e security of cloud computing is an area receiving massive emphasis, and rightly so. New trends surrounding the future of cloud security are rapidly emerging, and businesses must stay educated to protect themselves and their customers from growing threats.
- Introduction
- Areas actively seeing improvement
- Areas for concern
- General trends in Cloud Security
- Conclusion
Introduction
Even if more businesses are progressively embracing cloud computing, there is a cost associated with doing so: a strict necessity for high levels of cloud security. Despite the rapid growth in cloud usage and subsequent advancements in cloud security, Selon une étude SANS de 2019, “unauthorized access of cloud environments or assets by attackers has significantly increased.” According to this poll, recorded incidences rose from 19% in 2017 to 31% in 2018.
What precisely are the present and future condition of cloud security? In order to assess that, it is necessary to examine how areas of concern and progress need to be handled, as well as broad patterns that depict the present It is necessary to assess the cloud security trajectory.
areas that are actively improving
As the market for cloud computing services has increased, so too has cloud security inside enterprises. In order to support considerable development in the cloud environment, cloud service providers have made sure that security technologies will work as cybersecurity for business operations.
Increasing Cloud Security
As organizations migrate from on-premises technology to emerging technologies like cloud computing, security departments are improving their understanding of how to defend cloud environments against assaults.
With on-the-job knowledge gained from security events, as well as the widely dispersed availability of certifications and training for cloud users and cloud providers, the earlier lack of expertise in cloud security has been remedied during the past several years. Security teams may use various tools and settings with more ease and elegance as they get more familiar with cloud services as a result of the expansion of cloud computing.
In an effort to guarantee private computing, there has also been an increase in companies dedicated to the security monitoring of cloud technology. These organizations include the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and the OWASP Cloud Security Project. These organizations seek to discover potential development areas and offer best practices for safeguarding cloud computing technology.
the use of DevSecOps
DevOps and DevSecOps strategies are being adopted by several technology businesses in an effort to undergo digital transformation.
Instead than attempting to solve everything at the end, these techniques move security to the beginning of growth processes. Businesses may lessen risks throughout software development and deployments and avoid the need for future increases in human intervention by prioritizing security early in projects. With regard to network security for users of public cloud services in particular, this decrease improves overall security for cloud consumers.
Security has improved due to the automation that often goes along with DevOps techniques. Automation decreases the possibility of misconfiguration and guarantees that businesses retain consistency across systems when setting services, users, etc.
Enhanced functionality and tooling
Most firms and their security teams now find it simpler to monitor problems and take appropriate action as a result of the greater centralization of security data. In hybrid systems and rising cloud computing deployments, solutions that give businesses centralization are especially crucial. One such solution is SIEM, or security information and event management, which aids in the detection, analysis, and reaction to security threats before they pose a risk to the company.
Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) solutions and Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) are two especially helpful tools for businesses seeking centralization and consistency in the cloud.
Despite SOAR technology being relatively new, according to KBV Research, “the space is already expected to surpass $2 billion by 2025, expanding at 16% CAGR” Because SOAR solutions make it possible for teams to uniformly apply security controls, rules, and actions across all systems, the sector is profitable. Teams may improve security by eliminating the weak points in their systems by creating a level of consistency. The vulnerabilities that might result from inadequate monitoring or reaction are also reduced by SOAR solutions.
Tools or services known as CASB connect on-premises infrastructure to cloud infrastructure. These solutions make it possible to extend on-premise security tools and rules to essential cloud technologies, simplifying the security and traffic monitoring of public networks. between on-premises hardware and cloud services in a cloud environment.
Points to consider
Although cloud security has seen a lot of development, persistent issues with cloud migration, data privacy and regulatory compliance, and cloud system complexity still exist.
In the realm of technology, data privacy is one of the issues that corporations, oversight bodies, and, most importantly, consumers, have the greatest worries about. According to the graph below, 66% of American consumers favor the implementation of new regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is in place in the European Union. As a result, there are ever more compliance standards with more detailed criteria and frequently severe penalties.
migration-related issues
Lack of a successful cloud migration plan is a significant problem for businesses. As a result, their data is vulnerable to irresponsible data transmission, a misapprehension of shared security obligations, and incorrect setup.
1 Careless data transmission
Unprotected and unencrypted data on public clouds and during cloud migration is vulnerable to theft in transit and possibly corruption. The possibility for security breaches increases as cloud infrastructures develop and become more complicated. In order to safeguard their data both during cloud migration and while it is being kept in the cloud, enterprises must take the necessary precautions. These actions entail imposing thorough access control controls, encrypting data both in transit and at rest, and putting strong authentication procedures in place.
