What Is Cloud Gateway on My Android Phone?

Cloud storage and computing play a big part in the making of modern phones. Likewise, you have probably asked yourself, “what is cloud gateway on my Android phone?”

Basically, a cloud storage gateway is a network server or device that stays on your premises and converts storage APIs to block-based protocols or file-based interfaces. 

Some of that was probably confusing and made you scratch your head. But do not worry; by the end of this article, you will understand cloud gateway technology well. 

What Is an API?

An application programming interface (API) is a kind of software interface. Thus, it offers a service to other software. Two popular examples of two storage APIs are SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and REST (Representational state transfer).

SOAP exchanges structured information using Web services in computer networks. Moreover, its message format utilizes XML Information Set and uses application layer protocols (like HTTP or SMTP) for message negotiation and transmission.

On the other hand, REST guides and develops the World Wide Web’s design and architecture. Rest also defines how distributed hypermedia systems behave on the Internet (the WWW being one example). Therefore, several software companies use Rest for Web APIs. 

Examples of Block-based Storage/File-based Interfaces 

An example of a popular block-based storage device is iSCSI (Internet Small Computer Interface). This is a standard for networking data storage facilities based on the internet protocol.  

Additionally, it gives SCSI commands over a TCP/IP network. Through these commands, it provides block-level access to storage devices. SSMB (Server Message Block), which we know as Common Internet File System (CIFS), is a popular file-based interface.

Consequently, the protocol provides shared access to files, printers, and serial ports between nodes in a network. The Network File System (NFS) – not the video game – is also a popular file-based interface.

Sun Microsystems developed the original version of it in 1984. In addition, it is a distributed file system protocol that allows users to access files through a computer network by using a client computer.

How Does Cloud Gateway Technology Work?

A gateway is a network point that allows access to another network. It acts as an exit and entry point for networks. Moreover, routed data should communicate with a gateway to use routing paths. Cloud gateways connect the user to the cloud.

Furthermore, a cloud gateway allows the end-user to use numerous cloud services like migration, cloud compare, monitoring, automation, billing, etc.

What is the Purpose of a Cloud Gateway?

A cloud gateway allows users to access cloud and cloud resources safely. Moreover, it allows the user to enjoy an ideal tool-set for cloud migration.

It also does several other things like accelerating resource provisioning, optimizing cloud usage, providing tools for tracking usage and costs, automating custom templates, and comparing different services across top cloud providers.

Furthermore, a cloud gateway allows users to oversee all their apps, data, and devices using identity-based provision. In addition, it allows for an easy way to use cloud services because of the many cloud computing features it consists of.

Cloud Gateway on Android 

A cloud gateway delivers in-house developed applications wrapped in the app wrapping tool in mobile devices. In addition, AppContoller is a feature of cloud gateway on Android. It is a service that allows for access to websites, data, and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Moreover, it allows access to Android (and IOS) applications using single sign-off capabilities. You are probably familiar with these built-in applications on your phone. Fortunately, you don’t have to download them, but, unfortunately, you can not uninstall them. But you can disable them. 

What Are Some Popular Providers of Cloud Gateway Technology?

The following is a list of some popular providers of cloud gateway technology. You might have even thought of some of them when you asked, “what is cloud gateway on my Android phone?”

Prism

This service includes a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution. The SASE solution uses government-level security, flexibility, and rapid development to secure remote access, Internet, and network traffic. Additionally, its SASE solution is built with three core pillars: Connect, Protect and Inspect. 

Connect

• Cloud Connectivity: provides on-net connectivity to desired cloud service providers
• VPN Site Connectivity: provides quick Internet connectivity to every site location 
• Remote access: uses the Internet to connect remote users to the network 
• Data Centre Cross Connect: it links to your data presence or an MPLS provider
• PSN connectivity: connects to the public service network (PSN)

Protect

• Foundation Security: protects your network with the usage of essential security capabilities
• Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS): sanitize, monitor and log using total UTM fictions
• Secure Web Gateway: secure connectivity to the Internet 
• Web Application Firewall (WAF): secures Web applications by using enhanced protection 

Inspect

• Portal: a dashboard is available to check analytics, visibility, and support
• Advanced Monitoring and Analytics: to visualize and understand network behavior on a deeper level
• SIEM/SOC integration: push logs to your own SIEM/SOC tools

Health Connect 

Health Connect is a very flexible solution that utilizes the Health & Social Care Network (HSCN) to get your site(s), cloud, and on-premise environments together. You also get to enjoy great security features like securely route traffic, scalable bandwidth, and more. Additionally, you do not have beyond lengthy lead times or pay any installation charges.

Benefits

• Internet connectivity allows for rapid deployment 
• Numerous advanced connectivity methods available like Data Centre cross internet, Remote Access and VPN Site Connectivity 
• Bandwidth is scalable from 10Mbps to 10Gbps 
• Lead times are not long, and there are no installation charges
• Layer ¾ Firewalling, SWG, WAF & FWaaS are available security options.

