, such as routing, firewall management, access control, and security policies, into cloud environments or “virtual machines.”

In the past, businesses would need to rent additional space to house servers, or they’d rent a server offsite in a nearby data center. That put the pressure on the IT team to not only ensure the physical security and privacy of the servers, but also to manage the digital infrastructure each server contained.

For some businesses, this is still a preferred method, as maintaining your own physical servers allows for greater control (a big plus when it comes to highly-regulated fields like healthcare or finance). However, for many, this presents additional risks and additional work. 

Cloud networking allows IT teams to:

• Manage network traffic efficiently by utilizing virtual network resources such as Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs) and Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WANs).
• Implement security measures like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and Zero Trust security models.
• Ensure high availability and resilience with automated failover mechanisms and load balancing.
• Optimize cloud resources dynamically by scaling infrastructure based on traffic demands and performance metrics.
• Facilitate seamless hybrid and multi-cloud deployments by integrating services from multiple cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

Cloud networking consists of virtual network components, topologies, and configurations that operate on a cloud provider's physical networking infrastructure. It allows you to define and manage your networks using software and to create virtual local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) with cloud resources.

Benefits of cloud networking

Cloud networking provides several benefits for IT teams and enterprises, making it a valuable investment. Of course, as we mentioned earlier, these won’t always outweigh the benefits of a self-hosted on-prem environment, and it’s important for IT teams to weigh all options and compliance requirements before making the decision to use cloud networking. 

Here are some of the key advantages of cloud networking:

• Scalability: Businesses can scale their network infrastructure on-demand, reducing the need for costly hardware upgrades and ensuring that workloads are efficiently distributed across multiple cloud environments.
• Cost efficiency: Organizations can significantly reduce capital expenditures (CapEx) by eliminating the need for physical networking hardware. Cloud-based solutions operate on a subscription model, allowing for predictable and optimized operating costs.
• Enhanced security: Cloud networks integrate advanced security measures, such as encryption, identity access management (IAM), firewalls, and continuous monitoring, to protect sensitive data and mitigate cyber threats.
• Improved performance: With cloud networking, IT teams can optimize traffic routing, ensuring low latency and high availability. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and edge computing further enhance performance by distributing workloads closer to end users.
• Remote accessibility: Cloud-based networks enable employees to securely access resources from anywhere, supporting the modern remote workforce. VPNs and cloud access security brokers (CASBs) help enforce security protocols.
• Disaster recovery and business continuity: Cloud networking enhances data redundancy and ensures business continuity by replicating critical infrastructure across multiple geographic regions.

The 4 types of cloud networking and cloud-based networking

Not all cloud networking is equal. Different types of cloud networking have different use cases and capabilities. Understanding the different types of cloud networking can help IT teams choose the best strategy for their organization. There are four main types of cloud networking that you should consider. 

Public cloud networking

According to Microsoft, “A public cloud is a cloud computing (network) model in which third-party providers deliver computing resources—such as servers, storage, networking, and applications—over the internet to multiple customers on a shared infrastructure. It operates on a pay-as-you-go model, allowing businesses and individuals to access scalable and cost-effective IT services without the need for on-premises hardware.”

Public cloud networking involves using third-party cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), to name a few. These providers offer shared infrastructure and network services that allow organizations to deploy applications without maintaining physical hardware. Public clouds are ideal for organizations that need scalable and flexible network solutions, such as startups and SaaS providers. 

Private cloud networking

A private cloud (or an internal cloud and/or corporate cloud), as defined by IBM, is “a cloud computing environment in which all hardware and software resources are dedicated exclusively to, and accessible only by, a single customer.”

In other words, private cloud networking is a single-tenant environment with isolated access; it's designed for organizations that require greater control over their data and network security. Private clouds operate within an organization's own infrastructure or a dedicated cloud provider. This model is commonly used in industries with strict compliance requirements, such as healthcare, finance, and government agencies. Private cloud solutions allow businesses to customize security configurations and data governance policies to meet regulatory standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI-DSS.

Hybrid cloud networking

According to Google, “A hybrid cloud is a mixed computing environment where applications are run using a combination of computing, storage, and services in different environments—public clouds and private clouds, including on-premises data centers or ‘edge’ locations. Hybrid cloud computing approaches are widespread because almost no one today relies entirely on a single public cloud.” 

Hybrid cloud networking combines public and private cloud solutions to create a flexible, optimized IT environment. It allows organizations to store sensitive data in private clouds while leveraging the scalability of public clouds for less critical workloads. Many businesses adopt hybrid models to balance cost, security, and operational efficiency while seamlessly integrating legacy infrastructure with modern cloud services.

Multi-cloud networking

Multi-cloud networking functions exactly as you'd expect: deploying, designing, and operating a network through multiple cloud environments via a single point of management. 

