What are the most important Cloud Computing security precautions for a new professional?

Enforce the use of strong authentication methods like multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security beyond passwords.Keep all software, applications, and systems up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates to prevent vulnerabilities.Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest. Use encryption protocols to protect data while it's being transmitted and stored within the cloud. Perform regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers.

In the realm of manufacturing, cloud computing security assumes paramount importance. Manufacturing processes often involve sensitive data related to product designs, production schedules, and proprietary technology. Professionals in this sector should not only comprehend the shared responsibility model but also implement strict access controls and encryption measures for data stored and transmitted through the cloud. Regular audits of cloud service providers (CSPs) and diligent monitoring of manufacturing data's security are vital to protect intellectual property and maintain operational confidentiality in a dynamic industry like manufacturing.

We will divide them into some sections. 1- Credentials, 2- Web and DBs, 3- Application security. Security is one of the important pillars even in public or private clouds. Azure, AWS, and I think GCP also built a Well-Architected framework to cover this security pillar. One of the most important steps is to secure APIs, also using WAF and Firewall services to secure both Web and App servers. on the other hand, you should make sure that you are using the credentials by MFA & IAM, and also secure the http requests by SSL certificates. Security is very important and a lot of methods to di that by taking it step by step using a Well-Architectt Framework.

Understanding the shared responsibility model is crucial, defining a professional's duties based on the cloud service model. In IAAS, users manage the operating system and above; in SAAS, the focus is solely on data. Correct interpretation prevents misconfigurations, a common cause of security breaches. Adopting a 'shift left' approach enhances cloud security by integrating security into the development stage. While using cloud provider's built-in RBAC roles can be too permissive, creating custom roles based on specific needs is an extra precaution. To mitigate risks of permanent access, use just-in-time access via PIM or PAM tools. In the cloud, maintaining visibility and control is challenging, requiring tools like SIEM, CSPM, and CWP

Security is the thing that needs to be considered right from the start of any architecture design. Many people, especially new professionals think about security after the completion of architecture design but in every stage of building any architecture security is must

Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) according to which users are granted only the permissions they need to perform their job functions. While PoLP significantly minimizes the risk of exploiting sensitive data and systems, it can also slow down development in growing organizations if not structured well. I advise organizations to include an automatic credentials request system which, based on policies, will grant developers access to systems and clean them up when not needed. Remember to periodically review and audit access rights, this will also help with compliance by demonstrating active management of access controls. Implement MFA. When your services are internet-accessible, it is crucial to add this extra layer of security.

? Implement Role-Based Access Control This involves assigning roles to users based on their job responsibilities and granting them only the necessary access to perform their tasks. This helps to minimize the risk of unauthorized access or changes to critical information. ? Use Multi-Factor Authentication Always enable MFA for all users, especially those with administrative privileges. ? Limit Privileged Access Restrict the number of users with privileged access to minimize the risk of a security breach.

Identity-based threats and attacks are the most common breach vector in todays adversary landscape. Implementing best practices for IAM is a key component of breach prevention in the cloud computing world.

How about 1 rule that was proven over and over again on the battle field: GET RID OF STATIC CREDENTIALS! That's not just access keys, but also user passwords etc. Use SSO, with hardware keys for access and manage it centrally. 99% of the incidents happen because of leaked credentials or phished users. Block it before it happens. Your triple AES256 encrypted object store wont matter if you let the attackers have the keys.

Principle of least privilege is important. We must be more robust in giving access. And continues monitoring would be helpful and i think the best way doing this is automation. Security automation must be use more and one more important thing is knowledge. I think security knowledge among everyone is necessary in some way. The client must understand the security concerns as well and behave base on security knowledge.

Data is often the most valuable asset for many organizations. In the cloud, this data is stored outside the organization's physical premises, making it potentially more vulnerable to unauthorized access. Encryption ensures that even if data is accessed by unauthorized individuals, it remains unintelligible and useless without the corresponding decryption key. This is why use encryption. :)

This is a key and important step and choosing the right Cloud Provider helps a lot in ensuring how some of it can be done out of the box for instance in Google Cloud Data is always encrypted at rest by default hence all the data residing in Persistent Disks, Cloud Storage Buckets, Cloud SQL databases and more services is encrypted by default at REST. You can get more granular control on encryption by leveraging features such as Customer Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) in which you can control and rotate the keys securely in Cloud KMS in Google Cloud, one step further if you want to manage the key by yourselves in your own environment then you could leverage Customer Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK)

If hosting at cloud provider and you will depends on encryption to protect your data, you might want to check if you can own and control your own encryption keys rather than using a shared encryption key to increase the level of security achieved for your data

Encryption approach varies among major cloud service providers - AWS, Azure, OCI & Alibaba. AWS offers services like AWS KMS for managing encryption keys to encrypt data stored in Amazon S3, EBS volumes etc. Azure utilizes Azure Key Vault and offers encryption for its services. OCI provides robust encryption via OCI Vault for secure key management & encryption of data at rest. Alibaba Cloud uses Alibaba KMS for encryption key management & encryption features into services like OSS for data at rest. In terms of encrypting data in transit, all 4 providers support industry standard protocols like HTTPS, SSL & TLS. While specific implementations may vary, each provider prioritizes healthy encryption practices to strengthen data security.

