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A Comprehensive Cloud Security Checklist for Your Cloud Environment There’s a lot to consider when securing your cloud environment.... Cloud Security Cloud Security Checklist: Key Steps and Best Practices Rony Moshkovich 2 min read Rony Moshkovich Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 7/21/23 Published A Comprehensive Cloud Security Checklist for Your Cloud Environment There’s a lot to consider when securing your cloud environment. Threats range from malware to malicious attacks, and everything in between. With so many threats, a checklist of cloud security best practices will save you time. First we’ll get a grounding in the top cloud security risks and some key considerations. The Top 5 Security Risks in Cloud Computing Understanding the risks involved in cloud computing is a key first step. The top 5 security risks in cloud computing are: 1. Limited visibility Less visibility means less control. Less control could lead to unauthorized practices going unnoticed. 2. Malware Malware is malicious software, including viruses, ransomware, spyware, and others. 3. Data breaches Breaches can lead to financial losses due to regulatory fines and compensation. They may also cause reputational damage. 4. Data loss The consequences of data loss can be severe, especially it includes customer information. 5. Inadequate cloud security controls If cloud security measures aren’t comprehensive, they can leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks. Key Cloud Security Checklist Considerations 1. Managing User Access and Privileges Properly managing user access and privileges is a critical aspect of cloud infrastructure. Strong access controls mean only the right people can access sensitive data. 2. Preventing Unauthorized Access Implementing stringent security measures, such as firewalls, helps fortify your environment. 3. Encrypting Cloud-Based Data Assets Encryption ensures that data is unreadable to unauthorized parties. 4. Ensuring Compliance Compliance with industry regulations and data protection standards is crucial. 5. Preventing Data Loss Regularly backing up your data helps reduce the impact of unforeseen incidents. 6. Monitoring for Attacks Security monitoring tools can proactively identify suspicious activities, and respond quickly. Cloud Security Checklist Understand cloud security risks Establish a shared responsibility agreement with your cloud services provider (CSP) Establish cloud data protection policies Set identity and access management rules Set data-sharing restrictions Encrypt sensitive data Employ a comprehensive data backup and recovery plan Use malware protection Create an update and patching schedule Regularly assess cloud security Set up security monitoring and logging Adjust cloud security policies as new issues emerge Let’s take a look at these in more detail. Full Cloud Security Checklist 1. Understand Cloud Security Risks 1a. Identify Sensitive Information First, identify all your sensitive information. This data could range from customer information to patents, designs, and trade secrets. 1b. Understand Data Access and Sharing Use access control measures, like role-based access control (RBAC), to manage data access. You should also understand and control how data is shared. One idea is to use data loss prevention (DLP) tools to prevent unauthorized data transfers. 1c. Explore Shadow IT Shadow IT refers to using IT tools and services without your company’s approval. While these tools can be more productive or convenient, they can pose security risks. 2. Establish a Shared Responsibility Agreement with Your Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Understanding the shared responsibility model in cloud security is essential. There are various models – IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS. Common CSPs include Microsoft Azure and AWS. 2a. Establish Visibility and Control It’s important to establish strong visibility into your operations and endpoints. This includes understanding user activities, resource usage, and security events. Using security tools gives you a centralized view of your secure cloud environment. You can even enable real-time monitoring and prompt responses to suspicious activities. Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) or cloud-native security tools can be useful here. 2b. Ensure Compliance Compliance with relevant laws and regulations is fundamental. This could range from data protection laws to industry-specific regulations. 2c. Incident Management Despite your best efforts, security incidents can still occur. Having an incident response plan is a key element in managing the impact of any security events. This plan should tell team members how to respond to an incident. 3. Establish Cloud Data Protection Policies Create clear policies around data protection in the cloud . These should cover areas such as data classification, encryption, and access control. These policies should align with your organizational objectives and comply with relevant regulations. 3a. Data Classification You should categorize data based on its sensitivity and potential impact if breached. Typical classifications include public, internal, confidential, and restricted data. 3b. Data Encryption Encryption protects your data in the cloud and on-premises. It involves converting your data so it can only be read by those who possess the decryption key. Your policy should mandate the use of strong encryption for sensitive data. 3c. Access Control Each user should only have the access necessary to perform their job function and no more. Policies should include password policies and changes of workloads. 4. Set Identity and Access Management Rules 4a. User Identity Management Identity and Access Management tools ensure only the right people access your data. Using IAM rules is critical to controlling who has access to your cloud resources. These rules should be regularly updated. 4b. 2-Factor and Multi-Factor Authentication Two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are useful tools. You reduce the risk by implementing 2FA or MFA, even if a password is compromised. 5. Set Data Sharing Restrictions 5a. Define Data Sharing Policies Define clear data-sharing permissions. These policies should align with the principles of least privilege and need-to-know basis. 5b. Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Measures Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools can help enforce data-sharing policies. These tools monitor and control data movements in your cloud environment. 5c. Audit and Review Data Sharing Activities Regularly review and audit your data-sharing activities to ensure compliance. Audits help identify any inappropriate data sharing and provide insights for improvement. 6. Encrypt Sensitive Data Data encryption plays a pivotal role in safeguarding your sensitive information. It involves converting your data into a coded form that can only be read after it’s been decrypted. 6a. Protect Data at Rest This involves transforming data into a scrambled form while it’s in storage. It ensures that even if your storage is compromised, the data remains unintelligible. 6b. Data Encryption in Transit This ensures that your sensitive data remains secure while it’s being moved. This could be across the internet, over a network, or between components in a system. 6c. Key Management Managing your encryption keys is just as important as encrypting the data itself. Keys should be stored securely and rotated regularly. Additionally, consider using hardware security modules (HSMs) for key storage. 6d. Choose Strong Encryption Algorithms The strength of your encryption depends significantly on the algorithms you use. Choose well-established encryption algorithms. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or RSA are solid algorithms. 7. Employ a Comprehensive Data Backup and Recovery Plan 7a. Establish a Regular Backup Schedule Install a regular backup schedule that fits your organization’s needs . The frequency of backups may depend on how often your data changes. 7b. Choose Suitable Backup Methods You can choose from backup methods such as snapshots, replication, or traditional backups. Each method has its own benefits and limitations. 7c. Implement a Data Recovery Strategy In addition to backing up your data, you need a solid strategy for restoring that data if a loss occurs. This includes determining recovery objectives. 7d. Test Your Backup and Recovery Plan Regular testing is crucial to ensuring your backup and recovery plan works. Test different scenarios, such as recovering a single file or a whole system. 7e. Secure Your Backups Backups can become cybercriminals’ targets, so they also need to be secured. This includes using encryption to protect backup data and implementing access controls. 8. Use Malware Protection Implementing robust malware protection measures is pivotal in data security. It’s important to maintain up-to-date malware protection and routinely scan your systems. 8a. Deploy Antimalware Software Deploy antimalware software across your cloud environment. This software can detect, quarantine, and eliminate malware threats. Ensure the software you select can protect against a wide range of malware. 8b. Regularly Update Malware Definitions Anti-malware relies on malware definitions. However, cybercriminals continuously create new malware variants, so these definitions become outdated quickly. Ensure your software is set to automatically update. 