Cloud Source

Cloud Security: Assessing Risk and Building Strategies

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Has your organization been inundated with serverless apps? The ones that are built to use just the minimum amount of computing resources yet still function? You use them for a task and quickly forget about them. When it comes to cloud security, are you putting yourself at risk by using them?

There is also a type of bundled app referred to as “containers,” which many cybersecurity experts are still trying to figure out. Many of these containers run in a virtual machine, which makes them a more flexible type of application to deploy.

The advantage that containers have over serverless apps is that they have some room for security software, which includes malware protection. The serverless app is in a situation where developers take little part in providing any cybersecurity or cloud security, and they instead hope that their infrastructure providers are doing something to keep everyone safe.

For some organizations, going with a serverless architecture makes total sense because there is a cost reduction factor. However, this is before you include the various risks associated with the cybersecurity unknowns that currently exist.

Addressing Experience Deficits

One of the biggest things holding back cybersecurity protocols is that there is a lack of expertise in regard to serverless security. Technical prowess in cloud security at the micro-services level is certainly not sufficient. Furthermore, most organizations haven’t established teams for keeping track of cloud security issues in relation to assessing various risk environments.

The fact is, there isn’t a lot of data regarding the amount of risk an organization assumes when using a container or serverless app. Security vendors have been quiet on the issue so far. Therefore, if your organization is moving toward containers or serverless apps, it can be difficult to assess your return on investment.

Calling in a Third Party

At Cloud Source, our approach to client services takes a full assessment of various risk factors and how cloud security can be improved to ensure there will be no disruption of services.

We’ve established a disaster recovery solution that will help you avoid a negative impact on your bottom line. We know that each minute a network is down, time and money are lost. However, securing your network against natural disasters is where we excel, so contact us today and let’s talk about how our cloud security solutions will fit your organization’s needs.

The Reality of Cloud Security: Why IT Professionals Are Still Reluctant on Full Adoption

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Cloud SecurityAlthough cloud services provide undeniable benefits, the fact remains that many IT professionals are still apprehensive about security. A recent study conducted by Crowd Research Partners discovered concerns about specific issues related to cloud security. Citing the fact that traditional tools are handicapped or simply don’t work in a cloud deployment, along with other barriers, professionals are befuddled on how to adequately protect cloud-based services in the expanding complexity of the network infrastructure.

According to the 2,200 global security professionals surveyed, the major drawbacks to increased cloud adoption were listed as:

  • Security risks (33%)
  • Lack of qualified personnel (28%)
  • Integration issues with existing IT environments (27%)

Of these issues, the survey found that the “single biggest threat to cloud security was the misuse of employee credentials and improper access controls.” Hijacking of accounts and insecure interfaces came in close behind. Since only a little over half of organizations are using Active Directory (AD) to authenticate and authorize access to cloud applications, the reason for the dissatisfaction is plain.

Additional Cloud Security Challenges

Over 80% of the community shared the following views of traditional security tools:

  • They have limited functionality for cloud security (48%)
  • They can’t be measured for effectiveness (25%)
  • They simply don’t work in the cloud (11%)

These statistics illuminate the lack of knowledge available, since there are cloud security tools out there that can achieve compliance and limit data leakage risks.

Although tools are very important, another problem that plagues cyber security is the lack of qualified security experts. There isn’t a huge amount of professionals in the field of security to choose from, so companies are focusing on in-house training or considering managed service providers with specialists on staff.

  • 61% of organizations are planning to train and certify existing staff
  • 45% partner with an MSP (managed service provider)
  • 42% are deploying additional security software for both data and application protections

Because of the shift in the infrastructure landscape with more and more businesses running more than one cloud service within the organization, problems arise when trying to establish visibility across the environment. Security professionals must now operate in mixed environments that include Amazon Web Service (AWS), Azure, and other in-house infrastructure.

Without complete visibility, ensuring compliance becomes extremely difficult. 37% of respondents cite visibility and 36% name compliance as a major cloud issue. In addition to these problems, individuals surveyed indicated that the challenge of developing consistent policies coupled with difficulties in reporting and remediating cyber security threats in the cloud was another source of vexation.

