In 2022, a significant 81% of establishments have encountered at least one security breach related to cloud technology in the preceding year, with nearly half (45%) experiencing four or more such incidents.
Regardless of these security hazards, businesses persist in expanding and investing in additional cloud infrastructure due to its cost-effectiveness and scalability.
As more data is shifted to the cloud by these enterprises, it becomes crucial for them to comprehend the ongoing challenges of cloud security and devise effective strategies to tackle them. Let’s look at the key factors of achieving data security in cloud computing.
Table of Contents
Track User Actions
Keeping a vigilant eye on end user activities in real time is crucial for the early identification of unusual behavior or malicious software that could signify a security breach in your system.
For example, if an unknown IP address or device is used to log in, it might raise suspicion. Timely detection of such anomalies can prevent hackers from wreaking havoc, enabling you to swiftly spot malware and rectify security vulnerabilities.
Numerous SOCaaS solutions are available to assist with this, ranging from automated around-the-clock network monitoring and management to more sophisticated cybersecurity measures such as:
- Intrusion Detection & Response
- Vulnerability Scanning and Remediation
- Endpoint Detection and Response
Each business has unique requirements for varying degrees of cybersecurity services, so it’s advisable to obtain a third-party risk assessment before making substantial investments.
Consider a Multi-factor Authentication System
A username and password provide decent security for your accounts. If your login details are compromised, cybercriminals exploit this information and gain unauthorized access to your company’s cloud-based applications and data.
Implement multi-factor authentication for enhanced cloud computing security. This ensures it remains effective even if your credentials fall into the wrong hands.
MFA demands users to enter a one-time, randomly generated code in addition to their username and password when logging into cloud applications. This makes sure that only those with the right authorization can access sensitive data, as the unique code is hard for hackers to crack.
Investing in Automated Solutions
Automation tools enable you to supervise end-user actions and spot deviations that stray from standard usage patterns, such as logins from unidentified devices or IP addresses.
These anomalies could signify a compromise in your cloud security, so timely identification can help thwart cyberattacks, enabling you to remedy security vulnerabilities before they cause chaos. Some automation tools worth considering are:
- Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP)
- Endpoint detection and response
- Intrusion detection and response
- Vulnerability scanning and remediation
File Sharing
Maintain the security of your file access and sharing systems while employers and users are using them. This is where the importance of identity and access controls come into play. Only share the appropriate credentials with the correct individuals, in the right context, and limit access for everyone else.
Train your team on the intricacies of security protocols, ensuring that they only request access on a need-to-know basis. Access should be granted when necessary and restricted once the need has passed. Additionally, your cloud provider should monitor file sharing and access activity.
Take PaC approach
The effectiveness of security policies is considerably reduced when they’re solely available in PDF documents as compared to those integrated into code. This strategy, termed as policy-as-code (PaC), leverages automated coding rather than traditional manual methods for the generation, modification, and distribution of policies.
Through PaC, various tools and applications can autonomously authenticate code and configurations, ensuring that policies are applied and upheld uniformly across the company. Furthermore, it can inspect other codes and cloud-based environments for any undesirable conditions that might lead to exploitation or breach of compliance.
Endnote
As cybercrime and fraud continue to escalate, it’s imperative to create strategies for securing your business data. Taking into account and applying the earlier provided suggestions could help you enhance your cloud computing security.