8c. Conduct Regular Malware Scans Schedule regular malware scans to identify and mitigate threats promptly. This includes full system scans and real-time scanning. 8d. Implement a Malware Response Plan Develop a comprehensive malware response plan to ensure you can address any threats. Train your staff on this plan to respond efficiently during a malware attack. 8e. Monitor for Anomalous Activity Continuously monitor your systems for any anomalous activity. Early detection can significantly reduce the potential damage caused by malware. 9. Create an Update and Patching Schedule 9a. Develop a Regular Patching Schedule Develop a consistent schedule for applying patches and updates to your cloud applications. For high-risk vulnerabilities, consider implementing patches as soon as they become available. 9b. Maintain an Inventory of Software and Systems You need an accurate inventory of all software and systems to manage updates and patches. This inventory should include the system version, last update, and any known vulnerabilities. 9c. Automation Where Possible Automating the patching process can help ensure that updates are applied consistently. Many cloud service providers offer tools or services that can automate patch management. 9d. Test Patches Before Deployment Test updates in a controlled environment to ensure work as intended. This is especially important for patches to critical systems. 9e. Stay Informed About New Vulnerabilities and Patches Keep abreast of new vulnerabilities and patches related to your software and systems. Being aware of the latest threats and solutions can help you respond faster. 9f. Update Security Tools and Configurations Don’t forget to update your cloud security tools and configurations regularly. As your cloud environment evolves, your security needs may change. 10. Regularly Assess Cloud Security 10a. Set up cloud security assessments and audits Establish a consistent schedule for conducting cybersecurity assessments and security audits. Audits are necessary to confirm that your security responsibilities align with your policies. These should examine configurations, security controls, data protection and incident response plans. 10b. Conduct Penetration Testing Penetration testing is a proactive approach to identifying vulnerabilities in your cloud environment. These are designed to uncover potential weaknesses before malicious actors do. 10c. Perform Risk Assessments These assessments should cover a variety of technical, procedural, and human risks. Use risk assessment results to prioritize your security efforts. 10d. Address Assessment Findings After conducting an assessment or audit, review the findings and take appropriate action. It’s essential to communicate any changes effectively to all relevant personnel. 10f. Maintain Documentation Keep thorough documentation of each assessment or audit. Include the scope, process, findings, and actions taken in response. 11. Set Up Security Monitoring and Logging 11a. Intrusion Detection Establish intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor your cloud environment. IDSs operate by recognizing patterns or anomalies that could indicate unauthorized intrusions. 11b. Network Firewall Firewalls are key components of network security. They serve as a barrier between secure internal network traffic and external networks. 11c. Security Logging Implement extensive security logging across your cloud environment. Logs record the events that occur within your systems. 11d. Automate Security Alerts Consider automating security alerts based on triggering events or anomalies in your logs. Automated alerts can ensure that your security team responds promptly. 11e. Implement Information Security and Event Management (SIEM) System A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system can your cloud data. It can help identify patterns, security breaches, and generate alerts. It will give a holistic view of your security posture. 11f. Regular Review and Maintenance Regularly review your monitoring and logging practices to ensure they remain effective. as your cloud environment and the threat landscape evolve. 12. Adjust Cloud Security Policies as New Issues Emerge 12a. Regular Policy Reviews Establish a schedule for regular review of your cloud security policies. Regular inspections allow for timely updates to keep your policies effective and relevant. 12b. Reactive Policy Adjustments In response to emerging threats or incidents, it may be necessary to adjust on an as-needed basis. Reactive adjustments can help you respond to changes in the risk environment. 12c. Proactive Policy Adjustments Proactive policy adjustments involve anticipating future changes and modifying your policies accordingly. 12d. Stakeholder Engagement Engage relevant stakeholders in the policy review and adjustment process. This can include IT staff, security personnel, management, and even end-users. Different perspectives can provide valuable insights. 12e. Training and Communication It’s essential to communicate changes whenever you adjust your cloud security policies. Provide training if necessary to ensure everyone understands the updated policies. 12f. Documentation and Compliance Document any policy adjustments and ensure they are in line with regulatory requirements. Updated documentation can serve as a reference for future reviews and adjustments. Use a Cloud Security Checklist to Protect Your Data Today Cloud security is a process, and using a checklist can help manage risks. Companies like Prevasio specialize in managing cloud security risks and misconfigurations, providing protection and ensuring compliance. Secure your cloud environment today and keep your data protected against threats. Schedule a demo Related Articles Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 5 Multi-Cloud Environments Cloud Security Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Convergence didn’t fail, compliance did. Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... 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AlgoSec’s latest product release provides application-based identification and risk analysis in multi-cloud environments and on-premises. Gain more insights into multi cloud application connectivity with AlgoSec A32.50 AlgoSec’s latest product release provides application-based identification and risk analysis in multi-cloud environments and on-premises. January 10, 2023 Speak to one of our experts RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., January 10, 2023 – AlgoSec, a global cybersecurity leader in securing application connectivity, announced today the release of its latest product version A32.50. AlgoSec A32.50 provides a powerful solution for organizations to secure application connectivity in their hybrid and multi-cloud estate. With A32.50, organizations obtain granular visibility and discovery of applications, enabling identification and risk analysis in multi-cloud environments and on-premises. The key benefits that AlgoSec A32.50 delivers to IT, network, and security experts include: Application awareness for Cisco Firepower and Palo Alto’s Panorama as part of the change management cycle Enables SecOps teams to update firewall application information as part of the firewall rules in the workflow automation Extended SASE/SSE management Provides Zscaler users management capabilities focused on risk, regulatory compliance, and policy optimization. As an early availability, A32.50 supports Prisma Access visibility of mobile users. Ensure ongoing regulatory compliance with new and updated out of the box reports Generate full audit report for the ECB security of internet payments and maintain ongoing compliance with the regulatory requirements. Additionally, utilize updated PCI and SWIFT requirement reports. Integrate cloud security into your IaC initiative while streamlining processes Embed cloud security checks into the DevSecOps native tools, allowing them to proactively identify and mitigate risk as part of their ongoing process. About AlgoSec AlgoSec, a global cybersecurity leader, empowers organizations to secure application connectivity by automating connectivity flows and security policy, anywhere. The AlgoSec platform enables the world’s most complex organizations to gain visibility, reduce risk, and process changes at zero-touch across the hybrid network. AlgoSec’s patented application-centric view of the hybrid network enables business owners, application owners, and information security professionals to talk the same language, so organizations can deliver business applications faster while achieving a heightened security posture. Over 1,800 of the world’s leading organizations trust AlgoSec to help secure their most critical workloads across public cloud, private cloud, containers, and on-premises networks while taking advantage of almost two decades of leadership in Network Security Policy Management. See what securely accelerating your digital transformation, move-to-cloud, infrastructure modernization, or micro-segmentation initiatives looks like at www.algosec.com