To adequately address cloud security concerns, a comprehensive approach is required. Since the benefits of the cloud deliver measurable improvements, the key to maintaining security for companies is to deploy custom solutions that address specific needs.

SaaS: Security Considerations

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SaaSAcross homes, schools, and a growing majority of businesses, Software as a Service (SaaS) applications are moving closer to the center of everyday life. But in business contexts, this move to cloud-based software such as Google’s G Suite or Microsoft’s Office 365 may open up security challenges that businesses aren’t equipped to address.

The Popularity of SaaS

Businesses have a number of reasons for switching to SaaS architecture, including cost effectiveness, centralization of files and work processes, and a degree of standardization and support for bring your own device (BYOD) workplaces. And the convenience of cloud-based architecture is convincing: according to a report by BetterCloud, a significant proportion (25% to over 50%) of businesses that already use the G Suite or Office 365 plan to migrate to entirely cloud-based software environments by the end of the decade.

However, that same report revealed that over 60% of businesses running SaaS applications consider themselves underfunded for addressing cloud security – and many of those businesses simply don’t recognize cloud security in their budgets at all.

Security and SaaS

Several factors may be responsible for this discrepancy, including poor understanding of what SaaS security entails on the business end. Server security, for example, falls under the auspices of the service provider. However, companies are responsible for a number of critical security topics, including:

  • Managing employee authentication and access, including requiring strong passwords, limiting the creation of accounts, and disabling account access when employees leave the company. Employees should also have access only to the files and applications they need in order to perform their jobs – access should never be granted across the board.
  • Mandating secure access points, using (for example) VPNs or secure web gateway applications, and requiring all connected devices to have passwords and idle screen locking. Employees who take advantage of BYOD policies should be prepared to keep their devices up to date and configured to the standards developed by their company’s IT security team.
  • Thorough knowledge of emerging cloud security standards, as well as work done by groups such as the Cloud Security Alliance, and insistence that SaaS applications meet security standards as a prerequisite for adoption. As SaaS is more and more widely adopted, these standards will become more finely-tuned.
  • Thorough knowledge of security implementations on the part of the SaaS provider. While IT security managers may have little or no ability to affect the security profile of a SaaS application, they should nevertheless know the details of the cloud’s security. This will enable them to judge whether or not the implementation is in compliance with security standards, and whether or not it’s in compliance with company- or industry-specific regulations.

While SaaS removes a number of concerns from the IT team’s wheelhouse, security can never be entirely outsourced. For some years, security has been a highly-cited reason for discouraging adoption of cloud technologies, but with appropriate funding and attention to detail, companies can enjoy the convenience of cloud sourcing as well as rigorous security.

Cloud Security: Identifying and Protecting Against Vulnerabilities

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Cloud SecurityThere are many advantages to the cloud, including the ability to scale computing, deployment, and storage no matter what the size of the business. However, cloud security is still an important topic for businesses and their IT professionals, both in identifying vulnerabilities and protecting against them.

Security Vulnerabilities

Securing the cloud is in many ways exactly like securing traditional data centers. This means that businesses should be actively searching for any vulnerabilities, as well as ensuring that their authentication processes are up to date and comprehensive.

There is, however, one feature of the cloud that isn’t present in traditional data centers: the cloud is shared by every organization using that provider. Because of this, a compromise in one business’s system can affect every other business in that cloud. According to the non-profit Cloud Security Alliance, businesses should be using encryption and multifactor authentication, as well as considering:

  • API vulnerabilities
  • Compliance requirements and SLAs
  • Insider threats
  • Multitenancy
  • Physical security

API Vulnerabilities

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are a widespread and convenient way to share data between companies, but they also come with their own vulnerabilities. The biggest threat with an API is that there could be a flaw much further down the line, at a spot where the business is unable to control it.

Fortunately, there are still security measures that businesses can take in order to protect themselves if a threat does come up the line: a combination of authentication, authorization, and identification measures that ensures control over who can access what, and what they can do with it.

