The cloud’s unmatched agility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness have made it an essential component of business operations. However, there is a crucial disclaimer to this transformative power: strong security is essential. Understanding and implementing good cloud security best practices is now essential for safeguarding assets, upholding compliance, and maintaining confidence as more companies move their sensitive data and applications to cloud environments.

The following are the top 5 cloud security best practices that should be given top priority by any organization:

Accept the Model of Shared Responsibility and Establish Your Position

It’s critical to realize that cloud security (including the underlying technology and physical security of data centers) is the responsibility of cloud providers (such as AWS, Azure, and GCP). Nonetheless, businesses are in charge of cloud security (including setting up services, controlling data, apps, and access restrictions).

Best Practices

• Thoroughly understand your cloud provider’s specific responsibilities and what falls under your purview. Depending on the cloud service model (IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS), this changes.

• Document and communicate internal security roles and responsibilities clearly across all teams involved in cloud operations, including IT, development, and security.

Implement robust Identity and Access Management (IAM) by applying the principle of least privilege.

It’s the bedrock that controls who can access your cloud resources and what actions they’re authorized to perform.

Best Practices

• Enforce the principle of least privilege (PoLP): Give users and apps just the minimal amount of access required to carry out their designated tasks. Don’t allow extensive administrative access until it is necessary.

• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all accounts, especially privileged ones: MFA adds a critical layer of security beyond passwords, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access even if credentials are compromised.

Encrypt Data While It’s in Transit and at Rest

Since any organization relies on its data, cloud security is crucial.

Best Practices

• Encrypt all sensitive data at rest: Utilize your cloud provider’s native encryption services for databases, storage buckets, and other data repositories.
• Encrypt data in transit: Ensure that all data exchanged between your on-premises systems and the cloud, or between different cloud services, is secured using strong encryption protocols like SSL/TLS.

Implement Continuous Security Posture Management and Monitoring

Sustaining a robust Cloud Security posture requires automated security posture management and ongoing monitoring.

Best Practices

• Apply the tools for Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): These tools automatically check your cloud infrastructures for potential vulnerabilities, compliance violations, and misconfigurations.

• Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring: Enable logging for all critical cloud resources and feed this data into a centralized Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution.

Develop a Robust Cloud Incident Response Plan and Foster Security Awareness

A well-defined and regularly tested incident response plan is crucial for minimizing the impact of a breach and ensuring business continuity.

Best Practices

• Outline clear procedures for detecting, containing, investigating, and recovering from various types of cloud security incidents.

• Test your plan with relevant teams to identify gaps and refine procedures before a real incident occurs.

Canarys enables you to leverage the power of the Cloud

By diligently implementing these best practices, enterprises can significantly strengthen their cloud security posture, protect valuable assets, and confidently leverage the power of the cloud for innovation and growth. Remember, cloud security is an ongoing journey, not a destination, requiring continuous adaptation and improvement in the face of evolving threats.