As the most widely adapted open-source container software, Kubernetes provides businesses with efficient processes to schedule, deploy,... Cloud Security Understanding and Preventing Kubernetes Attacks and Threats Ava Chawla 2 min read Ava Chawla Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 10/20/21 Published As the most widely adapted open-source container software, Kubernetes provides businesses with efficient processes to schedule, deploy, and scale containers across different machines. The bad news is that cybercriminals have figured out how to exploit the platform’s vulnerabilities , resulting in catastrophic network intrusions across many company infrastructures. A recent report revealed that 94% of respondents reported security incidents in Kubernetes environments. The question is, what is behind this surge of Kubernetes attacks, and how can they be prevented? How Kubernetes is Vulnerable As a container-based platform, a new set of vulnerabilities, permission issues, and specific images set the stage for the increase in attacks. The threats have included fileless malware in containers, leveraging misconfigured Docker API ports, and using container images for attacks. Misconfigured Docker API Ports Exploitation Scanning for misconfigured Docker API ports and using them for deploying images containing malware is a relatively new type of attack. The malware, designed to evade static scanning, has become a popular method to hijack compute cycles for fraudulent cryptomining. This cryptojacking activity steals CPU power to mine currencies such as Ethereum and Monero. By first identifying vulnerable front-end websites and other systems, attackers send a command through the application layer simply by manipulating a domain’s text field or through an exposed API in the website’s URL. The code then enters the container, where it is executed with commands sent to a Docker container’s shell. A wget command is executed to download the malware. To protect against this attack, enterprises must ensure their container files are not writable, establish CPU consumption limits, and enable alerts to detect interactive shell launches. DDoS Attacks With Open Docker Daemons Cybercriminals use misconfigured open Docker daemons to launch DDoS attacks using a botnet of containers. UDP flood and Slowloris were recently identified as two such types of container-based botnet attacks. A recent blog describes an anatomy of these Kubernetes attacks. The attackers first identified open Docker daemons using a scanning tool such as Shodan to scan the internet for IP addresses and find a list of hosts, open ports, and services. By uploading their own dedicated images to the Docker hub, they succeeded in deploying and remotely running the images on the host. Analyzing how the UDP flood attack was orchestrated required an inspection of the binary with IDA. This revealed the start_flood and start_tick threads. The source code for the attack was found on Github. This code revealed a try_gb parameter, with the range of 0 to 1,024, used to configure how much data to input to flood the target. However, it was discovered that attackers are able to modify this open-source code to create a self-compiled binary that floods the host with even greater amounts of UDP packets. In the case of the Slowloris attack, cybercriminals launched DDoS with the slowhttptest utility. The attackers were able to create a self-compiling binary that is unidentifiable in malware scans. Protection from these Kubernetes attacks requires vigilant assurance policies and prevention of images other than compliant ones to run in the system. Non-compliant images will then be blocked when intrusion attempts are made. Man in the Middle Attacks With LoadBalancer or ExternalIPs An attack affecting all versions of Kubernetes involves multi-tenant clusters. The most vulnerable clusters have tenants that are able to create and update services and pods. In this breach, the attacker can intercept traffic from other pods or nodes in the cluster by creating a ClusterIP service and setting the spec.externalIP’s field. Additionally, a user who is able to patch the status of a LoadBalancer service can grab traffic. The only way to mitigate this threat is to restrict access to vulnerable features. This can be done with the admission webhook container, externalip-webhook , which prevents services from using random external IPs. An alternative method is to lock external IPs with OPA Gatekeeper with this sample Constraint Templatecan. Siloscape Malware Security researcher, Daniel Prizmant, describes a newer malware attack that he calls Siloscape. Its primary goal is to escape the container that is mainly implemented in Windows server silo. The malware targets Kubernetes through Windows containers to open a backdoor into poorly configured clusters to run the malicious containers. While other malware attacks focus on cryptojacking, the Siloscape user’s motive is to go undetected and open a backdoor to the cluster for a variety of malicious activities. This is possible since Siloscape is virtually undetectable due to a lack of readable strings in the binary. This type of attack can prove catastrophic. It compromises an entire cluster running multiple cloud applications. Cybercriminals can access critical information including sign-ins, confidential files, and complete databases hosted inside the cluster. Additionally, organizations using Kubernetes clusters for testing and development can face catastrophic damage should these environments be breached. To prevent a Siloscape attack, it is crucial that administrators ensure their Kubernetes clusters are securely configured. This will prevent the malware from creating new deployments and force Siloscape to exit. Microsoft also recommends using only Hyper-V containers as a security boundary for anything relying on containerization. The Threat Matrix The MITRE ATT&CK database details additional tactics and techniques attackers are using to infiltrate Kubernetes environments to access sensitive information, mine cryptocurrency, perform DDoS attacks, and other unscrupulous activities. The more commonly used methods are as follows: 1. Kubernetes file compromise Because this file holds sensitive data such as cluster credentials, an attacker could easily gain initial access to the entire cluster. Only accept kubeconfig files from trusted sources. Others should be thoroughly inspected before they are deployed. 2. Using similar pod names Attackers create similar pod names and use random suffixes to hide them in the cluster. The pods then run malicious code and obtain access to many other resources. 3. Kubernetes Secrets intrusion Attackers exploit any misconfigurations in the cluster with the goal of accessing the API server and retrieving information from the Secrets objects. 4. Internal network access Attackers able to access a single pod that communicates with other pods or applications can move freely within the cluster to achieve their goals. 5. Using the writeable hostPath mount Attackers with permissions to create new containers can create one with a writeable hostPath volume. Kubernetes Attacks: Key Takeaways Kubernetes brings many advantages to organizations but also presents a variety of security risks, as documented above. However, by ensuring their environments are adequately protected through proper configuration and appropriately assigned permissions, the threat of Kubernetes attacks is greatly minimized. Should a container be compromised, properly assigned privileges can severely limit a cluster-wide compromise. Prevasio assists companies in the management of their cloud security through built-in vulnerability and anti-malware scans for containers. Contact us for more information on our powerful CSPM solutions. Learn about how we can protect your company from Kubernetes attacks and other cyberattacks. Schedule a demo Related Articles Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 5 Multi-Cloud Environments Cloud Security Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Convergence didn’t fail, compliance did. Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Cloud threats increased by 95 percent in 2022 alone! At a time when many organizations are moving their resources to the cloud and... Cloud Security Cloud Security Architecture: Methods, Frameworks, & Best Practices Rony Moshkovich 2 min read Rony Moshkovich Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 8/8/23 Published Cloud threats increased by 95 percent in 2022 alone! At a time when many organizations are moving their resources to the cloud and security threats are at an all-time high, focusing on your cloud security architecture has never been more critical. While cloud adoption has revolutionized businesses, it has also brought complex challenges. For example, cloud environments can be susceptible to numerous security threats. Besides, there are compliance regulations that you must address. This is why it’s essential to implement the right methods, frameworks, and best practices in cloud environments. Doing so can protect your organization’s sensitive cloud resources, help you meet compliance regulations, and maintain customer trust. Understanding Cloud Security Architecture Cloud security architecture is the umbrella term that covers all the hardware, software, and technologies used to protect your cloud environment. It encompasses the configurations and secure activities that protect your data, workloads, applications, and infrastructure within the cloud. This includes identity and access management (IAM), application and data protection, compliance monitoring, secure DevOps, governance, and physical infrastructure security. A well-defined security architecture also enables manageable decompositions of cloud deployments, including mixed SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS deployments. This helps you highlight specific security needs in each cloud area. Additionally, it facilitates integration between clouds, zones, and interfaces, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all deployment aspects. Cloud security architects generally use a layered approach when designing cloud security. Not only does this improve security, but it also allows companies to align business needs with technical security practices. As such, a different set of cloud stakeholders, including business teams and technical staff, can derive more value. The Fundamentals of Cloud Security Architecture Every cloud computing architecture has three core fundamental capabilities; confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This is known as the CIA triad. Understanding each capability will guide your efforts to build, design, and implement safer cloud environments. 