Protecting Enterprises with Cloud Security Assessment

Cloud storage, collaboration tools, enterprise compute & applications - the versatility of services offered by the cloud are adding remarkable computing power to the daily operations of enterprises and also significant cloud security challenges. An efficient cloud security assessment augments the cloud security strategies of enterprises. 

Cloud Adoption Surging

Cloud adoption is accelerating at a colossal rate and a significant number of enterprises are getting into the cloud space due of the huge advantages in terms of cost and scalability.

Finding from Forbes

A whopping 83% of enterprise workloads will be in the cloud by 2020 and 41% of enterprise workloads will run on public cloud platforms.

The wide-reaching public cloud services is expected to grow over 21 percent in 2019, totaling $225 billion (an increase of over $35 billion in one year).

Cloud Is Not Impervious: Spotlight on Cloud Security

Data is present far and wide in this era of digital transformation and as more sensitive and significant data are stored in the cloud, the risks concerning all these data rises. Sensitive data need solid cloud data protection which are covered by various regulatory requirements enforced across the globe. Therefore, the ability to secure the data and attaining governance and compliance goals - is very vital for enterprises on cloud-based platform.

Traditional Security Assessments and Why They are Inadequate for Securing Data on Cloud

Any robust cloud security regime is based upon a comprehensive security strategy and assessment. Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VA/PT), configuration security and cost assessments are some of the key approaches of an effective cloud security strategy. These assessments just point out the vulnerabilities and are performed for risk management and usually control access using a perimeter security model.

 With the advent of highly connected cloud environment, it is no longer about protecting boundaries as perimeter defenses can be easily evaded thus making firewalls, routine patching, malware protection and intrusion detection systems insufficient for securing the data on cloud.

Overcome the Cloud Security Mayhem with Cloud Security Assessment

A good and effective cloud security assessment should overcome the shortcomings of the traditional IT environment assessments. It should help enterprises to identify risk, evaluate controls, identify gaps and provide recommendations according to business priorities. 

Enterprises can have a robust cyber-hygiene with cross-organizational and multi-domain collaboration and orchestration for public cloud environments by having an efficient cloud security assessment and advisory.

Top 8 Cloud Security Assessment Requirements

With an impeccable cloud security assessment, enterprises can successfully steer the shifting landscape of cloud computing security while developing a mature cloud security architecture to secure data.

To implement a cloud security assessment that will help them to achieve cloud strategy goals, improve cloud security and enable new business models, enterprises need to look out for these features:

1. Broad Coverage –To assess multiple cloud service providers like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud
2. Continuous Monitoring - To get an integrated and unceasing view of all cloud assets and the security posture
3. Multi-Compliance – To cover various regulatory standards like ISO 27001, NIST-Cybersecurity Framework, CSA - Cloud Control Matrix
4. Rapid Evaluation- To quickly and accurately assess security and compliance and detect looming or actual breaches, detect security and compliance assessment is crucial.
5. End-to-End Visibility – To gain visibility of all IT assets across clouds.
6. Control Assessment Posture – To provide performance, scalability, and precision that can be used in IT environments of any size.
7. Ease of Use – To achieve unified management by on-demand assessments through easy-to-use web-based interface delivered from a cloud platform.
8. Actionable Insights – To track vulnerability status, misconfigurations and provide in-depth reports and dynamic dashboards

Conclusion

The dynamic and on-demand nature of cloud makes it difficult for the usual run-of-the-mill security solution stack to provide comprehensive protection. It is time for enterprises to invest in building ‘visibility’ into the cloud that could become pivot point of all your security architecture.

** This article earlier appeared on https://it.toolbox.com/guest-article/protecting-enterprises-with-a-cloud-security-assessment