In response to the increasing threats targeting cloud environments, US federal agencies and departments have been directed to implement new cybersecurity practices for cloud services. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued Binding Operational Directive 25-01: Implementing Secure Practices for Cloud Services on December 17, outlining specific actions that federal agencies must take to secure all production or operational cloud tenants within their environments.
The directive comes as a response to the growing trend of malicious actors targeting cloud environments by exploiting improper security controls configurations, which have led to significant risks and compromises. CISA emphasized the importance of maintaining secure configuration baselines in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, where vendors constantly release updates and patches to address vulnerabilities.
Based on CISA’s Secure Cloud Business Applications (SCuBA) project, the directive established Secure Configuration Baselines to ensure consistent and manageable security configurations for cloud services. Federal agencies are required to take several key actions under the directive, including identifying all cloud tenants within scope, deploying assessment tools, implementing mandatory policies, monitoring new cloud tenants, and reporting any deviations to CISA.
CISA will provide guidance and support to assist agencies in complying with these requirements and will report on agency progress to key stakeholders. The directive complements existing federal resources for cloud security, such as the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidance, and the CISA Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 Cloud Use Case.
Additionally, CISA announced the inclusion of SCuBA Secure Configuration Baselines for other cloud products, which will automatically be subject to the directive. These measures aim to enhance the overall security posture of federal agencies and mitigate the risks associated with cloud services.
As federal agencies work towards implementing these new cybersecurity practices, the collaboration between government entities and CISA is crucial in safeguarding cloud environments from malicious threats and ensuring the protection of sensitive data and information. By prioritizing secure configuration baselines and proactive monitoring, federal agencies can strengthen their resilience against evolving cybersecurity threats in the dynamic digital landscape.