Cloud security – What you want to know

Cloud security architecture is a security strategy for securing an organization’s data and applications in the cloud. A security architecture for the cloud needs a holistic approach covering perspectives for different stakeholders. Organizational, financial, legal and technical considerations must be taken into account when designing a cloud security architecture.

Typical challenges for cloud security are: understanding the shared responsibility model – What is your responsibility for security as a cloud consumer? Could configurations – misconfigurations can lead to a successful attack. Access control – designing for least privilege can be complex in the cloud. Lack of competence – a global shortage of cloud security skills is a huge challenge for businesses.

Any services on the internet can potentially be hacked. However, the largest cloud security providers are spending billions of dollars on improving their security postures. Cloud consumers must ensure they understand their own responsibility for security in the cloud so that hackers cannot exploit misconfigurations and poor password policies.

Cloud Security Posture Management is a process for continuously improving the cloud security. Both the cloud service provider (CSP) and the cloud service customer (CSC) must improve security within DevOps, compiance, risk assessment, incident response, monitoring etc. Cloud customers can use tools provided by the CSP to align with best practices for cloud security.

Cloud security governance is a framework that outlines the policies, procedures, and guidelines for ensuring the security and protection of data, applications, and infrastructure in a cloud computing environment. It encompasses the management of people, processes, and technology to secure cloud services and data.

It involves defining roles and responsibilities, setting security standards, establishing risk management processes, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. Effective cloud security governance requires collaboration between security, IT, and business teams to ensure that security is embedded into the design and operation of cloud services.

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) is a set of guidelines and best practices for organizations to manage and reduce cybersecurity risk. It was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and provides a common language and approach for managing cybersecurity across all sectors. The framework provides a prioritized, flexible, and repeatable approach for improving the cybersecurity posture of an organization. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is widely adopted in the private and public sector and is considered a globally recognized standard for cybersecurity risk management. The NIST CSF can also be used for cloud security.