What is Cloud Security?

Introduction

 

According to a recent report by International Data Corporation, cloud spending will reach $1.3 trillion by 2025. The Cloud Computing market is touching new heights everyday. All the popular companies like Netflix, Pinterest, and Apple have migrated to the cloud. 

 

Cloud Computing presents an infrastructure where users can keep their data safe and where employees can easily collaborate with each other even while working remotely. As the cloud carries the most important information, it is crucial to keep the “cloud safe”. 

 

Everyday security breaches have compelled the companies to opt for Cloud Security. This newly coined term is gaining immense popularity in the cloud computing realm. 

 

(Related Blog:- Cloud Computing- Public vs Private Cloud)

 

Let’s understand the meaning of Cloud Security.  

 

Cloud Security

 

To define it simply Cloud Security is a branch of cybersecurity that is concerned with protecting the cloud from cyberattacks and any other form of threat. It protects the important data, applications and secure the cloud infrastructure to keep the cloud computing environment safe. 

 

Cloud Computing provides services on demand. It means storing the data over the Internet. As long as the business will have internet access it will be able to access the cloud storage and servers resources. 

 

It provides resources on demand, from applications to storage to computing power even networking , and software availability, cloud has got your back. Variety of IT services are delivered via cloud. 

 

Cloud is helping businesses to increase productivity and cut down costs as services can be accessed with ease, most businesses are opting for Private and Hybrid Cloud Computing networks. 

 

Now as Cloud is a gold mine for any business most of all it is important to keep it safe and that’s where cloud cybersecurity steps in. Cloud Security keeps the cloud storage safe from data breaches, data loss and account hijacking. 

 

So for businesses that opt for cloud, cloud security can keep all the IT services away from data attacks. 

 

 

Importance of Cloud Security

 

As cloud is the modern infrastructure Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) are now ruling over routine business services, it is important to secure these services to protect the data. 

 

While Public Cloud Platforms provide efficient services at low cost and offer unlimited scalability, it becomes important to keep the data flouting in the platforms secure. 

 

When you deploy a cloud service your data is your responsibility, even while choosing a hybrid cloud computing model it is extremely difficult to keep a tab on visibility which poses enterprise security at risk. 

 

Therefore Cloud Security is the need of the hour, it can keep the data secure it further protects the organization from further data breaches. Cloud Security is just like a simple firewall that protects your devices, though it protects both business and customer data. 

 

It can be termed as the “lifeblood” of business enterprises. 

 

 

4 Types of Cloud Security Solutions

 

Let’s take a look at 4 Types of Cloud Security solutions:- 

 

 (Please note IBM is used as a reference for this section)

 

1. Data Loss Prevention:- 

 

Data loss prevention improves data security and keeps the business safe from data breaches. These services provide security to the regulated cloud data. DLP tools like Teramind DLP, Clearswift Adaptive DLP and Code 42 use data alerts and other security measures to keep the stored data safe. 

 

DLP tools can also bring back the lost data and hence work as an active cloud security solution. 

 

 

2. Identity and Access Management:- 

 

Identity and Access Management Systems define the user role and create a digital identity for the user. The digital identities are password regulated and only the users who have the correct passwords are allowed to access the system. 

 

Digital identities are created based on the user data. Companies regulate the user’s identities and can restrict their data interactions. It provides user focused data security. 

 

In the Cloud Security user data is actively monitored. Centrify, Okta, CyberArk Privileged Account Security, and One Login are some Identity Management tools that help organizations in user access management.   

 

3. Security Information and Event Management:- 

 

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a software solution that examines different types of activities that happen in the cloud infrastructure. SIEM collocates data from different types of devices like servers and softwares in access. 

 

SIEM provides analysis in need. SIEM uses AI algorithms based security that further helps organizations to log data via multiple platforms. It also provides threat and security alerts from time to time to inform the IT teams in advance about upcoming threats. 

 

Open source SIEM tools like Solarwinds, Data Dog, Splunk and McAfee logs into a user’s active directory for maintaining an active record of the system. 

 

The combination of Security and Event Management in cloud security helps businesses to keep a tab on security threats in real time. 

 

 

4. Disaster Recovery:- 

 

Natural disasters are neither bound by time nor bound by place. But what if you lose all the important data stored in cloud post flood, earthquake, or cyberattack. 