Encryption should be the baseline. The bare minimum. We need to start implementing quantum proof encryption across all sectors moving forward.

While designing backup and recovery strategies, it is also important to take note of the desired Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). Recovery Time Objective (RTO): This implies the maximum acceptable time that an application can be unavailable after an incident. Recovery Point Objective (RPO): This is the maximum duration of data loss that is acceptable during a disaster.

This involves creating and maintaining duplicates of your data and applications to facilitate restoration in the face of unforeseen disasters. To execute this strategy effectively, develop and test backup plans for your data and applications, ensuring they run automatically and at regular intervals. Opt for a backup location distinct from your primary cloud setting, such as another region, zone, or provider, or a local storage device. Regularly validate the integrity and usability of your backup data and applications. Additionally, document comprehensive recovery procedures and scenarios, conducting periodic and realistic testing to fortify your preparedness.

Yes, having a backup in place will help recover the organization in case of a ransomware attack and save you a lot of $$. But the downside of this strategy is that the data is kept at multiple locations and need to be maintained and secured properly

Keep in mind that snapshots are not backups. A good backup and recovery solution allows things like granular and point in time restores as well as immutability.

Backups systems and strategies are huge pivotal to business continuity. Backup range from database backup, to file storage replication. For systems like containers and container orchestrations tools such as Kubernetes. It is essential to backup environment configurations so it is easier to re-create/restore the Kubernetes environment, in the case of a system outage. Tools like Velero can be used in Kubernetes for Backup and restore.

We are privileged to be a part of one of the fastest advancing industries. If you want longevity in your career you have to be disciplined to continue learning. I suggest one learns one new skill for your current role a year (Certification or new technology) and one new skill for your career growth path a year that may not be relevant in your current role. In this way you will always ensure you are staying ahead of the curve and are employable and in demand. For fun, I like to add in one new skill not aligned to my career path at all e.g. learning to play a new instrument.

There is a Hungarian proverb: "A good priest learns until death", which means that we have to keep learning so that we don't fall behind, and this is cumulatively true for IT.

Ensuring robust security in cloud computing requires a proactive approach, and staying updated and educated is a crucial component of this strategy. As the landscape of cloud computing evolves rapidly, so do the associated security threats and solutions. Recognize that education is an ongoing process. Stay ahead of the curve by participating in continuous learning activities. This includes staying updated on the latest security best practices and exploring new technologies that can enhance the security posture of your cloud infrastructure.

Having recently retired as an educator teaching cybersecurity for decades, I firmly believe the most important characteristic for those considering the cybersecurity pathway is you MUST be a lifelong learner having the willingness to put in the time and energy to keep current with this ever-changing field.

Learn to love learning! No one knows everything, and the beauty of our career field is that there is something new to learn daily. Staying updated serves as a precautionary stance and commitment to one's expertise. It also demonstrates a genuine care for the evolving intricacies of our field. Additionally, this ensures you remain vigilant and well-prepared to navigate the ever-changing cyber world with competence and resilience. Stay in the know!

Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud. Verify your application's inputs and outputs. Store your secrets into Key Vault. Ensure you are using the latest version of your framework, and its security features. Validate that your program dependencies and libraries are safe to use.

In addition to the points previously mentioned, it's important to consider the role of automation and AI in cloud computing. Azure offers services like Azure Logic Apps and Azure Machine Learning that can automate tasks, reduce errors and enhance scalability. These tools, when properly implemented, can significantly improve efficiency and security. Furthermore, the concept of "shared responsibility" in cloud security shouldn't be overlooked. While Azure provides robust security for its infrastructure, customers are responsible for securing their data and applications on the platform. This collaboration is crucial for comprehensive cloud security.

The growing popularity of cloud computing for businesses is undeniable, offering efficiency and scalability. However, this boom brings crucial concerns about data privacy and security to the forefront. In the coming years, the focus will shift from whether to use the cloud to how to protect data within it. Companies must prioritize robust security measures and promote a culture of security awareness. As we embrace the cloud's benefits, safeguarding data privacy and security in this digital era is paramount.

Understand your security posture and your attack surface. In an IaaS environment it takes less than 5 min to bring up a workload that is accessible from the Internet and can be scanned for vulnerabilities, compromised and be used as a way into the organization. It is key to understand: - Misconfigurations, e.g. S3 buckets publicly exposed; - Permissions & Identities (not only for human users but also for services); - Exposed workloads, intentionally or unintentionally, which can have vulnerabilities. With IaC (Infrastructure as a Code) it’s important to think in terms of “Shift Left”, capture issues and fix them before they hit production: the security posture will improve and it will help saving a lot of time in investigations afterwards.

Beyond these practices, regular security audits and compliance checks are imperative. Using Azure Policy for governance and Azure Compliance Manager to stay aligned with legal and regulatory standards. It's about creating a culture of security where continuous monitoring and improvement are part of the daily routine.