Why should organisations be concerned about Cloud Security

  • Cloud
  • Azure
  • AWS
  • GCP
  • Security
  • Vulnerability
  • Risk

Ian  By Ian Amaranayake, Delivery Director

 

How Cloud has changed the way we manage data

Cloud computing has changed the way we work with data. Let’s briefly turn the clock back to the mid-2000s, when organisations trusted data centres and server rooms to host the infrastructure required to house their valuable data. This approach had many advantages. We knew our data was secure, sat behind the company’s firewalls and was only accessible to those who needed it. 

Data could also be fed and consumed by other systems and processes running behind the corporate firewall as it was typically part of the same network. We managed systems and data ‘on-premise’ and there seemed little reason to change. Then along came cloud computing…

A new way of working

Cloud promised an entirely new way of working. We could reduce the cost of ownership, with less need for upfront investment on hardware and infrastructure, paying only for what we consumed instead. It also offered more flexibility and agility as businesses looked to go global, allowing access from outside a company’s premises to regional offices and partner organisations. 

One of the key reasons for the cloud’s success was its ability to scale resources needed by the business in rapid response to fluctuating demands. 

In short, cloud computing revolutionised the way we manage data assets and continues to do so as organisations modernise their information landscape. However, this has presented new challenges, such as how we keep our data secure.

What is the challenge with security in the cloud?

The big issue with security in the cloud centres around trust. With most organisations investing in public or hybrid cloud, systems and data platforms are increasingly dispersed. This raises numerous challenges around data accessibility, sovereignty and security. 

Just how secure is the cloud? Well, the options provided through cloud providers to secure data are easily as robust as the techniques used to lock down firewalls. But, why does this all matter?

Cloud Security Matters

There are many reasons why data security should be a top priority for your organisation. Just because cloud computing provides ‘best of breed’ options for securing data assets doesn’t automatically mean these safeguards have been put in place. 

Let’s explore some of the reasons why all this is so important:

1. Data Security Risks

Gartner recently estimated that by 2025, 99% of cloud security breaches will be caused by human error. Most organisations store sensitive financial records and business data in the cloud. Never has it been more important to ensure data is protected from unauthorised access, theft and breaches which could cause reputational and financial damage.

2. Managing Cyber Threats

Cyber threats are on the increase. At the same time, malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated. This represents a significant risk to your business and never has it been more important to employ robust cloud security measures to reduce your vulnerabilities.

3. Scaling the Business

As your business operations expand,  you need to ensure your cloud security measures adapt accordingly. Data availability in different regions may help organisations reduce duplication, but this expands the cloud footprint and widens the surface of attack.

4. Regulatory Compliance

Your organisation needs to demonstrate compliance with relevant data security and privacy requirements as laid out by industry regulators, such as GDPR in Europe and HIPAA in the USA. Failure to protect data from security breaches and theft can lead to legal and financial penalties, as well as significant reputational damage.

How can you achieve the right level of security in the cloud?

At Katalyze Data, we believe the responsibility for maintaining a strong security posture in the cloud is shared. It’s the responsibility of the cloud and service provider to ensure robust security measures are employed and it is the responsibility of your organisation to play its part by ensuring high-level security practices are adopted and followed across the business. 

The following provides a best practice blueprint for cloud security:

1. Identity Management

Strong identity management will enable you to simplify user access whilst maintaining protection across your enterprise applications. The use of multifactor authentication. for example. will significantly reduce the likelihood of security breaches. When combined with access policies that grant conditional access based on user sign-ins, this effectively safeguards your cloud assets. Privileged identity management (PIM) further ensures administrative privileges are granted and revoked on a task-by-task basis.

2. Network Security

Establishing robust network security in the cloud requires a multifaceted approach. Network firewalls serve as the first line of defence, strengthening the perimeter and inspecting traffic to prevent unauthorised access. DDoS protection measures help safeguard cloud applications and services from being overwhelmed by malicious traffic, ensuring their ongoing availability. Additionally, adopting tightened security practices around public cloud services, such as regular software updates and secure configurations, is also crucial to prevent exploitation. By layering these network security measures, your organisation can create a secure and resilient cloud environment that will help you sleep at night.

3. Cloud Workload Protection

Comprehensive protection of cloud workloads and resources involves a blend of security assessments, threat detection, data encryption and automated management.

Regular security assessments help identify potential vulnerabilities, allowing your organisation to address them proactively. Threat protection features monitor the cloud environment, detect and respond to security incidents and mitigate the impact of threats. Automated security management streamlines processes like vulnerability scanning, patch deployment and log analysis, ensuring the consistent application of security controls. 

4. Governance

Maintaining compliance with corporate and government policies, such as ISO 27001 and HITRUST/HIPAA, is essential for all organisations operating in the cloud. Establishing a comprehensive governance framework ensures your cloud resources are deployed, accessed, and managed in line with all the latest regulatory requirements and industry best practices. This involves defining clear policies, conducting regular audits and assessments, and implementing monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

How Katalyze Data can help

At Katalyze Data, we believe investing in cloud security not only protects your organisation but also builds trust with your customers and business partners, supporting business growth and stability.

Please reach out to our team for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can help you assess your cloud security posture and ensure your organisation is doing everything needed to safeguard your data.

Back to Insights

Related content

Talk to us about how we can help