1. Confidentiality This is the ability to keep information hidden and inaccessible to unauthorized entities, such as attackers, malware, and people in your organization, without the appropriate access level. Privacy and trust are also part of confidentiality. When your organization promises customers to handle their data with utmost secrecy, you’re assuring them of confidentiality. 2. Integrity Integrity means that the services, systems, and applications work and behave exactly how you expect. That is, their output is consistent, accurate, and trustworthy. If these systems and applications are compromised and produce unexpected or misleading results, your organization may suffer irreparable damage. 3. Availability As the name implies, availability assures your cloud resources are consistently accessible and operational when needed. So, suppose an authorized user (whether customers or employees) needs data and applications in the cloud, such as your products or services. In that case, they can access it without interruption or significant downtime. Cybercriminals sometimes use denial-of-service (DoS) attacks to prevent the availability of cloud resources. When this happens, your systems become unavailable to you or your customers, which isn’t ideal. So, how do you stop that from happening and ensure your cloud security architecture provides these core capabilities? Approaches to Cloud Security Architecture There are multiple security architecture approaches, including frameworks and methodologies, to support design and implementation steps. Cloud Security Frameworks and Methodologies A cloud security framework outlines a set of guidelines and controls your organizations can use when securing data, applications, and infrastructures within the cloud computing environment. Frameworks provide a structured approach to detecting risks and implementing appropriate security protocols to prevent them. Without a consistent cloud security framework, your organization exposes itself to more vulnerabilities. You may lack the comprehensive visibility to ensure your data and applications are adequately secure from unauthorized access, data exposure, malware, and other security threats. Plus, you may have limited incident response capabilities, inconsistent security practices, and increased operational risks. A cloud security framework also helps you stay compliant with regulatory requirements. Lastly, failing to have appropriate security frameworks can erode customer trust and confidence in your ability to protect their privacy. This is why you must implement a recognized framework to significantly reduce potential risks associated with cloud security and ensure the CIA of data and systems. There are numerous security frameworks. Some are for governance (e.g., COBIT and COSO), architecture (e.g., SABSA), and the NIST cybersecurity framework. While these generally apply broadly to technology, they may also apply to cloud environments. Other cloud-specific frameworks include the ISO/IEC 27017:2015, Cloud Control Matrix (CCM), Cloud Security Alliance, and the FedRAMP. 1. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) outlines a set of guidelines for securing security systems. It has five core capabilities: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Identify – What processes, assets, and systems need protection? Protect – Develop and implement the right safeguards to ensure critical infrastructure services delivery. Detect – Implement the appropriate mechanisms to enable the timely discovery of cybersecurity incidents. Respond – Develop techniques to contain the impact of potential cybersecurity incidents. Recover – Implement appropriate measures to restore business capabilities and services affected by cybersecurity events. While the NIST CSF is a general framework for the security of your organization’s systems, these five pillars can help you assess and manage cloud-related security risks. 2. ISO/IEC 27017:2015 ISO 27017 is a cloud security framework that defines guidelines on information security issues specific to the cloud. The framework’s security controls add to the ISO/IEC 27002 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards’ recommendations. The framework also offers specific security measures and implementation advice for cloud service providers and applications. 3. Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture (SABSA) First developed by John Sherwood, SABSA is an Enterprise Security Architecture Framework that provides guidelines for developing business-driven, risk, and opportunity-focused security architectures to support business objectives. The SABSA framework aims to prioritize your business needs, meaning security services are designed and developed to be an integral part of your business and IT infrastructure. Here are some core principles of the Gartner-recommended SABSA framework for enterprises: It is business-driven. SABSA ensures security is integrated into your entire business strategy. This means there’s a strong emphasis on understanding your organization’s business objectives. So, any security measure is aligned with those objectives. SABSA is a risk-based approach. It considers security vulnerabilities, threats, and their potential impacts to prioritize security operations and investments. This helps your organization allocate resources effectively to address the most critical risks first. It promotes a layered security architecture. Earlier, we mentioned how a layered approach can help you align business and technical needs. So, it’s expected that this is a core principle of SABSA. This allows you to deploy multiple security controls across different layers, such as physical security, network security, application security, and data security. Each layer focuses on a specific security aspect and provides special controls and measures. Transparency: SABSA provides two-way traceability; that is, a clear two-way relationship exists between aligning security requirements and business goals. This provides a clear overview of where expenditure is made ad the value that is returned. Modular approach: SABSA offers agility for ease of implementation and management. This can make your business flexible when meeting changing market or economic conditions. 4. MITRE ATT&CK The MITRE ATT&CK framework is a repository of techniques and tactics that threat hunters, defenders, red teams, and security architects can use to classify, identify, and assess attacks. Instead of focusing on security controls and mechanisms to mitigate threats, this framework targets the techniques that hackers and other threat actors use in the cloud. So, using this framework can be excellent if you want to understand how potential attack vectors operate. It can help you become proactive and strengthen your cloud security posture through improved detection and incident response. 5. Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Controls Matrix (CSA CCM) The CSA CCM is a cybersecurity control framework specifically for cloud computing. It contains 197 control objectives structured in 17 domains that cover every critical aspect of cloud technology. Cloud customers and cloud service providers (CSPs) can use this tool to assess cloud implementation systematically. It also guides customers on the appropriate security controls for implementation by which actor in the cloud supply chain. 6. Cloud Security Alliance Security Trust Assurance and Risk (CSA STAR) The CSA STAR framework is for CSPs. It combines the principles of transparency, thorough auditing, and harmonization of standards. What CSA STAR does is to help you, as a cloud customer, assess a cloud service provider’s reliability and security posture. There are two ways this can happen: CSA STAR Certification: This is a rigorous third-party assessment of the CSP’s security controls, posture, and practices. The CSP undergoes a thorough audit based on the CSA’s Cloud Control Matrix (CCM), which is a set of cloud security controls aligned with industry standards. CSA STAR Self-Assessment: The CSA also has a Consensus Assessment Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ). CSPs can use this to test and report on their security controls and practices. Since it’s a self-assessment procedure, it allows CSPs to be transparent, enabling customers like you to understand a CSP’s security capabilities before adopting their services. Challenges and Considerations in Cloud Security Architecture Before any cloud deployment, it’s important to understand the threats you may face, such as privilege-based attacks and malware, and be prepared for them. Since there are many common threats, we’ll quickly run through the most high-profile ones with the most devastating impacts. It’s important to remember some threats may also be specific to the type of cloud service model. 