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As the business world transitions to the cloud, securing its infrastructure against internal and external threats becomes even more essential. Cloud security is the technique of protecting digital infrastructure against an ever-evolving threat landscape. Cloud security enhances productivity by protecting the infrastructure from forced disruptions by unauthorized users, viruses, or malware.

What is cloud security?

The modern-day work environment functions in an interconnected mesh, leading to a greater degree of interconnectedness than ever before. A disruption anywhere in the chain can have a cascading effect on aligned operations. For instance, an unauthorized user targeting one entity could affect another owing to the multi-tenancy functionality offered by CSPs. Such collateral damage can wreak financial, regulatory, and reputational damages.

Cloud security is the protection of data and resources stored on or employed by a CSP’s infrastructure. It is also the prevention of unauthorized access to these services and data. The goal of cloud security is to meet the requirements of the shared responsibility model adopted by most CSPs. This security model dictates that both the customer and the service provider have a role to play in securing the environment. The customer is responsible for protecting their data, while the service provider is tasked with safeguarding the infrastructure.

Cloud security offers a continuum of security solutions. Several elements – SIEM, IAM, DLP, and disaster recovery – branch out to provide a comprehensive mesh of solutions against hackers, viruses, and malware. A robust security system adheres to the five-pillar requirements as laid down by NIST. 

How Should You Select A Cloud Security Platform?

The answer to the question is quite simple: find the platform that performs the five functions listed by NIST. When searching for the right cloud security platform, ensure these two checkboxes are ticked: 

• Risk-level consciousness: The risk levels of endpoints and users constantly fluctuate, so you must monitor them continuously. Risk consciousness ensures access is not permanent; it is continuously granted and taken away.

• Content awareness: This aspect considers the sensitivity of data for which access is sought. Incorporating robust inspection techniques and granting risk-based access reduces the risks to users and endpoints. It may entail: 

  • Specific actions: A robust platform should help organizations formulate nuanced policies to ensure unimpeded productivity. It should not be possible to make binary decisions about zero-trust access. It is crucial to always protect data (in transit and at rest) by implementing granular data security measures such as watermarking, redacting keywords, and restricting downloads.

  • Preventive encryption: The security of your data must extend beyond your sphere of influence. Even when data gets transferred offline, companies must use proactive encryption solutions to ensure sensitive information is accessed only by authorized personnel.

What happens when we fully adopt the cloud?

When an organization fully migrates to the cloud, data gets transferred from physical systems to virtual systems. Data is position-aligned and stored next to or across data sources.  

This process is often automated, meaning the only humans required remain in the physical systems. Such transition redirects all energy, labour, and resources from the old systems to the new environments. The data storage capacity rises significantly, which allows the organization to store more data and have more ability to manage existing systems. However, this also requires new infrastructure, equipment, and technology. 

Benefits of virtual storage in an organization with digital transformation

The benefits of migration outweigh the challenges. Cloud drives increased operational agility, assurance, control, cost efficiency, and reduced IT spending. A few other benefits are:  

• Improved Data Integrity: Data in a virtual format means it can be found easily, changed, and removed. This means data integrity is always maintained. Such integrity is essential for sensitive data in sectors like banking and finance. 

• Increased Security: The virtual data environment provides more security to data than physical devices. This high level of security is achieved through strong encryption, randomization, and data type selection. 

• Increased Flexibility: Moving data between physical and virtual systems means organizations can swiftly adapt to changing needs and circumstances. This allows organizations to respond quickly to emerging security issues and unexpected demands, such as cyber threats. 

Final thoughts

Cloud security is essential for protecting data and infrastructure from attacks. Cloud security platforms can enhance security without harming productivity by offering a comprehensive end-to-end solution. Organizations must assess their security needs by conducting thorough penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities. 

Packetlabs offers comprehensive cloud penetration testing solutions that can help protect your cloud environment from malicious threat actors. For more information, contact the Packetlabs team today!