Cloud security consists of technology and techniques engineered to prevent and mitigate threats to an organization’s cybersecurity. Companies must implement cloud computing security to support both digital transformations and the use of cloud-based tools to protect assets.
Cloud security works by combining several technologies, all designed to tighten cyber defenses for off-premises data and applications. Here are some of the core elements that make cloud security work:
Data security consists of protecting and maintaining the integrity of an organization’s cloud-based data. This data typically includes the following:
Identity and access management (IAM) involves making sure your employees can access the digital solutions they need to perform their duties. Using IAM, you can manage the applications users have access to ensure existing users have the privileges they need and former employees’ access is terminated, which helps control your attack surface.
Governance involves enforcing internal policies to manage data in a way that protects and enables systems and safeguards sensitive information. For example, if a cloud-based web application needs a database to provide information the user sees while using the app, your organization must ensure the safety and integrity of this data using the right governance policies.
Business continuity (BC) and data retention (DR) focus on backing up data to restore critical systems in the event of a disaster, breach, or system wipe. If you have a cloud-based business continuity plan, it will inevitably involve retaining business-critical data, as well as data your core cloud applications use to operate. BC and DR also often include policies designed to govern how long data is kept and when it can be supplanted with newer data to optimize storage space.
Legal compliance focuses on making sure an organization’s data conforms to standards set forth in the laws of the country your company is in, as well as those it may do business with. For example, if your organization works in the healthcare industry, you may have to set up governance rules that conform to the standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
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Discover what the shared responsibility model means to you, as a cloud customer, why understanding it is vital, and how Fortinet Adaptive Cloud Security can help address the areas that you still own, whichever cloud you choose.
Смотри сейчасWhenever there is a security breach in the cloud, companies lose money, time, and resources as they try to recover. The downtime that results from a cloud breach can cause significant operational setbacks – applications and data in the cloud, and cloud-connected devices and networks can be exposed to a numerous threats.
While maintaining a security system for an in-house network is often managed by an internal IT team, whenever you put data or systems on the cloud, your valuable digital assets are, essentially, under someone else’s care. To minimize the resulting inherent risk, a robust cloud security system is necessary.
Here are just a few of the benefits of cloud security:
One of the top advantages of incorporating cloud computing into your operations is data accessibility. Anytime an employee has an internet connection, they can interact with the content or systems they need to do their jobs. This gives your company flexibility and agility.
A problem may arise, however, if employees access your cloud infrastructure through unsafe means. For example, if someone slips into a coffee shop, they may sign in using a public network. This leaves your cloud network exposed to any bad actors who may be looking for opportunities on that public, vulnerable connection.
Also, when employees use their personal devices—or take devices from work home with them—they can accidentally expose them to malicious software. When they connect to your cloud environment, anything that sneaked onto their computer or device—such as malware or Trojans—could be used to invade your cloud system.
The only way to guard against these kinds of inroads into your infrastructure is to institute a powerful cloud security system.
Many companies use a cloud environment to back up their data. In the event of a disaster, it is easy to get things up and running because all you have to do is connect to the cloud and grab what you need. However, if this data is not secure, you could end up downloading corrupted files. If these were allowed to penetrate your system, they could affect not just your business’s network and devices but those of customers as well.
A cloud data security system helps shield valuable data from dangerous software, organizations, or people.
In certain sectors, the degree to which you keep data secure can determine whether you are on the right or wrong side of the law. For example, with current Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws, a lax security system could result in the exposure of sensitive data—to the extent that you fall out of line with current legislation.
A strong cloud security solution can help you prevent a security slip-up from having serious legal ramifications for your company. This is especially important in light of the fact that those who enforce the law often feel obligated to find someone to blame when things go wrong. A security breach could put your organization in the crosshairs, resulting in bad press, legal battles, and lost shareholder confidence. On the other hand, a complete cloud data security system could prevent problems before they begin.
A cloud system without thorough security measures in place can be like a data sieve. With so many users accessing the network via a wide selection of devices, it is easy for data to get leaked to the wrong person. Additionally, an unprotected cloud system is a convenient attack surface for hackers.
A cloud security system acts like the door to a vault. It keeps valuable data inside while keeping criminal elements out.
Some cloud security benefits include the ability to:
Cloud security can make your cloud-based system as safe as a personal computer or device in your pocket—or even safer. With a dynamic cloud security strategy in place, you can provide the visibility your IT team needs, along with the control and protection to keep your data and systems safe.
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ЗарегистрироватьсяLearn more about Cloud Data Protection: Secure What You Store in the Cloud
With the ever-growing pace of digital acceleration and cloud adoption, enterprises need specific security solutions tailored for cloud environments and infrastructures. Fortinet helps organizations protect their application journeys into, within, and across clouds with Fortinet Cloud Security. These solutions provide visibility and control across cloud cybersecurity infrastructures, providing protection for applications and connectivity from data center to cloud.
Fortinet cloud security solutions are natively integrated across all major cloud platforms and technologies. A cybersecurity mesh architecture, such as the Fortinet Security Fabric, extends across all hybrid and multi-cloud environments. This platform approach reduces operational complexity, provides greater visibility, address resource and skill gaps, and improves overall security effectiveness.
Learn more in the Cybersecurity Insiders 2022 Cloud Security Report.
Also read more about Serverless Computing -- a cloud architecture that allows organizations to get on-demand access to the resources they need.