 

Sometimes unsettling business circumstances snatch away important company data. It is extremely difficult to recover data post losing it and hence disaster recovery solutions are the right way to keep the data secure. 

 

Disaster Recovery Solutions are an organization’s shield against recurring data losses. DRP offers a variety of solutions to recover the data post losing it. Once data is recovered organizations can quickly resume their business operations. 

 

Data Recovery tools like Stellar, Recoverit, Disk Drill, and TestDisk can help organizations to repair a broken file system. It further provides the same data, and makes a drive usable again. 

 

(Related Reading:- 7 Best Data Security Practices)

 

 

3 Cloud Security Providers

 

1. DataDog:- 

DataDog provides services for cloud security, server monitoring, database and tools management. Its Software as a Service platform (SaaS) create best cloud monitoring practices. It can be used to monitor Google Workspaces, and Confluent Cloud. 

 

This SaaS platform can also be deployed for monitoring IT teams and third parties. Businesses can create detection rules using DataDog’s Security Monitoring. From Microsoft Azure to HCP Vault Datadog can provide key security to a variety of applications. 

 

It also provides Network Device Monitoring, and MQ Monitoring services. 

 

Advantages:- 

 

• DataDog provides the best monitoring services. 

• Its quick security alerts warn the enterprise beforehand about upcoming threats. 

• It can be used to track anything virtually. 

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Datadog’s Security Configuration Platform

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2. CheckPoint Software Technologies:- 

 

Checkpoint Software provides Cloud Guard, for the native security of the enterprise. CloudGuard automates security, prevent threats and enables an enterprise to secure multi-cloud environments. 

 

Cloud Guard provides security and posture management, automated DevSecOps, and unified security for multi- cloud platforms. It provides visibility, and threat prevention under a single platform. 

 

Its unified security platform prevents the threats across Azure, AWS, Google Cisco and Google Compute. Its security alerts and auto remediation features provide threat and data theft alerts. 

 

Advantages:- 

 

• Provides full flexibility and agility.

• Support Public Clouds AWS, GCP and Azure.

• Simple download and install procedure. 

 

 

3. McAfee:- 

 

McAfee provides public cloud security that enables the enterprise to have full visibility over applications and the data that is saved in the public cloud. Public Cloud Products by McAfee provides centralized visibility and control over the user data. 

 

The workloads managed on the clouds can be controlled by McAfee. It provides advance solutions and simplifies the business enterprises' cloud adoption journey. 

 

McAfee follows a three rule strategy for securing cloud based environments.

 

1. Cloud Visibility:- It enables the enterprises to understand the complex cloud environments. Further understanding through McAfee software helps business to understand the threats involved in cloud environments and cloud deployments. 

 

2. Threat Defence:- Threat Defence is all about keeping the cloud environment secure from cyberattacks. Enterprise threat protection must align with new models and cloud environments. It is a simple strategy to keep the enterprise secure from all forms of attack and McAfee software creates a strong firewall for threat defence. 

 

3. Protecting Data:- When accessing a public cloud, data thefts are normal. The stolen data can be misused at times for blackmailing purposes therefore staying wise and thinking twice about data sharing is the key.

 

McAfee Software provides business with data security while accessing public clouds. Cloud Access Security Broker provides essential cloud native data loss prevention. 

 

McAfee's cloud range includes McAfee MVISION Cloud, McAfee Virtual Network Security Platform and McAfee Cloud Workload Security. 

 

Advantages:- 

 

• Controls Network Security Threats

• Automates Discovery and Deployment Process

• Protection of Workloads against cyberattacks

 

 

Conclusion

 

“When deploying a multi-cloud environment, you need to have a consistent tool that plays across all the platforms. Using the cloud-agnostic CloudGuard Posture Management service, I only need to train an individual on one set of tools and he can manage our total cloud environment very effectively.”- Sreeni Kancharla, CIO & Sr. Group Director, Cadence

 

Cyberattacks and Cyber threats are posing immense danger to cloud environments. Whether deploying a hybrid cloud, or a multi- cloud environment, cloud security is the need of the hour. Most of the enterprises are quickly adapting to the secure cloud environments, cloud security has innumerable benefits to offer to run along the trail it's time for enterprises to lookout for cloud security options that are agile and can act as a perfect firewall against any attacks