7 Cloud security questions – Answered

Cloud is largely used by companies and organizations and yet there is the concern of network security that laces around all of its goodness.

Businesses are contemplating whether staying on-premise would be the best or migrating to the cloud will benefit their cause. Undoubtedly, moving to the cloud in this new tech era can only do them good, and here are some highlighting reasons to consider migration. Professionals understand that security takes the effort of you and the Cloud service provider.

This brings us to the conclusion that choosing the right Cloud service provider who offers the best level of security is not an option, but a necessity.

The benefits of the Cloud stretch far too high to get ignored because of myths or misconceptions. This set of questions and their answers are aimed at helping you understand Cloud security in a better way.

Cloud Security Unlocked: Your Top 7 Questions Answered

1. Is the Cloud more secure than on-premises?

With the Cloud environments having the most advanced firewalls, state-of-the-art detection systems, and security tools, it indeed carries a wide advantage over on-premises environments.

On-premises systems have you rely on your internal team, their knowledge and experience along with the tools they used to fulfill their roles. But with Cloud computing platforms like Microsoft Azure, you have the advantage of constant monitoring and protection with the help of AI and advanced security tools.

While Cloud environments serve all these purposes, you can only unlock their full potential with the help of a trusted cloud service provider.

2. How does the Cloud type affect security?

Public Cloud and its security

With the Public Cloud, an organization’s data is stored with a third-party provider, making it accessible only through the Public internet used by multiple other organizations.

The advantage? Your data can simply be anywhere and people may not be able to identify what devices entail your data. This is a good defenses mechanism against bad actors.

And the disadvantage? Your data can be stored in places you don’t expect or want it to be in.

A lot of network security is software-controlled and configured through web interfaces and applications. This provides great flexibility. However, configuring security in this environment can leave serious security gaps if left in the hands of an inexperienced person.

It can be difficult to get specific concerns addressed. If you need specific answers or details about the location of your data is and who can access it, a Public Cloud will not give you that level of accountability.

Will Private Cloud be more secure?

When data is stored in a Private infrastructure it means only exclusive access is allowed. Private Cloud environments are very well-identified data centers and are controlled by smaller teams.

Getting specific answers is easier as you’ll know where your data is.

Having proper physical controls is essential because your data is now in a known location.

Security controls are often handled by specialized hardware and appliances managed by specialized teams trained in network security, though portals and self-configuration options may be available.

Services like backup and disaster recovery are integral and need to be tested frequently to make sure they perform as you anticipated.

P.S. Private Cloud is prone to human errors while the initial configuration is done.

What does the Hybrid Cloud security offer?

Organizations may use Public or Private Clouds depending on their requirements around data and compliance.

With Hybrid Cloud comes complexity in the management of advanced risks, policy and protocol development and adherence, and potential errors in security control coverage. You need to make sure that all the protocols are properly followed.

It is of great importance to choose the perfect Cloud solution that meets the needs of your customers and business.

If self-configuration capabilities are what your business requires, then Public Cloud may be the best option. If direct access to the team managing the physical site of your Cloud is vital, then you’d want to pick Private Cloud. Hybrid Cloud allows you to experience the best of both worlds to meet your business needs.

3. What are the top security risks of the Cloud?

Top security risks vary with the Cloud type and yet there are common risks like the remotely working team that is exposed to new vulnerabilities. Other drivers of risk happen to be cyber incidents and natural disasters along with misconfigurations.

Misconfigurations expose a risk especially when the configuration is the responsibility of the Cloud client.

The primary target of these risks? Your data.

Top Cloud security issues common between SaaS and IaaS models include:

1. Poor visibility of data in the Cloud
2. Data theft from the Cloud by a malicious actor
3. Inadequate data access control
4. Poor data monitoring capabilities
5. Issues with “shadow IT,” where applications or workloads exist outside of IT visibility
6. Poor controls over internal data theft or misuse

4. Who manages security in the Cloud?

You must know who is responsible for the different aspects of your Cloud security. When your data is stored in the Cloud, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to monitor it ever again.

You and your Cloud provider must work hand-in-hand to protect your data and avoid risk. Apart from you and your Cloud provider, the type of Cloud service that you’re using.

In SaaS environments, you own data protection, access control, and endpoints. The Cloud provider covers the rest, including securing, testing, and protecting infrastructure, applications, network security, etc.

In Platform as a Service (PaaS) environments, the Cloud user takes on the same responsibilities as SaaS with the addition of application responsibilities.

In IaaS environments, the Cloud provider is only responsible for the Cloud, while the user takes on responsibility for data protection, access control, endpoints, applications, systems, and networks.

5. What Types of Security Are Involved in Securing the Cloud?

You now know that the responsibility of securing your Cloud infrastructure and network is of more than one person, but the list of security types needed to secure the infrastructure is long.

• Access management – Determining which roles can access which data, setting rules and protocols around that access, and monitoring for concerning activity:
• Single sign-on
• Least privileged role assignment
• Password enforcement and rotation
• Credential management
• Multi-factor authentication
• Disaster recovery – planning and implementation of protocols around preparation and response to infrastructure and network disruption, including backup and recovery:
  • Backup retention
  • Geographic recovery
• Continual monitoring – Active monitoring and tracking of environments to identify anomalies, contain threats and report on security.
• Encryption – Protection of data as it moves and where it is stored:
  • Secure data transmission
  • File and disk encryption
  • Database encryption and key storage
  • Network Security
  • Firewalls
  • Network segmentation
  • Load balancing
  • Physical Security
  • Access controls
  • Environmental controls
• Ongoing scanning – Assessing the network and infrastructure for vulnerabilities and patching them.
• Password management – Defining proper password protocols and authentication procedures.

6. Is the Microsoft Cloud Secure?

The security environment is such that it is easy for the risk to outweigh the capacity to defend and protect against them. Microsoft Azure is protected by up-to-date, advanced security and protection through modern research.

That security is built into the environment and regularly upgraded and innovated according to data, artificial intelligence (AI), and insight from cybersecurity professionals. And it monitors for threats and anomalies around the clock.

• 3,700-plus security experts on staff at Microsoft
• More than $1 billion spent annually on security
• 8 trillion-plus security signals analyzed daily
• 6 billion malware threats blocked in 2020

Businesses in Azure benefit from business continuity, rapid response to threats, and the capacity to predict and prevent cyber incidents.

7. Is Compliance and Governance Difficult in the Cloud?

Top Cloud providers have compliance certifications to meet the needs of various industries, regions, and countries. Active experts are working daily to follow and maintain compliance requirements.

How do you ensure a secure Cloud migration?

When you work with experienced partners for Cloud migration, they can help you ensure data security and sensitive information on your journey to the Cloud.

We, at DemandDynamics, are a Microsoft gold partner helping with migrations, implementations, and more. To know more about implementing anew or migrating to the Cloud and our other services, you can schedule a call to talk to our experts.