Today, doing business without a cloud seems like implementing a handicap. You can do it but don\u2019t expect a lot of flexibility and options. With pay-per-use approach and multiple services available from top cloud providers, you can scale your business in a reasonable timeframe. The problem \u2013 it also has to be secure. How to introduce cloud to your organization and make it safe at the same time? Here\u2019s some tips on cloud security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Top cloud providers like Amazon and it\u2019s Amazon Web Services (AWS)<\/a> is a first choice for companies that needs scalability. It\u2019s also safe, which we have covered in the article about AWS security<\/a>. OK, but what we are exactly talking about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cloud security refers to the infrastructure, technology, services applications, data and policies that are exposed to the risk of getting hacked, damaged or destroyed. Either electronically (through the break in) or physically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of key aspects of this topic, present in AWS, for example, is something called \u201cshared responsibility\u201d. In this model, a cloud provider is partially responsible for the safety. When it comes to infrastructure, hardware, power supply and physical space occupied by the servers, the ball is in their court. Operating system and virtualization is also their domain. The rest is up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several areas in which cloud security can be measured:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are typical domains for the topic. The real question is: how exactly can you measure them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The security of the cloud must be audited in two ways: internally by the cloud provider and by an independent thirty party. It\u2019s a good practice to ask any provider for their audit results and latest certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many standards of quality in that field but few of them are most recognizable. It\u2019s especially important for the FinTech industry and financial software development services<\/a> that aim to aid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PCI-DSS \u2013 confirms the compliance of all (or some) services with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CSA STAR Level 2 \u2013 confirms the compliance with the Cloud Security Alliance STAR <\/a>requirements for high-risk data processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ISO\/IEC 27001 together with the declaration of compliance with ISO\/IEC 27017 and ISO\/IEC 27018 \u2013 confirms implementing standardized Information Security Management System along with security and privacy controls dedicated for public cloud providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SOC 2 Type II \u2013 confirms the compliance with US AICPA\u2019s<\/a> SOC 2 requirements in the following areas: network and physical security, data availability, data processing integrity, data confidentiality, privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some undeniable challenges that your company will have to tackle sooner or later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite cloud provider being responsible for the heavy lifting around the hardware, it is you, who takes the responsibility for widely understood management of cloud security. Let\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its 2022 report on cloud security<\/a> Checkpoint pointed out that cloud adoption continues to grow, but so does threat levels. 27% of organizations experienced public cloud-related security incident in the last 12 months. That\u2019s a lot. 14% of them was exploitation-related, 15% was linked to compromised attacks, also 15% to inappropriate used or share data, 23% came from wrongly configured resource of account. Conclusion? Cloud security should be treated as a common good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This more or less corresponds with current cloud priorities in interview companies: 20% want to prevent cloud misconfigurations, 16% would like to secure major cloud apps already in use, and reach regulatory compliance, 13% will defend against malware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also interesting to see what security measures companies take to defend their cloud infrastructure. As it happens, 72% of them use access control, 60% anti-virus and anti-malware protection, 53% application protection and 53% multi-factor authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report also points out additional threats regarding multi-provider cloud model, in which companies use at least two vendors. That seems complementary but it also increases risks. The report clearly shows it, too. 46% lost visibility and control over their cloud data, 50% don\u2019t understand how different solutions fit together (sometimes they don\u2019t!), 56% lack skills to deploy and manage a complete solution across all cloud environments, and 57% want to ensure data protection and privacy for each environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why at Code & Pepper we recommend limiting ourselves to one provider. We have chosen Amazon for their experience, huge number of cloud-related services and applications and our skills in implementing their solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to cloud security, you can\u2019t second guess your team or business partners\u2019 capabilities. That\u2019s why we recommend our AWS development services<\/a>. We can help you and guide you on your way to scalable business. No matter if you\u2019re deep in FinTech or unrelated industry. We are here to answer all your questions. Contact us<\/a>, let\u2019s talk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat is cloud security?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to measure cloud security?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cloud security challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What, as the client, are you responsible for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Latest cloud security developments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n