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Recent data shows an estimated 85% of organizations will have faced at least one cloud security incident by the end of 2024.
Therefore, the effectiveness of an enterprise’s cloud security is paramount to ensuring that any security incident, whether a data breach, unauthorized access, or other cyber threat, does not lead to significant operational disruptions, data loss, financial setbacks, or reputational damage.
To protect your company’s data from theft, leakage, and loss, here are eight best practices to follow for cloud security:
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Some aspects of security are managed by your cloud service provider (CSP), while others are managed by you, the customer. All leading CSPs, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, follow a shared responsibility model, and the general rule is the CSP is responsible for the cloud infrastructure, and the customer is responsible for the data, apps, and configurations in the cloud. However, some security responsibilities vary depending on the cloud delivery model (SaaS, PaaS, or IasS). To avoid a potentially costly security misunderstanding, begin by reviewing the SLA (service level agreement) with your CSP and make sure to ask any questions regarding security responsibilities if in doubt.
Securing access to your company’s cloud environment is crucial to protecting your data and other assets. IAM systems reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your cloud. Incorporate the principle of least privilege to ensure users and applications have only the access necessary to perform their tasks. Go beyond passwords by requiring Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), an essential component of IAM policies. Finally, continuous access control monitoring is key, so schedule regular audits and reviews of access controls to ensure they are up-to-date and revoke access where no longer needed.
Not only is it essential to encrypt data kept on physical or digital storage devices, such as hard drives or servers, but also data in transit traveling over a network, between devices, or entering cloud services. You can use strong encryption features supplied by your CSP or use third-party encryption solutions to encrypt data before it’s stored in the cloud, as well as use secure communication protocols such as secure sockets layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS) to encrypt data during transmission to prevent unauthorized access to anyone who does not have the right decryption key.
Your business is responsible for regulatory breaches, even if the security problem originates with the cloud provider. Therefore, staying compliant is a top cloud security priority. Start by reviewing regional-specific regulations governing the acquisition and protection of personally identifiable information (PII), such as GDPR and HIPAA, as well as industry regulations for operating and storing data on the cloud or overall cybersecurity such as NIS2. Before establishing a new cloud computing service, ensure the service provider meets your data compliance needs. Finally, align your cloud security practices with a recognized framework encompassing compliance standards (e.g., CSA STAR, SOC 2, ISO 27001, etc.).
Preparing for anticipated cloud security breaches is the best way to reduce the impact of a security incident. Begin by scheduling regular backups of all critical data in the event of data loss, and then test the backup restoration process periodically to ensure quick data recovery and availability. Also, ensure you have an incident response plan in place in the event of a breach so that your security team is better equipped to quickly address and remediate the situation.
Two of the biggest cloud security risks continue to be misconfigurations and vulnerabilities. As cloud environments grow and change, configurations can drift from security best practices, so be diligent in preventing and finding configuration errors with the help of your CSP and IT team through continuous security monitoring with cloud-native tools and audits. Also, to protect against the risk of new vulnerabilities being exploited, implement a robust patch management process, including automation tools, to regularly to identify, test and apply security patches and updates to all cloud-based systems and applications.
To ensure your cloud can manage any cybersecurity threats, it’s essential to regularly evaluate your cloud environment’s security posture. Implement regular vulnerability scans, both manual and automated, to identify and remediate security weaknesses. Combine this with simulations of real-world attacks and breaches, also known as pen testing, to test the effectiveness of all your protection measures and uncover any security flaws so that you can proactively address them.
The most effective cloud security depends on teamwork between not only you and your CSP but also your staff. From recognizing and avoiding phishing attacks to accidentally installing malware via websites or attachments, educating employees on cloud security awareness and risks is very much a first line of defense against cyber threats. Also, establishing and enforcing a cloud security policy to follow will better protect your data and your organization.
Migrating to the cloud means businesses benefit from enhanced efficiency, flexibility, and cost savings, but there are significant security risks that require a comprehensive cloud security defense plan. Whether your organization is starting on its cloud journey, or growing its hybrid or multi-cloud environment, following cloud security best practices is key to ensuring your company can handle the growing complexity and increasing number of cloud attacks and data breaches facing today’s business world.
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