In today’s digital age, security has become increasingly critical, particularly when it comes to identity management. The widespread use of cloud services and central management systems means that individuals with the right identity and permissions can access almost anything, whether for legitimate or malicious reasons.
With over 15 years of experience in product management, the focus has been on adapting to multiple IT and ecosystem upheavals. Seeking to understand how cloud transformations impact CyberArk’s customers, the company’s product management team conducted interviews with experts and customers to determine the most crucial aspects of implementing a cloud identity security program. The findings revealed several key factors critical to the success of cloud identity security.
The first essential point in achieving cloud identity security success involves smart risk reduction. This means employing cloud APIs and central management tools to identify and prioritize risks to cloud configurations, with a particular emphasis on identity and access management. Addressing low-hanging fruits such as dormant identities and high-risk users like shadow admins is crucial. Moreover, upholding least privilege principles and adopting zero standing permissions are also critical components of a robust cloud identity security program.
The second key factor pertains to user experiences that promote adoption. While implementing new security tools, organizations often face the challenge of balancing security controls with end-user productivity. To minimize trade-offs, it’s essential to provide a seamless user experience with minimal friction. This includes enabling end users to utilize their preferred tools and customizing their access to available systems and roles.
Lastly, in navigating the complex world of cloud security, it’s essential to streamline the number of security tools used. Given the myriad solutions for securing cloud environments, organizations often prefer a platform approach with unified controls from fewer vendors. By minimizing the variety of tools employed, administrators and security teams can efficiently install and manage their identity and access management needs.
When considering a successful cloud identity security program, it’s evident that a holistic approach is required. This involves not only focusing on technology features and capabilities but also accounting for the practical challenges faced in multi-cloud environments. Essential considerations include prioritizing user experiences and ensuring seamless operations for administrators through integrated security solutions.
Ultimately, reducing security risks in the cloud requires a comprehensive strategy and implementation. Those looking to further explore these concepts are encouraged to review the whitepaper covering identity security and the challenges and benefits of cloud compliance, which provides essential insights into minimizing compromised access in the cloud.