1. Insider risks This includes the employees in your organization who have access to data, applications, and systems, as well as CSP administrators. Whenever you subscribe to a CSP’s services, you entrust your workloads to the staff who maintain the CSP architecture. 2. DoS attacks Direct denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are critical issues in cloud environments. Although security perimeters can deflect temporary DDoS attacks to filter out repeated requests, permanent DoS attacks are more damaging to your firmware and render the server unbootable. If this happens, you may need to physically reload the firmware and rebuild the system from the ground up, resulting in business downtime for weeks or longer. 3. Data availability You also want to consider how much of your data is accessible to the government. Security professionals are focusing on laws and examples that demonstrate when and how government authorities can access data in the cloud, whether through legal processes or court rulings. 4. Cloud-connected Edge Systems The concept of “cloud edge” encompasses both edge systems directly connected to the cloud and server architecture that is not directly controlled by the cloud service provider (CSP). To extend their services to smaller or remote locations, global CSPs often rely on partners as they cannot have facilities worldwide. Consequently, CSPs may face limitations in fully regulating hardware monitoring, ensuring physical box integrity, and implementing attack defenses like blocking USB port access. 5. Hardware Limitations Having the most comprehensive cloud security architecture still won’t help you create stronger passwords. While your cloud security architects focus on the firmware, hardware, and software, it’s down to the everyday users to follow best practices for staying safe. Best Practices in Cloud Security Architecture The best practices in Cloud Security Architecture are highlighted below: 1. Understand the shared responsibility model Cloud security is implemented with a shared responsibility model. Although, as the cloud customer, you may have most of the obligation, the cloud provider also shares some of the responsibility. Most vendors, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, have documentation that clearly outlines your specific responsibilities depending on the deployment type. It’s important to clearly understand your shared responsibility model and review cloud vendor policies. This will prevent miscommunications and security incidents due to oversight. 2. Secure network design and segmentation This is one of the principles of cloud security architecture – and by extension, a best practice. Secure network design and segmentation involve dividing the network into isolated segments to avoid lateral movements during a breach. Implementing network segmentation allows your organization to contain potential risks and attacks within a specific segment. This can minimize the effects of an incident on your entire network and protect critical assets within the cloud infrastructure. 3. Deploy an Identity and access management (IAM) solution Unauthorized access is one of the biggest problems facing cloud security. Although hackers now use sophisticated tools to gain access to sensitive data, implementing a robust identity and access management (IAM) system can help prevent many threats. Consider access policies like role-based access control (RBAC) permissions, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and continuous threat monitoring. 4. Consider a CASB or Cloud Security Solution (e.g., Cloud-Native Application Protection (CNAPP) and Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP) Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) provide specialized tools to enforce cloud security policies. Implementing a CASB solution is particularly recommended if you have a multi-cloud environment involving different vendors. Since a CASB acts as an intermediary between your organization’s on-premise infrastructure and CSPs, it allows your business to extend security policies and controls to the cloud. CASBs can enhance your data protection through features like data loss prevention, tokenization, and encryption. Plus, they help you discover and manage shadow IT through visibility into unauthorized cloud services and applications. Besides CASB solutions, you should also consider other solutions for securing your cloud environments. This includes cloud-native application protection (CNAPP) and cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP). For example, a CNAPP like Prevasio can improve your cloud security architecture with tailored solutions and automated security management. 5. Conduct Audits, Penetration Testing, and Vulnerability Testing Whether or not you outsource security, performing regular penetration tests and vulnerability is necessary. This helps you assess the effectiveness of your cloud security measures and identify potential weaknesses before hackers exploit them. You should also perform security audits that evaluate cloud security vendors’ capabilities and ensure appropriate access controls are in place. This can be achieved by using the guidelines of some frameworks we mentioned earlier, such as the CSA STAR. 6. Train Your Staff Rather than hiring new hires, training your current staff may be beneficial. Your employees have been at your company for a while and are already familiar with the organization’s culture, values, and processes. This could give them an advantage over new hires. As most existing IT skills can be reused, upskilling employees is more efficient and may help you meet the immediate need for a cloud IT workforce. Train your staff on recognizing simple and complex cybersecurity threats, such as creating strong passwords, identifying social engineering attacks, and advanced topics like risk management. 7. Mitigate Cloud Misconfigurations A misconfigured bucket could give access to anyone on the internet. To minimize cloud misconfigurations and reduce security risks, managing permissions in cloud services carefully is crucial. Misconfigurations, such as granting excessive access permissions to external users, can enable unauthorized access and potential data breaches. Attackers who compromise credentials can escalate their privileges, leading to further data theft and broader attacks within the cloud infrastructure. Therefore, it is recommended that IT, storage, or security teams, with assistance from development teams, personally configure each cloud bucket, ensuring proper access controls and avoiding default permissions. 8. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements Most organizations today need to comply with strict regulatory requirements. This is especially important if you collect personally identifiable information (PII) or if your business is located in certain regions. Before you adopt a new cloud computing service, assess their compliance requirements and ensure they can fulfill data security needs. Failure to meet compliance requirements can lead to huge penalties. Other best practices for your cloud security include continuous monitoring and threat intelligence, data encryption at rest and in transit, and implementing intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems. Conclusion When establishing a robust cloud security architecture, aligning business objectives and technical needs is important. Your organization must understand the shared responsibility model, risks, the appropriate implementation framework, and best practices. However, designing and developing cloud computing architectures can be complicated. Prevasio can secure your multi-cloud environment in minutes. Want to improve your cloud security configuration management? Prevasio’s agentless CNAPP can provide complete visibility over cloud resources, ensure compliance, and provide advanced risk monitoring and threat intelligence. Speak to us now. Schedule a demo Related Articles Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 5 Multi-Cloud Environments Cloud Security Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Convergence didn’t fail, compliance did. Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Featured Snippet A cloud security audit is a review of an organization’s cloud security environment. During an audit, the security... Cloud Security What is a Cloud Security Audit? (and How to Conduct One) Rony Moshkovich 2 min read Rony Moshkovich Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 6/23/23 Published Featured Snippet A cloud security audit is a review of an organization’s cloud security environment. During an audit, the security auditor will gather information, perform tests, and confirm whether the security posture meets industry standards. PAA: What is the objective of a cloud security audit? The main objective of a cloud security audit is to evaluate the health of your cloud environment, including any data and applications hosted on the cloud. PAA: What are three key areas of auditing in the cloud? From the list of “6 Fundamental Steps of a Cloud Security Audit.” Inspect the security posture Determine the attack surface Implement strict access controls PAA: What are the two types of security audits? Security audits come in two forms: internal and external. In internal audits, a business uses its resources and employees to conduct the investigation. In external audits, a third-party organization is hired to conduct the audit. PAA: How do I become a cloud security auditor? To become a cloud security auditor, you need a certification like the Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) or Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP). Prior experience in IT auditing, cloud security management, and cloud risk assessment is highly beneficial. Cloud environments are used to store over 60 percent of all corporate data as of 2022. With so much data in the cloud, organizations rely on cloud security audits to ensure that cloud services can safely provide on-demand access. In this article, we explain what a cloud security audit is, its main objectives, and its benefits. We’ve also listed the six crucial steps of a cloud audit and a checklist of example actions taken during an audit. What Is a Cloud Security Audit? A cloud security audit is a review of an organization’s cloud security environment . During an audit, the security auditor will gather information, perform tests, and confirm whether the security posture meets industry standards. Cloud service providers (CSPs) offer three main types of services: Software as a Service (SaaS) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Platform as a Service (PaaS) Businesses use these solutions to store data and drive daily operations. A cloud security audit evaluates a CSP’s security and data protection measures. It can help identify and address any risks. The audit assesses how secure, dependable, and reliable a cloud environment is. Cloud audits are an essential data protection measure for companies that store and process data in the cloud. An audit assesses the security controls used by CSPs within the company’s cloud environment. It evaluates the effectiveness of the CSP’s security policies and technical safeguards. Auditors identify vulnerabilities, gaps, or noncompliance with regulations. Addressing these issues can prevent data breaches and exploitation via cybersecurity attacks. Meeting mandatory compliance standards will also prevent potentially expensive fines and being blacklisted. Once the technical investigation is complete, the auditor generates a report. This report states their findings and can have recommendations to optimize security. An audit can also help save money by finding unused or redundant resources in the cloud system. Main Objectives of a Cloud Security Audit The main objective of a cloud security audit is to evaluate the health of your cloud environment, including any data and applications hosted on the cloud. Other important objectives include: Decide the information architecture: Audits help define the network, security, and systems requirements to secure information. This includes data at rest and in transit. Align IT resources: A cloud audit can align the use of IT resources with business strategies. Identify risks: Businesses can identify risks that could harm their cloud environment. This could be security vulnerabilities, data access errors, and noncompliance with regulations. Optimize IT processes: An audit can help create documented, standardized, and repeatable processes, leading to a secure and reliable IT environment. This includes processes for system ownership, information security, network access, and risk management. Assess vendor security controls: Auditors can inspect the CSP’s security control frameworks and reliability. What Are the Two Types of Cloud Security Audits? Security audits come in two forms: internal and external. In internal audits, a business uses its resources and employees to conduct the investigation. In external audits, a third-party organization is hired to conduct the audit. The internal audit team reviews the organization’s cloud infrastructure and data. They aim to identify any vulnerabilities or compliance issues. A third-party auditor will do the same during an external audit. Both types of audits provide an objective assessment of the security posture . But internal audits are rare since there is a higher chance of prejudice during analysis. Who Provides Cloud Security Audits? Cloud security assessments are provided by: Third-party auditors: Independent third-party audit firms that specialize in auditing cloud ecosystems. These auditors are often certified and experienced in CSP security policies. They also use automated and manual security testing methods for a comprehensive evaluation. Some auditing firms extend remediation support after the audit. Cloud service providers: Some cloud platforms offer auditing services and tools. These tools vary in the depth of their assessments and the features they provide to fix problems. Internal audit teams: Many organizations use internal audit teams. These teams assess the controls and processes using CSPM tools . They provide recommendations for improving security and mitigating risks. Why Cloud Security Audits Are So Important Here are eight ways in which security audits of cloud services are performed: Identify security risks: An audit can identify potential security risks. This includes weaknesses in the cloud infrastructure, apps, APIs, or data. Recognizing and fixing these risks is critical for data protection. Ensure compliance: Audits help the cloud environment comply with regulations like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001. Compliance with these standards is vital for avoiding legal and financial penalties. Optimize cloud processes: An audit can help create efficient processes using fewer resources. There is also a decreased risk of breakdowns or malfunctions. Manage access control: Employees constantly change positions within the company or leave. With an audit, businesses can ensure that everyone has the right level of access. For example, access is completely removed for former employees. Auditing access control verifies if employees can safely log in to cloud systems. This is done via two-step authentication, multi-factor authentication, and VPNs. Assess third-party tools: Multi-vendor cloud systems include many third-party tools and API integrations. An audit of these tools and APIs can check if they are safe. It can also ensure that they do not compromise overall security. Avoid data loss: Audits help companies identify areas of potential data loss. This could be during transfer or backup or throughout different work processes. Patching these areas is vital for data safety. Check backup safety: Cloud vendors offer services to back up company data regularly. An audit of backup mechanisms can ensure they are performed at the right frequency and without any flaws. Proactive risk management: Organizations can address potential risks before they become major incidents. Taking proactive action can prevent data breaches, system failures, and other incidents that disrupt daily operations. Save money: Audits can help remove obsolete or underused resources in the cloud. Doing this saves money while improving performance. Improve cloud security posture: Like an IT audit, a cloud audit can help improve overall data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. How Is a Cloud Security Audit Conducted? The exact audit process varies depending on the specific goals and scope. Typically, an independent third party performs the audit. It inspects a cloud vendor’s security posture. It assesses how the CSP implements security best practices and whether it adheres to industry standards. It also evaluates performance against specific benchmarks set before the audit. Here is a general overview of the audit process: Define the scope: The first step is to define the scope of the audit. This includes listing the CSPs, security controls, processes, and regulations to be assessed. Plan the audit: The next step is to plan the audit. This involves establishing the audit team, a timeline, and an audit plan. This plan outlines the specific tasks to be performed and the evaluation criteria. Collect information: The auditor can collect information using various techniques. This includes analytics and security tools, physical inspections, questioning, and observation. Review and analyze: The auditor reviews all the information to evaluate the security posture. Create an audit report: An audit report summarizes findings and lists any issues. It is presented to company management at an audit briefing. The report also provides actions for improvement. Take action: Companies form a team to address issues in the audit report. This team performs remediation actions. The audit process could take 12 weeks to complete. However, it could take longer for businesses to complete the recommended remediation tasks. The schedule may be extended if a gap analysis is required. Businesses can speed up the audit process using automated security tools . This software quickly provides a unified view of all security risks across multiple cloud vendors. Some CSPs, like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, also offer auditing tools. These tools are exclusive to each specific platform. The price of a cloud audit varies based on its scope, the size of the organization, and the number of cloud platforms. For example, auditing one vendor could take four or five weeks. But a complex web with multiple vendors could take more than 12 weeks. 