Multi-cloud networking can help businesses avoid vendor lock-in while enhancing reliability. IT teams may choose to adopt multi-cloud strategies to improve resilience, optimize costs, and distribute workloads efficiently. For example, a company might use AWS for application hosting, Google Cloud for AI/ML workloads, and Microsoft Azure for enterprise IT services. This strategy enhances flexibility and ensures that organizations can leverage the best features of each cloud provider.

IT teams' responsibilities in managing cloud networks

While managing a cloud network may be slightly less intensive than managing physical servers, that doesn’t mean your IT team is off the hook entirely. Managing cloud networks comes with a range of responsibilities, including security, compliance, and performance optimization. 

IT teams can leverage OpenVPN when it comes to securing cloud networks. Here are a few of the ways OpenVPN can help support your team.

Ensuring secure access for remote users

Whether your team is hybrid, fully remote, or on-site, they will need access to resources housed in cloud environments. However, with sophisticated phishing attacks and cyber threats, you need to make sure that access to those resources is tightly locked down. 

The solution: Access Server provides a secure VPN for all employees, whether remote, hybrid, or on-site, allowing seamless secure access to cloud-based resources. By requiring VPN use to access secure resources, businesses can add an additional layer of security. 

Access Server can be deployed through an on-prem server or hosted on a private or public cloud (for example, Amazon AWS, Digital Ocean, Microsoft Azure, etc.) for rapid deployment and scalability.  

Additionally, OpenVPN security features include two-factor authentication, role-based access controls, and Zero Trust security enforcement. They protect against phishing attacks and credentials that have been leaked. 

Monitoring network performance and security

Aside from protecting your company’s network, the IT team must ensure that network speeds aren’t being negatively impacted, while also monitoring for potential security breaches or issues.

The solution: CloudConnexa is a cloud VPN — with built-in ZTNA and IDS/IPS security features — that delivers secure remote access to your business network and resources. CloudConnexa also includes access to detailed log data, including an audit log with an overview of administrative changes for faster troubleshooting and access visibility for clear insights into which employee has accessed which app. These features ensure enforcement of desired access controls and eliminate blindspots from undiscovered apps.

Additionally, included with CloudConnexa at no extra cost, Cyber Shield Traffic and Content Filtering is an easy-to-use, customizable IDS/IPS feature that protects remote access by automatically monitoring for (and blocking) malicious traffic and domains.

Managing user accounts and permissions

There are two core elements of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): 

1. Never trust, and always verify.
2. Use the principle of least privilege by limiting access to only applications that are required to complete a job function. 

To do both of these things, your IT team will need to manage user accounts and permissions frequently. 

The solution: Access Server and CloudConnexa networks enable easy user provisioning, access controls, and identity management. Additionally, CloudConnexa streamlines the process: mutual authentication of digital certificates, built-in 2FA, and authentication with SAML and other protocols can verify user identities before granting access.

Ensuring compliance with regulations

Compliance extends far beyond your compliance team or other individual teams. It is a group effort and can be centralized in IT with the right processes and audits in place. This is especially important when you have a multi-cloud or hybrid environment which may have varying security methods and features in place. 

The solution: OpenVPN is SOC2-compliant to help businesses meet industry security and data privacy standards. For greater control over their data, IT managers can use Access Server, our self-hosted business VPN software, which grants granular control over deployment and infrastructure management. 

Preparing for security incidents

Preparing for security incidents is a matter of when, not IF. IT teams and cybersecurity teams must work together to ensure that the cloud infrastructure and cloud networking is protected — and must know what to do in the event of a security incident, whether that incident is internal or involves a cloud security provider. 

The solution: With CloudConnexa, you can provide secure remote access to your private networks and resources with continuous zero-trust enforcement, preventing lateral movement and ensuring that connections come from trusted devices and locations. To strengthen the security of your sensitive data, CloudConnexa also lets you turn your essential SaaS tools into private applications, making them accessible only from CloudConnexa. This effectively reduces your attack surface and renders stolen or leaked credentials useless. Plus, CloudConnexa’s built-in IDS/IPS and content filtering make it easy to block common cyber threats and undesirable content so your users can confidently browse the web free of distractions.

Automate the work of your IT team with OpenVPN

Cloud networks have transformed the IT landscape, offering increased flexibility, efficiency, and security. However, managing these networks requires robust solutions to ensure security, performance, and compliance. OpenVPN can help. 

With Access Server or CloudConnexa, organizations can implement secure, scalable, and cost-effective security to match their cloud networking strategies. 

To find out more, join a group demo with OpenVPN’s team of experts.

To learn more about the future of network security, check out our recent research report from Enterprise Strategy Group, sponsored by OpenVPN: Secure Remote Access Technology Trends.