Securing the cloud and ensuring the safety of cloud environments is a critical concern for organizations today. However, this task goes beyond just protecting the cloud itself; it involves addressing the various points where networked devices, endpoints, apps, services, and different types of clouds intersect. These intersections create coverage gaps that can be exploited by cyber threats. To effectively protect against these risks, organizations need to adopt a cloud-centric approach to security that takes into account emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and legacy platforms such as operational technology (OT).
Crafting a strong cloud security strategy is essential in ensuring the security of cloud environments. Securing the cloud is not just about implementing access policies and controls; it requires a holistic approach that embeds security from code to cloud. This can be achieved through a cloud-native application protection platform strategy, which reduces the attack surface by integrating security into every step of the development and deployment process. Implementing a DevSecOps environment is also crucial, as it enables organizations to manage and secure their APIs effectively.
Misconfigurations are one of the most common sources of cloud risk. To mitigate these risks, organizations should continuously monitor their cloud environments for exposures and misconfigurations. Automating the detection, analysis, and response to potential breaches can significantly enhance security. Techniques such as multifactor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and other access controls can further limit the risks. Cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM) can offer deep visibility into permissions, allowing organizations to adjust access based on organizational priorities.
A cloud-native application protection platform can provide visibility across multi-cloud resources and offer protection at all layers of the environment. Additionally, it can monitor for threats and integrate with a security information and event management (SIEM) platform to streamline investigations and improve incident response capabilities.
In the modern cloud landscape, identity has become the perimeter. With blurred lines between different environments and numerous assets and applications, managing identities is crucial to maintaining security. Organizations should strive for comprehensive posture management, starting with enterprise-wide visibility and asset inventory. Automation can facilitate this process, providing risk scoring and analysis to prioritize security efforts. It is also important to align security measures with business priorities and consider the potential impact on the business if certain systems were compromised.
The impact of IoT and OT technologies should not be overlooked in cloud security strategies. The proliferation of IoT devices brings additional vulnerabilities into organizations. Many of these devices are not regularly managed or updated, making them attractive targets for threat actors. Legacy OT systems, which are often connected to IT and IoT systems, also present a significant risk. Unpatched vulnerabilities in OT systems can create new vulnerabilities, especially when organizations gain remote access to their OT systems through online devices.
To address these challenges, organizations must focus on visibility into every asset and implement regular cyber hygiene practices such as patching and closing unnecessary ports. It is also crucial to ensure that legacy industrial control systems are not directly connected to the internet and cloud systems. Adopting zero-trust principles and implementing strong identity and access management (IAM) protocols can further enhance security.
In conclusion, a comprehensive and cloud-centric security strategy is essential in protecting modern enterprises. It requires embedding security from code to cloud, continuously monitoring for exposures and misconfigurations, and prioritizing strong identity and access management. Visibility into every asset and implementing regular cyber hygiene practices are also crucial. By adopting these strategies, organizations can effectively secure their cloud environments and mitigate the risks associated with emerging technologies like IoT and legacy platforms like OT.