Cloud security is an umbrella term for the policies, technologies, methods, controls, and practices that organizations and individuals use to secure cloud computing, data, applications, infrastructure, and environments.
Why is cloud security important?
A Deloitte cloud survey found that 90% of respondents agreed that cloud environments combined with technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and analytics act as “force multipliers” for their digital strategies. The cloud may have been born as a place to store data and support mobile workers, but today’s cloud does so much more—enabling new business models, powering productivity, and supporting AI capabilities is just a short list.
Hackers and cybercriminals also see opportunities in the cloud, and they know how valuable cloud assets are to organizations. Today’s dispersed computing and resources, roving users, and new data flows have created an abundance of new potential entry points for bad actors.
What is cloud detection and response?
Cloud detection and response (CDR) is similar to managed detection and response (MDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) services, both of which rapidly detect, analyze, investigate, and actively respond to threats. CDR is a managed security solution that monitors activity in cloud environments from providers such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It identifies threats and suspicious activities in real time, including remote code execution, malware, crypto mining, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and container escape.
What are the main threats to cloud security?
The cloud has helped countless organizations become more efficient and resilient, eliminating the need for computing hardware and freeing employees to work remotely. But the cloud is not without its drawbacks: There are many ways, both intentional and unintentional, that can place cloud data at risk.
Data theft
As organizations place more data, apps, and processes in the cloud, there are more attack surfaces available for online criminals. In addition, employees, contractors, or partners with access to the cloud can intentionally or accidentally misuse their cloud access to leak, modify, or corrupt data.
Compliance
Cloud compliance and regulatory standards exist to help organizations stay secure, but adhering to these can have the opposite effect. Achieving compliance can create a false sense of security because compliance standards historically can’t keep up with the constantly changing threat landscape. In addition, the time it takes to run the administrative side of compliance takes time and resources away from addressing current threats or improving systems.
Shadow IT
Cloud deployments can give the impression of limitless, low-cost services, encouraging eager developers to create their own solutions in the company’s cloud. These additions sometimes operate without adequate security. And after they’re forgotten about and go undeleted, they can turn into zombie vulnerabilities.
Fuzzy responsibilities
Where do the cloud provider’s responsibilities end for security, and the customer’s responsibilities begin? Any gray area has the potential to turn into a security blind spot. Provider security measures—even those executed faithfully—may still leave gaps.
Cloud cost structures
A lack of transparency around cloud costs is a factor driving larger users to on-premise and hybrid deployments. If the cloud’s cost is based on bandwidth or access, security teams can find themselves squeezed between their budget constraints and performing vital duties.
Visibility
Compared to on-premise deployments, cloud computing adds a layer between IT teams and their deployments, potentially impairing their visibility. Comparable visibility may be possible in the cloud, but it might be through unfamiliar tools requiring new skills, which can introduce significant risk.
Multitenancy
If a hacker infiltrates a cloud provider’s systems, all client resources are at risk. The infrastructure is also shared, meaning that an online criminal targeting another organization could compromise your business’s data and resources as well.
How can organizations protect data stored in the cloud?
To protect assets in the cloud, organizations need to keep track of multiple cloud environments, databases, and policies, skills that require time and expertise to identify and stop cloud threats before they escalate.
Identity and access management (IAM)
“Identity is the new perimeter” is the current wisdom around security. It doesn’t make sense to use systems that establish physical or virtual boundaries when protecting today’s hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud deployments. A current solution is the authentication of users and identity management. Advanced multi-factor authentication solutions use biometric and contextual factors, as well as custom privileges that give users access only to what they need to complete their work.
Managed detection and response (MDR)
MDR is a service that monitors and protects an organization’s networks, resources, and other assets 24×7 . MDRs typically use security information and event management (SIEM) and use-case-specific tools. Closely related is the security operations center (SOC), an area, department, or office dedicated to performing an organization’s MDR. SIEM, MDR, and SOC solutions are currently available as outsourced managed security solutions, ensuring customers always have the expertise and resources needed to stay ahead of threats.
Security information and event management (SIEM)
SIEM systems are comprehensive security orchestration packages that include automation for monitoring, detection, and response related to threats. They also usually incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to cross-check logs across platforms, and use larger sets of variables for deeper analysis and more powerful anomaly detection.