How Mobile Cloud Gateway Technology is Used in Workplaces 

Organizations 

Organizations use cloud gateway to use CRM and ERP mobile applications. Thus, they can increase workplace productivity as they can approve workflows by phone at any time, including lunchtime. 

Healthcare Organizations 

Healthcare organizations allow their doctors to bring their mobile devices into the workplace. They can also access patients, and data be captured in their XA/XD farm and sent to their mobile device.

Legal and Recruiting Firms

Corporate administrators can wipe out all the data in an individual device if said device is lost or stolen. Therefore, this is especially useful in Legal and Recruiting firms as they can mobilize all their data.

Oil and Gas Industry 

Native mobile applications are available through cloud gateway, wrapping them using the wrapping.

These are useful to oil and gas customers as they can deploy them to field workers in addition to deploying mobile devices. Moreover, users can browse intranet websites through mobile devices thanks to MDX Web Connect and Microsoft VPN technology.

Service Providers

Service providers generate revenue by delivering mobile apps aligned with their mobile devices and voice/data service business.

Features of a Secure Gateway Service

When you ask yourself, “what is cloud gateway on my Android phone?” You might have wondered if that cloud gateway is secure.

Hopefully, this section will quench that wonder. Here are things to look out for if you want to know if the cloud gateway on your Android phone is secure.

Fast and Simple

Monitoring all your traffic, managing the mapping between your local and remote destinations, and connecting your environments are done by setting up gateways fast.

Encryption and Authentication 

Easily configurable communication to provide TLS encryption and mutual authentication with a Secure Gateway.

Access Control List 

The user can use simple access management controls from the Secure Gateway to allow or not allow access based on the number of resources to combat any unauthorized access.

Load Balancing and High Availability 

You can connect many instances of your Secure Gateway Client to your gateway, which will leverage built-in connection load balancing. Connection failover is also possible if one client instance should go down. All of this is available with professional and enterprise plans.

The functionality of a Modern Cloud Gateway 

At this point, you are familiar with how cloud gateway technology is used in the workplace and the features to look out for to determine whether it is secure or not. Now it is time to look into the general functionality you expect with this technology. 

It is of the utmost importance that incoming files are cached and to destage them to object storage later. In addition, a policy engine enables the following functions:

Pinning

This function allows for the caching of specific files and destaging them to mirror.

Content-based destaging 

This function allows for files with specific features to object storage, e.g., MP4 files.

Multi-cloud Mirroring

This function allows for mirroring all files to two different object stores.

Least Recently Used

This function fills up the local cache, deletes files in a cache on an LRU algorithm, and moves all files to object storage.

Encrypt Prior to Destage 

This function encrypts files on the cloud storage gateway and destages to object storage in their encrypted form.

Compress and Deduplication Prior to Destage 

This function does not need much explanation. It is designed to compress and deduplicate files before destaging.

Backup Data in a Native Backup Format

This function also does not need much explanation. This allows for the backup of data in a native backup format.

Extensions

The following are extensions supported by nearly object storage gateways and cloud gateways.

Amazon Simple Storage Service

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers Amazon S3 (Amazon Simple Storage Service), and its Web service interface provides object storage. Fun fact: Amazon S3 and Amazon.com use the same scalable storage infrastructure.

Amazon S3 is capable of storing any type of object. Moreover, that makes storage for Internet applications, backup and recovery, disaster recovery, data archives, data lakes analytics, and hybrid cloud storage.

Microsoft Azure 

Microsoft operates a cloud service called Azure (aka Microsoft Azure). It is designed to manage applications via data centers which Microsoft themselves manage.

Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) are all available under MS Azure. In addition, it supports numerous programming languages, tools, and frameworks from both first and third-party developers.

Google Cloud Platform 

This platform utilizes REST technology (which makes it a RESTful online service). It is an online storage web service used to store and access data on the Google Cloud Platform infrastructure.

This service comes with advanced security and sharing features. Also, just like Amazon S3, it is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) web storage service. This specific platform is handy for enterprises.

OpenStack SWIFT

OpenStack is an open standard and free cloud computing platform. It is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) online service (like Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Platform).

Public and private clouds are available on this service where virtual servers and other resources are open to the users.

The software has numerous parts that control diverse hardware pools, consisting of processing, storage, and networking resources throughout the data center.

Users can access and manage this service by using an online dashboard through command-line tools or RESTful web services.

Conclusion 

Hopefully, this article helped answer your question, “what is cloud gateway on my Android phone?” Remember that a cloud storage gateway is a network server or device that stays on your premises and converts storage APIs to block-based protocols or file-based interfaces.

Two popular APIs used to achieve this are REST and SOAP. Also, remember that tools like iSCSI, SMB, and NFS are used in this process. Cloud gateway plays a vital role on Android (and IOS) phones by delivering default apps.

Suppose you want to learn more about cloud gateway, Google popular services like PRISM, and Health Connect. Also, make sure to go on the websites of OpenStack, AWS, Microsoft (Azure), and Google (Cloud) to learn information in addition to this article.