Guillaume Courtemanche
Consultant
Skander Bahri
Consultant
Camille Saleh
Consultant
Omar Bahous
Senior Consultant
Both on-premises and cloud infrastructure share the same fundamental security problems – identity, network security, and data protection.
What differs are the types of threats that emerge and the implementations to counter them. The cloud’s reliance on APIs and micro-services produces new threats to data. Cloud security integrity depends on executing the right implementations for the right threats.
We’ve identified 5 major security threats to your Cloud environment and how best to manage them.
Data in transit can breach regional data regulations
Internationally, different regions can have their own data regulations you need to follow. When you subscribe to a cloud service, you don’t have visibility of where data travels or the regions it passes through. It is possible for your data to violate a regional framework while in transit, which could lead to financial sanctions.
Your Cloud Service Provider has been compromised
Subscribing to a cloud service places responsibility for data and security on your Cloud Service Provider (CSP). Hacks and other external attacks can compromise your CSP, leaving your data exposed.
Configuration errors due to administrator slip-ups
Administrator error is one of the most common risks to cloud security. Administrators can lose track of their cloud configurations and place sensitive data in the wrong places, including publishing it on the Internet for all to access.
Data can leak onto the Internet
By design, cloud services comprise many subsidiary services working together. Their interactions represent a recurring risk of data leakage. A lack of familiarity with the data ecosystem can make this especially dangerous.
Innovator technologies may not be secure
Cloud technology is still a new field marked by constant innovation. Though many are specifically designed for the cloud, security may not be at a mature stage yet. Adopting them without asking the right security questions represents a major risk.
Managing Security Risks
Standard cybersecurity actions – like IAM, clear administration SOPs, and Identity Providers to manage Active Directory credentials – offer an immediate layer of protection. Broader measures become more effective as companies achieve cloud maturity.
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Create landing zones
Landing zones clarify network architecture, the federation of cloud identities, workload allocations, and other information required for scalable cloud operations..
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Execute change management with clear, agreed cloud security principles
Development and architecture teams that understand cloud security reduce confusion and technical debt during transformations.
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Set up Control Towers
Cloud Control Towers monitor provisioned resources and the security status of various components. On-site security teams can set up Control Towers for faster identification and responses to non-compliance.
These come with their own risks. Cloud security is an immature field, and existing SOCs may not have the experience to handle incidents effectively.
Inefficient processes can slow incident identification and response. Cloud security teams often end up conducting N3 themselves, forcing businesses to perform remediation with their own resources. It is imperative to maintain vigilance regarding cloud security.
The cloud cybersecurity sector is vast, fast, and varied. It will only continue to develop and change at breakneck pace, and it is difficult to project future trends. Our 3 major takeaways for you are:
#1
Prepare for cloud security during the migration stage
Poor understanding of cloud security and disorganized migration management can incur crippling technical debts as you migrate to the cloud. Focus on preventing this if you have yet to complete your cloud transition.
#2
Communicate with your CSP to mitigate risks more effectively
Compromised CSPs and administrative errors are common and the most severe dangers. Working with your CSP to clarify early adopter tech security policies, breach contingencies, and administrative SOPs is crucial.
#3
Clarify responsibilities to minimize damage if something goes wrong
Determine a gradient of responsibility early to avoid penalties for mistakes that aren’t your fault. Responsibility over your data should be clearly demarcated between you and your CSP. The security of underlying infrastructure is the CSP’s responsibility – scrutinize your service contracts to ensure this is the case.
If you’re in the middle of a cloud transition, consolidating your cloud security, or just want to learn more about moving to the cloud, our consultants can help.
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