2 An incorrect understanding of shared security obligations
The public cloud has the advantage of facilitating inter-organizational cooperation. Shared resources have become a commodity for many businesses due to the rise of remote labor in the corporate sector.
While the cloud’s potential to facilitate collaboration is advantageous, it may also be detrimental to a company. Users have a misunderstanding of what parts of shared security are their responsibility. Consequently, it is crucial to comprehend the cloud security supplier a company selects.
It is important to note the added requirement for backup in this context. Some people disregard backups and view the cloud as the perfect option. Obviously, a well-designed cloud should be able to backup any data that is kept there, but a few historical occurrences show that consumers should consider backing up their own cloud data. Of course, we may do it locally or in the cloud, as long as we follow the guidelines for a well-maintained backup, which include diverse localisation, security while in transit, and regularity.
3 A misalignment
When moving resources to the cloud, robust access control mechanisms must be put in place. Otherwise, users could receive more rights than they require or storage services might be accidentally left exposed to the public. the incorrect setup early on in the cloud migration process to reduce the issue of rights and access restrictions.
4 Poor leadership
The absence of access control, insufficient security measures, and shadow IT are just a few of the hidden risks that the freedom of the cloud poses. There is a greater need for a set of guidelines, particular policies, and/or guiding principles for cloud computing services in order to handle those aforementioned problems. The goal is to increase the financial element of cloud environments while also delivering operations safely and effectively.
Compliance with regulations and data privacy
Data security and laws are two of the biggest issues with the cloud and cloud security, as seen in the graph below.
Right now, cloud service providers abide by most laws. There is, however, a void that organizations must fill by ensuring that all rules are adhered to. To meet this demand, businesses must combine policies and make use of efficient technologies. One issue is that it may be expensive and possibly need bespoke configuration to comply with various regulations.
Using a hybrid environment to keep regulated on-premise data is an option to abiding by every single rule. As a result, a company may maintain total control over regulated data while still taking use of cloud services for less important operations.
System Complicatedness
The complexity of securing cloud systems is another issue with cloud security. Hybrid systems may be a useful tool for maintaining security, but the hybrid cloud is the most challenging.
1 Unsecured interfaces or APIs
Hackers can access data via other apps and services thanks to insecure APIs or interfaces. Furthermore, these flaws can be used by thieves to learn about the settings and design of the system.
2 Limitations on Visibility
The IT department and workers sometimes don’t communicate well in large firms. When cloud services are utilized without authorization or when users misuse their access, poor communication is a concern. Companies should also prevent outside parties from accessing their cloud systems.
3 The skill gap
Because cloud technology is continually evolving, there is a shortage of competent engineers who can manage cloud operations. In the IT industry, there is a well-known issue with attracting and keeping talent, and cloud installations and its security are no exception.
4 The price of hiring professionals
Even if a firm finds the ideal individual for a cloud-related work, the cost of hiring may still be quite costly since the employee must be highly skilled in cloud security and technology.
data leakage or loss
The collaborative nature of the cloud creates the potential for data loss and leakage, much like the negligent sharing of data does. Data loss and leakage are the top cloud security concerns for 69% of enterprises, according to Check Point, a provider of cloud services.
Businesses should exercise caution when publishing public links or opening up a cloud-based repository to the public to guarantee that no data is lost or exposed. Additionally, there are programs that can explicitly search the internet for unprotected cloud deployments, which are to blame for the majority of data leaks and losses experienced by businesses.unauthorized disclosure of personal information and credentialsEmployees are accustomed to opening links in their emails thanks to the expansion of cloud-based email and document-sharing services. But this incidence opened the door for a plethora of phishing assaults. A successful phishing attempt would allow a hacker access to a worker’s cloud service login information.
unauthorized disclosure of personal information and credentials
Employees are accustomed to opening links in their emails thanks to the expansion of cloud-based email and document-sharing services. But this incidence opened the door for a plethora of phishing assaults. A successful phishing attempt would allow a hacker access to a worker’s cloud service login information.
44% of firms consider unintentional disclosure of cloud credentials to be a big problem, according to Check Point. After all, thieves might jeopardize the organization’s other resources as well as the security of data stored on the cloud.