Compliance and SLAs

Reading and understanding the SLA is important for all businesses, especially those in regulated industries such as healthcare and banking. The SLA comes into play when choosing a vendor; the business should ensure that their chosen vendor will adhere to all compliance requirements and should also know their own level of responsibility. This often depends on the type of service — IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS — and is especially important for organizations that need to follow mandates like HIPAA or PCI-DSS. Businesses can accomplish their due diligence by using audit trails, continuity services, record keeping, and recovery services.

Insider Threats

Insider threats aren’t necessarily malicious, but can also come from users who don’t have the correct training or knowledge base. In order to maintain integrity and cloud security, businesses must ensure that their data is encrypted, that they have their own auditing and logging systems, and that the vendor they choose has properly trained and knowledgeable workers.

Multitenancy

The cloud allows near-infinite space for data storage, but it also means that one business’s data is often stored beside the data from many other organizations. Businesses can make the choice to use a customizable dedicated server if the vendor offers that option, but for those who can’t, the answer is to apply and maintain active, aggressive security measures.

Physical Security

While the cloud isn’t a physical storage space, there is still a physical component to it in the data servers that the vendor maintains. Businesses no longer have physical access to the servers and instead need to ensure that the vendor they choose has proper security measures in place, such as access reviews, biometric locks, and video surveillance.

Cloud security is the responsibility of both the business and the service provider, but businesses can help improve the safety of their data by choosing the right vendor with the right SLA, as well as applying stringent security measures on their own end.

Choosing the Right Cloud Security Package

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shutterstock_277174907Having the right cloud security is of paramount importance. With maximum security protocols in place, a company’s most vital information can be protected from unscrupulous hackers and foreign intrusion. Clients can also monitor who accesses their shared and private data and ensure that documents are safe from cyber criminals.

When it comes to choosing the right cloud security package, there are several factors to keep in mind. The following information will help customers and their respective enterprises make informed decisions.

What Is Cloud Security?

Cloud based security offers businesses an optimal way to protect their entities from hackers and viruses as well as malware, adware, and other forms of spyware. Unlike conventional desktop security, cloud security is designed to provide comprehensive and cohesive security services across vast digital networks.

This means clients do not have to install and maintain anti-virus applications for individual computers and connected devices. Security services provide a blanket of protection for all business hardware and software, including mobile devices, servers, and computers linked to existing or new networks.

Cloud based securities also feature:

  • automated updates with the latest virus definitions and strategic options for complete defense;
  • the flexibility to operate independently of existing business hardware;
  • the ability to run off of lightweight and mobile software components on existing systems;
  • automatic service updates by the provider to help reduce outdated security protocols and software; and
  • complete risk assessments for all new and existing clients before initial setup.

Keeping Computers and Components Secure

With cloud adoption soaring at rapid rates, Internet and computer security is still a major challenge for new and existing commercial ventures. This is especially true for small businesses and startups.

While larger and more established corporations have the luxury of housing internal IT departments, smaller businesses simply do not have the resources to keep all systems secure across the board. This includes security for multi-faceted departments and any or all levels of business correspondence or file storage/sharing.

While cloud based security services are essential, the need to keep computers and components secure at all times is also vital across business industries, niches, and sectors.

Cloud Security Challenges

According to CIO.com, one of the biggest challenges companies face is the use of multiple devices. This includes traditional desktops and conventional laptops along with tablets and mobile phones. While there is nothing wrong with using such devices for personal chores, accessing business services over these platforms and networks poses a myriad of problems. This includes the increased risk of hacking along with vulnerability to viruses, malware, adware, and foreign intrusion. But with complete security services from cloud providers, businesses are assured:

  • multiple levels of protection for all desktop based PCs and mobile, wireless, and digital devices;
  • comprehensive protection that is compatible across a wide array of devices and file sharing platforms; and
  • little to no downtime for updates, upgrades, and automation across the board.

The right cloud security provider can meet all client needs within time and budget. It can also protect a company’s most confidential business documents and transactions from hackers and foreign intrusion.

Contact

328 S. Jefferson St. Suite 603
Chicago, IL 60661
Ph: 312.753.7880
E: info@CloudSourceServices.com

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