6 Fundamental Steps of a Cloud Security Audit Six crucial steps must be performed in a cloud audit: 1. Evaluate security posture Evaluate the security posture of the cloud system . This includes security controls, policies, procedures, documentation, and incident response plans. The auditor can interview IT staff, cloud vendor staff, and other stakeholders to collect evidence about information systems. Screenshots and paperwork are also used as proof. After this process, the auditor analyzes the evidence. They check if existing procedures meet industry guidelines, like the ones provided by Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). 2. Define the attack surface An attack surface includes all possible points, or attack vectors, through which unauthorized users can access and exploit a system. Since cloud solutions are so complex, this can be challenging. Organizations must use cloud monitoring and observability technologies to determine the attack surface. They must also prioritize high-risk assets and focus their remediation efforts on them. Auditors must identify all the applications and assets running within cloud instances and containers. They must check if the organization approves these or if they represent shadow IT. To protect data, all workloads within the cloud system must be standardized and have up-to-date security measures. 3. Implement robust access controls Access management breaches are a widespread security risk. Unauthorized personnel can get credentials to access sensitive cloud data using various methods. To minimize security issues related to unauthorized access, organizations must: Create comprehensive password guidelines and policies Mandate multi-factor authentication (MFA) Use the Principle of Least Privilege Access (PoLP) Restrict administrative rights 4. Strict data sharing standards Organizations must install strong standards for external data access and sharing. These standards dictate how data is viewed and accessed in shared drives, calendars, and folders. Start with restrictive standards and then loosen up restrictions when necessary. External access should not be provided to files and folders containing sensitive data. This includes personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). 5. Use SIEM Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems can collect cloud logs in a standardized format. This allows editors to access logs and automatically generates reports necessary for different compliance standards. This helps organizations maintain compliance with industry security standards. 6. Automate patch management Regular security patches are crucial. However, many organizations and IT teams struggle with patch management. To create an efficient patch management process, organizations must: Focus on the most crucial patches first Regularly patch valuable assets using automation Add manual reviews to the automated patching process to ensure long-term security How Often Should Cloud Security Audits Be Conducted? As a general rule of thumb, audits are conducted annually or biannually. But an audit should also be performed when: Mandated by regulatory standards. For example, Level 1 businesses must pass at least one audit per year to remain PCI DSS compliant. There is a higher risk level. Organizations storing sensitive data may need more frequent audits. There are significant changes to the cloud environment. Ultimately, the frequency of audits depends on the organization’s specific needs. The Major Cloud Security Audit Challenges Here are some of the major challenges that organizations may face: Lack of visibility Cloud infrastructures can be complex with many services and applications across different providers. Each cloud vendor has their own security policies and practices. They also provide limited access to operational and forensic data required for auditing. This lack of transparency prevents auditors from accessing pertinent data. To gather all relevant data, IT operations staff must coordinate with CSPs. Auditors must also carefully choose test cases to avoid violating the CSP’s security policies. Encryption Data in the cloud is encrypted using two methods — internal or provider encryption. Internal or on-premise encryption is when organizations encrypt data before it is transferred to the cloud. Provider encryption is when the CSP handles encryption. With on-premise encryption, the primary threat comes from malicious internal actors. In the latter method, any security breach of the cloud provider’s network can harm your data. From an auditing standpoint, it is best to encrypt data and manage encryption keys internally. If the CSP handles the encryption keys, auditing becomes nearly impossible. Colocation Many cloud providers use the same physical systems for multiple user organizations. This increases the security risk. It also makes it challenging for auditors to inspect physical locations. Organizations should use cloud vendors that use mechanisms to prevent unauthorized data access. For example, a cloud vendor must prevent users from claiming administrative rights to the entire system. Lack of standardization Cloud environments have ever-increasing entities for auditors to inspect. This includes managed databases, physical hosts, virtual machines (VMs), and containers. Auditing all these entities can be difficult, especially when there are constant changes to the entities. Standardized procedures and workloads help auditors identify all critical entities within cloud systems. Cloud Security Audit Checklist Here is a cloud security audit checklist with example actions taken for each general control area: The above list is not all-inclusive. Each cloud environment and process involved in auditing it is different. Industry Standards To Guide Cloud Security Audits Industry groups have created security standards to help companies maintain their security posture. Here are the five most recognized standards for cloud compliance and auditing: CSA Security, Trust, & Assurance Registry (STAR): This is a security assurance program run by the CSA. The STAR program is built on three fundamental techniques: CSA’s Cloud Control Matrix (CCM) Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) CSA’s Code of Conduct for GDPR Compliance CSA also has a registry of CSPs who have completed a self-assessment of their security controls. The program includes guidelines that can be used for cloud audits. ISO/IEC 27017:2015: The ISO/IEC 27017:2015 are guidelines for information security controls in cloud computing environments. ISO/IEC 27018:2019: The ISO/IEC 27018:2019 provides guidelines for protecting PII in public cloud computing environments. MTCS SS 584: Multi-Tier Cloud Security (MTCS) SS 584 is a cloud security standard developed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore. The standard has guidelines for CSPs on information security controls.Cloud customers and auditors can use it to evaluate the security posture of CSPs. CIS Foundations Benchmarks: The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Foundations Benchmarks are guidelines for securing IT systems and data. They help organizations of all sizes improve their security posture. Final Thoughts on Cloud Security Audits Cloud security audits are crucial for ensuring your cloud systems are secure and compliant. This is essential for data protection and preventing cybersecurity attacks. Auditors must use modern monitoring and CSPM tools like Prevasio to easily identify vulnerabilities in multi-vendor cloud environments. This software leads to faster audits and provides a unified view of all threats, making it easier to take relevant action. FAQs About Cloud Security Audits How do I become a cloud security auditor? To become a cloud security auditor, you need certification like the Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) or Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP). Prior experience in IT auditing, cloud security management, and cloud risk assessment is highly beneficial. Other certifications like the Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge (CCAK) by ISACA and CSA could also help. In addition, knowledge of security guidelines and compliance frameworks, including PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and NIST, is also required. Schedule a demo Related Articles Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 5 Multi-Cloud Environments Cloud Security Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Convergence didn’t fail, compliance did. Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