Verifying the cloud’s settings for shared vs. sensitive data is also essential. Private information can be made public online by a simple visibility configuration error.
incidental reaction
Even though many companies have procedures in place for handling cybersecurity emergencies, there is worry about the impact that cloud infrastructure will have on emergency response. In a cloud-based environment, a company’s visibility and ownership of its infrastructure are constrained. Traditional incident response techniques are therefore ineffectual. Before moving a company’s resources to the cloud, it is important to take into account how difficult incident response in the cloud is overall.
The Security Operations Center (SOC), which consists of individuals, procedures, and technology accountable for an organization’s information security, was created because of the correlation between data centralization and an increase in the likelihood of security-related events. Due of the high cost of the necessary tooling and skill set for this job, it is frequently more effective to go elsewhere.rather of completely eliminating it. for a service provider.
general Cloud Security trends
The market is defined by a number of broad trends related to cloud security, which are essential to comprehending how sensitive data is protected. Understanding these developments in cloud computing may assist organizations in many ways, including helping them choose where to best deploy their cloud resources and what new security technologies are available.
network security
Cybersecurity Mesh describes a network of connected technologies that cooperate to defend infrastructure and data from online attacks. Mesh networks employ a dispersed approach to cybersecurity, in contrast to more conventional methods. This implies that mesh networks spread out the burden for information security among several nodes rather than attempting to safeguard network infrastructure from a single point of access.
Organizations may ensure that there isn’t a single point of failure in their system by implementing mesh networking concepts, greatly reducing the chance of security breaches. Mesh network topologies also provide strong encryption protocols and decentralized monitoring and analysis tools, further enhancing this cloud technology’s overall resiliency.
Testing of vulnerabilities as a service
Solutions for However, in recent years, the practice of penetration testing as a service has gained popularity. SaaS platforms are used in conjunction with DevOps methodologies, actual pentesters, automation, and API connectivity to give a real-time platform for planning, carrying out, and monitoring security tests.
exposure control
Scanners, controls, and organization risk are insufficient for identifying the vulnerability that businesses have. Due to the overwhelming volume of information, it was difficult to decide where to focus first. Exposure management, which employs automation, data management, and artificial intelligence (AI), assists businesses in evaluating internal and external risks and focusing on the most serious danger (one with the highest attack surface/likelihood of exploitation/highest risk).
Framework SASE
Multi-vector authentication, network segmentation and isolation, certificate-based encryption key management systems, anti-malware detection and deployment, and many more security measures and technologies are all included in the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture. The SASE framework is able to offer robust security due to the wide range of features and capabilities it has. safeguards in the most difficult cyber situations. This approach will become even more important for protecting sensitive data from threat actors as more companies use cloud solutions to run their operations at a time of digital transformation.
SASE has had a substantial influence on cloud computing trends by introducing software as a service, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and other cloud-native capabilities into cloud security. In fact, zero trust, one of the SASE’s key features, is becoming into a crucial security trend unto itself for companies using the cloud.
Network Access with Zero Trust
Modern data protection strategies put a strong emphasis on avoiding unwanted access to sensitive data, such as the zero trust network concept. In order to build a more secure environment, this approach to network security uses sophisticated analytics and cloud architecture to proactively identify and handle security risks and attacks. Additionally, it is becoming a crucial component of cloud security in the future.
Zero trust helps to ensure that only authorized users may access sensitive data by dynamically controlling trust levels in real-time. Organizations may better safeguard their sensitive data from cyberthreats and avoid expensive breaches with the addition of this layer of security. Regardless of whether companies are using this concept for the first time or looking to improve their current strategy, zero Trust is a crucial defense against unwanted attacks for your business.
Future trends will become more and more relevant and crucial for organizations going through the cloud adoption process as cloud computing continues to evolve. Future trends like multi-cloud architecture, quantum computing, and numerous sophisticated SaaS solutions are already becoming a reality on a daily basis. Firms need to be able to adapt to changing market conditions and learn from past mistakes if they want to stay at the forefront of cloud computing growth.
Conclusion
Over the last five years, the relevance of cloud security to corporate operations has increased. However, genuine confidence in cloud security’s capacity to prevent unauthorized access to businesses’ cloud environments won’t come until cloud security providers solve the issues and continue to make progress in the promising areas.
The top cloud security trends, however, appear to point to an industry-wide growth in competence, which will only encourage more businesses to use cloud computing services, resulting in significant gains in budgeting, security, and profit.