How do you design secure cloud-based systems?

In my experience, misunderstanding of the share responsibility model for cloud offerings leads to making the cloud less secure. Businesses assume that the cloud provider is responsible for areas where the responsibilities belong to the owner.

Designing secure cloud-based systems involves several key considerations to protect data, maintain privacy, and prevent unauthorized access. Identity and Access Management (IAM) Network Security: Data Protection: Monitoring and Logging: Secure Development Practices: Use Azure DevOps for secure CI/CD pipelines. Regularly scan code for security flaws. Compliance and Auditing: Understand regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, etc.). Continuously assess and improve your system’s security posture.

Designing secure cloud-based systems requires a comprehensive approach. Firstly, identify and prioritize security requirements based on data sensitivity and regulatory compliance. Utilize a multi-layered security architecture, including network, application, and data security measures. Implement strong access controls, encryption, and identity management mechanisms to safeguard data in transit and at rest. Utilize secure coding practices and regularly update and patch system components to mitigate vulnerabilities. Employ cloud-native security services and third-party tools for continuous monitoring, threat detection, and incident response. Regularly assess and audit the system for compliance with security standards and best practices.

Cloud Security Responsibilities Utilize your Cloud Service providers shared responsibility model to understand the demarcation of security obligations. Cloud Service providers take care of the infrastructure, while you manage the security of your applications and data. Use Micrsoft Defender for Cloud CNAPP tool to gain visibility and control over the security of your cloud resources.

Cloud service providers (CSPs) typically follow a shared responsibility model, where they secure the underlying infrastructure, and you are responsible for securing your data and applications. Familiarize yourself with the specific security responsibilities outlined by your CSP and ensure you understand your role in maintaining security.

Apply least privilege in all types of cloud identities, from Console access, access keys, secrets and VMs identities. Avoid standing access as may the rights to applications and cloud resources are temporary so the rights should be dynamic too. From a secrets perspective avoid always possible to use integrated credentials to source code and 3rd party tools, this can be achieved using a centralized secrets manager. Important to mention to always think in hybrid and multicloud solutions, so we can achieve a centralized solution and a single pane of glass for audit and monitoring.

Least Privilege Principle Implement Entra ID and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to ensure users have only the access they need. Regularly audit permissions with Entra ID Privileged Identity Management to minimize risks.

By granting minimal permissions required for specific roles or tasks, organizations minimize the risk of unauthorized access and limit potential damage from compromised accounts. This approach enhances security by reducing the attack surface and enforcing a need-to-know basis for accessing sensitive information or critical systems. Regular reviews and audits ensure permissions align with current job responsibilities, maintaining a secure operational environment.

Grant users and applications only the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks. Implement strong identity and access management controls, such as multi-factor authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), and regular access reviews to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

Use encryption to protect your data during transmission and storage in the cloud. Implement Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols for securing data in transit. Use encryption mechanisms provided by your CSP or third-party encryption tools to encrypt data at rest.

Data Encryption Protect data in transit with Azure’s built-in TLS and VPN capabilities. For data at rest, leverage Azure Key Vault to manage encryption keys and Azure Storage Service Encryption for securing data storage.

Begin by identifying critical data and systems that require backup. Implement automated backup solutions to regularly replicate data to secure off-site locations or cloud environments. Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan outlining procedures for responding to different types of disruptions. Conduct regular tests and simulations to validate the effectiveness of your strategies. Continuous monitoring and updates to the plan ensure readiness

You can quickly back up your data and set up disaster recovery plans to reduce the impact of potential incidents. Leverage your CSP's automated backup services and ensure backups are stored securely and can be easily restored if needed.

Backup and Disaster Recovery Employ Azure Backup for secure and scalable data protection, and Azure Site Recovery for orchestrating disaster recovery of Azure VMs, ensuring business continuity.

Defense in depth is perhaps the most important of security controls that can be implemented My perspective is apart from baseline controls mentioned in the article, one should look at frameworks like MITRE, while designing Defense in depth, based on what industry, business purpose the cloud is designed for, this framework can provide real world insights on how some of the defensive security technologies can be implemented in the cloud. Mostly this framework is used by IR teams to design use cases for SOC, but I believe it can be also used in designing defensive tactics, so that a large amount of threats can be prevented based on industry type and business segments.

Adopting defense in depth involves deploying multiple layers of security measures across networks, systems, and applications to protect against diverse threats. Start with robust perimeter defenses like firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Implement strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, to secure access points. Employ encryption to protect sensitive data both in transit and at rest. Continuously monitor and audit systems for vulnerabilities and have incident response plans ready. This layered approach ensures comprehensive protection and resilience against evolving cyber threats.

Deploy multiple layers of security controls to create a robust defense system. This includes using firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, network segmentation, and secure configurations for your cloud resources. Implement monitoring and logging solutions to detect and respond to security incidents promptly.

Defense-in-Depth Adopt a layered security approach with Azure Firewall, Network Security Groups, and Azure Application Gateway for robust network security. Integrate Azure Advanced Threat Protection for proactive defense against threats.

Security Best Practices Follow the guidance of Azure Security Benchmark and align with standards like ISO 27001 using Azure’s compliance documentation. Stay updated with Defender for Cloud’s recommendations and apply necessary updates promptly.

Implement strong access controls, such as least privilege and multi-factor authentication. Regularly update and patch software to mitigate vulnerabilities. Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest. Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and remediate weaknesses. Adhere to industry standards and frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST, and CIS benchmarks to ensure compliance and align with recognized security guidelines. Continuous monitoring and education of staff on security awareness further enhance overall protection.

Be careful with building a compliance driven security program. The goals of a security program are to 1) Increase transparency on what assets the organization owns and their risks 2) Advise senior management how to best manage technology risk 3) Protect the company by helping ensure the right controls are in place and working effectively.

I'd like you to please stay updated with the latest security best practices and industry standards relevant to your cloud environment. These may include frameworks like the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Cloud Controls Matrix or compliance standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) or General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Please keep an eye on and audit your cloud environment for compliance.

Integrate Zero Trust principles. Consider identity management, access controls, micro segmentation and continuous monitoring.

To ensure secure cloud-based systems, various aspects need consideration: - Define your system's security requirements. - Address identity security. - Implement data security measures. - Establish network security protocols. - Set up logging and monitoring systems. - Apply secure coding practices - Develop an incident response plan. - Leverage cloud-native security services.

Most organizations do not invest enough in asset management. It is very difficult to protect what you do not what you have. Asset management is the foundation upon which all risk management programs are built. Organizations, business and systems with poor foundation, eventually crumble.

A lot of security considerations in on-prem environment are still relevant in cloud environment (though there will be some that are not applicable). Additionally, there are also new security considerations unique to the cloud environment.

Back to basic. Secure Configuration & Asset Inventory. Take the latest Microsoft cloud email hack for example through password spraying. There was no MFA, weak password and it was a poorly secured test account. This could have been prevented if Secure Configuration & Asset Inventory are properly implemented