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As cloud adoption and digital transformation increases, more sensitive data from applications is being stored in data containers. This is... Application Connectivity Management How to Make Container Security Threats More Containable Prof. Avishai Wool 2 min read Prof. Avishai Wool Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 9/8/22 Published As cloud adoption and digital transformation increases, more sensitive data from applications is being stored in data containers. This is why effective container security controls to securely manage application connectivity is an absolute must. AlgoSec CTO and Co-Founder, Prof. Avishai Wool provides some useful container security best practices to help you do just that. What is Container Security? Organizations, now more than ever, are adopting container technology. Instead of powering up servers and instances in the cloud, they are using containers to run business applications. Securing these is equally as important as securing other digital assets that the business is dependent on. There are two main pillars to think about: The code: you want to be able to scan the containers and make sure that they are running legitimate code without any vulnerabilities. The network: you need to control access to and from the container (what it can connect to), both inside the same cluster, other clusters, and different parts of the network. How critical is container security to managing application connectivity risks? To understand the role of container security within the overall view of network security, there are three points to consider. First, if you’re only concerned about securing the containers themselves, then you’re looking at nano-segmentation , which involves very granular controls inside the applications. Second, if you’re thinking about a slightly wider scope then you may be more concerned with microsegmentation , where you are segmenting between clusters or between servers in a single environment. Here you will want to enforce security controls that determine the allowable communication between specific endpoints at specific levels. Finally, if the communication needs to go further, from a container inside one cluster within one cloud environment to an asset that’s outside of the data center, then that might need to go through broader segmentation controls such as zoning technologies, security groups or a firewall at the border. So, there are all these layers where you can place network security policies. When you’re looking at a particular connectivity request (say for a new version of an application) from the point of view of a given container you should ask yourself: what is the container connected to? What is it communicating with? Where are those other sides of the connectivity placed? Based on that determination, you will then know which security controls you need to configure to allow that connectivity through the network. How does containerization correlate with application centric security policy management? There are a number of different aspects to the relationship between container security and application security. If an application uses containers to power up workloads then container security is very much an integral part of application security. When you’re adding new functionality to an application, powering up additional containers, asking containers to perform new tasks whereby they need to connect to additional assets, then the connectivity of those containers needs to be secured. And security controls need to be regulated or changed based on what the application needs them to do. Another factor in this relationship is the structure of the application. All the containers that run and support the application are often located in one cluster or a micro-segment of the network. So, much of the communication takes place inside that cluster, between one container or another, all in the same cluster. However, some of it can go to another cluster or somewhere that’s not even containerized. This is actually a good thing from an application point of view as the container structure can be used to understand the application structure as well. Not sure about container orchestration? Here’s what to know Container orchestration is part of a bigger orchestration play which is, in general, related to the concept of infrastructure as code. You want to be able to power up an environment with all the assets it requires, and have it function simultaneously so you can duplicate it. There are various orchestration technologies that can be used to deploy the security policies for containers , which is an excellent way to maintain container-based applications in a consistent and repeatable manner. Then if you need to double it or multiply it by 100, you can get cookie-cutter copies of the same thing. How will container security solutions play out in the future? Organizations today have the technology to enforce security controls at the container level, but these controls are very granular and it’s time-consuming to set policies and enforce them, particularly with issues like staff or skills shortages. Looking ahead, companies are likely to take a hierarchical view where container-based security is controlled at the application level by app owners or developers, and at the broader levels to ensure that the measures deployed throughout the network have the same degree of sophistication. Procedures and tooling are all evolving, so we don’t have a definitive answer as to how this will all end up. What are organizations going to be doing? Where will they place their controls? Who has the power to make the changes? When newer technologies are deployed, customer adoption will be crucial to understanding what makes the most sense. This will be interesting as there will be multiple scenarios to help companies master their security blueprint as we move forward. To learn how the use of containerization as a strategy can help reduce risk and drive application-centric security, check out this video . Schedule a demo Related Articles Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 5 Multi-Cloud Environments Cloud Security Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Convergence didn’t fail, compliance did. Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... 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Security Policy Management with Professor Wool Next Generation Firewalls Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) with Professor Wool is a whiteboard-style series of lessons that examine the some of the challenges of and provide technical tips for managing security policies on NGFWs across in evolving enterprise networks and data centers. Lesson 1 In this lesson, Professor Wool examines next-generation firewalls and the granular capabilities they provide for improved control over applications and users. Next-Generation Firewalls: Overview of Application and User-Aware Policies Watch Lesson 2 In this lesson, Professor Wool examines the pros and cons of whitelisting and blacklisting policies and offers some recommendations on policy considerations. NGFWs – Whitelisting & Blacklisting Policy Considerations Watch Lesson 3 Next generation firewalls (NGFWs) allow you to manage security policies with much greater granularity, based on specific applications and users, which provides much greater control over the traffic you want to allow or deny. Today, NGFWs are usually deployed alongside traditional firewalls. Therefore change requests need to be written using each firewall type’s specific terminology; application names and default ports for NGFWs, and actual protocols and ports for traditional firewalls. This new lesson explains some of challenges of writing firewall rules for a mixed firewall environment, and how to address them. Managing Your Security Policy in a Mixed Next Gen and Traditional Firewall Environment Watch Lesson 4 As part of the blacklisting approach to application security, most NGFW vendors now offer their customers a subscription based service that provides periodic updates to firewall definitions and signatures for a great number of applications especially the malicious ones. In this lesson, Professor Wool discusses the pros and cons of this offering for cyber threat prevention. It also discusses the limitations of this service when home-grown applications are deployed in the enterprise, and provides a recommendation on how to solve this problem. Using Next Generation Firewalls for Cyber Threat Prevention Watch Have a Question for Professor Wool? Ask him now Choose a better way to manage your network Choose a better way to manage your network Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

In this webinar, our experts show how application centric automation can help secure connectivity Webinars Secure Application Connectivity with Automation In this webinar, our experts show how application centric automation can help secure connectivity. How can a high degree of application connectivity be achieved when your data is widely distributed? Efficient cloud management helps simplify today’s complex network environment, allowing you to secure application connectivity anywhere. But it can be hard to achieve sufficient visibility when your data is dispersed across numerous public clouds, private clouds, and on-premises devices. Today it is easier than ever to speed up application delivery across a hybrid cloud environment while maintaining a high level of security. In this webinar, we’ll discuss: – The basics of managing multiple workloads in the cloud – How to create a successful enterprise-level security management program – The structure of effective hybrid cloud management March 22, 2022 Asher Benbenisty Director of product marketing Relevant resources Best Practices for Incorporating Security Automation into the DevOps Lifecycle Watch Video Avoiding the Security/Agility Tradeoff with Network Security Policy Automation Keep Reading Choose a better way to manage your network Choose a better way to manage your network Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue