Fortanix, Snowflake Team Up; Thirdera Buys Appoxio

Cloud-based data just got more secure, thanks to a new partnership between Fortanix and Snowflake. Also, ServiceNow channel partner Thirdera is showing peers how to grow and support end users’ digital transformation efforts. Meanwhile, Equinix has new stats showing that cloud adoption continues to soar, even though many an IT pro harbors security concerns. Finally, VMware has achieved a significant threshold with the federal government. Get the full scoop in our latest cloud computing news roundup.

Fortanix, Snowflake Join Forces

Fortanix and Snowflake are teaming up. The two companies on Wednesday launched a new partnership to make Fortanix’s Data Security Manager SaaS available to Snowflake customers.

Fortanix specializes in data protection, while Snowflake focuses on data storage and processing. The agreement between Fortanix and Snowflake gives users the ability to protect data via tokens; that’s regardless of whether it lives inside or outside of Snowflake’s platforms. For example, joint customers may secure their most private data (think Social Security numbers, for example) before Snowflake processes it. This eliminates the need to deploy and manage a separate security product, Fortanix said.

At the same time, Fortanix’s DSM SaaS solution supports hybrid clouds, including those spread across multiple sites. It features built-in encryption, key management and support for a variety of interfaces. Moreover, channel partners (or their customers) can set up accesses in Fortanix’s new Snowflake Wizard.

“As more and more apps and services migrate to the cloud, it only makes sense that data security should as well,” said Ambuj Kumar, CEO and co-founder at Fortanix. “Tokenization has traditionally been a solution only larger enterprises could afford due to high implementation costs and ongoing licensing. Offering the capability as a service with Fortanix DSM SaaS helps customers manage costs, get faster value and expand their cloud capabilities.”

Scott Hoard, area vice president of Americas channels at Fortanix, told Channel Futures that organizations tend to struggle with the cost, complexity and operational demands of their existing data security infrastructure.

Fortanix’s Scott Hoard

“Legacy standalone point solutions were never designed for cloud-first environments and DevOps application lifecycles,” he said.

Fortanix aims to change that, all while ensuring airtight protections.

“DSM SaaS provides the highest level of security, often exceeding what organizations have implemented in their own environment,” Hoard said. “Services run on FIPS 140-2 Level 3-certified Fortanix FX2200 appliances that act as both an HSM and an application server. The FX 2200 doesn’t just provider a hardware root of trust; it uses Intel Software Guard Extension technology to provide complete cryptographic separation between DSM SaaS users. At no time do Fortanix DSM SaaS administrators have access to keys or data processed by customers in their DSM SaaS account. Customers can also continue to use keys from legacy HSMs using the unique HSM Gateway capability.”

Moreover, Hoard said Fortanix channel partners will benefit.

“In Snowflake’s most recent earnings call, CEO Frank Slootman highlighted the two fastest growing verticals: financial services at 100% and …