The rate at which cloud technology is being adopted, is intriguing. Organizations are willing to embrace the Cloud-first strategies. Our blog on The Rise of Cloud Adoption states how Cloud technology has been nothing short of a tremendous revolution. However, when it comes to securing Cloud infrastructure, organizations become apprehensive.
So, we have listed 5 important C’s that you should implement to secure your Cloud infrastructure.
5 best practices to secure cloud-first business
#1 Classify crucial data:
All the business data and information is certainly important, but not all of it has to be secured and protected. Undoubtedly, securing data and valuable business information on cloud is twice as hard (and expensive!) as securing data that is present on-premise. It only makes sense to segment your business data and information and evaluate the one the needs security and protection at the highest priority.
You may opt for a regular Cyber Risk Assessment for your organization. This assists in pragmatic segmentation of relevant data and information; you may secure the same accordingly. Essentially, classifying crucial data helps you direct time, money, and effort in securing information that holds significant value to the organization and should never land in the wrong hands.
#2 Compulsory encryption:
In the world full of ever-growing sophisticated cybercrimes, encryption is a breather! Put simply, encryption means coding critical business data and information to make it unreadable for cyber-attackers and unauthorized parties. Only the legitimate users shall avail an encryption key to decode the data as and when needed. Encryption sure is a powerful security tool that combats cybercrimes. After all, even if an attacker successfully possesses the business data and information, he cannot misuse it when he just cannot read it.
Although, we’d like to mention about Ransomware here. Just like how an organization uses encryption for security, cyber attackers may steal business data, encrypt it and then ask for something (cash or kind) in return for encryption keeps. You may want to remain vigilant about Ransomware.
#3 Consistent monitoring:
Cyber attackers keep a hawk’s eye on data and information available on cloud, so should you. Cloud monitoring should be an integral part of every Cloud environment. Regularly governing and managing data on cloud gives insights to its access and usage. When activities on Cloud are monitored, you might come across a suspicious activity that can be disrupting and the security team can take timely action. Also, as much as consistent Cloud monitoring helps in preventing cybercrimes, it certainly helps in enhancing the over-all operational efficiency. For instance, revising IT workflows, implementing latest authentication techniques etc.
#4 Compliance certification:
There already is an apprehension about cloud security, it’s best not to add to it. Your organization may plan and implement the best of security controls, but it is a compliance certificate that ultimately gains the trust of users and customers. Your Cloud environment should be complaint with mandatory regulations. It ensures data security and privacy management.
You may opt to deploy a CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) software. Generally, CASB are complaint with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA and other such security standards as needed.
#5 Choose reliable cloud providers:
Put simply, a cloud provider is third-party or a company that offers a cloud-based platform and identities, access rights, and connected information is hosted and managed by them. So, you should never go wrong in choosing your cloud providers. You must look for factors such as cost, reliability, technologically sound, regulatory compliant, (just a few out of the many factors) while you choose your cloud provider.
You may want to read Gartner’s smarter with Gartner that entails 5 priorities when buying and deploying cloud offerings for better evaluation while choosing cloud vendors.
Enhance Cloud Security with CI
Optimal Cloud security can certainly be achieved when you invest in the right technology.
CI is a cloud IAM that offers Access Management, Identity Governance and Administration, Customer Identity and Access Management, and Privileged Access Management. The solution also includes business to consumer functions, unified endpoint management, personalized dashboards, high powered analytics, and business intelligence.
Drop-in a line at inquiry@crossidentity.com and talk to us about deploying CI.
