How do you secure cloud services without slowing down?

Depending on what stage of Cloud Migration your project or company is in, the following steps are a good starting point - pick the right risk profile to start with - choosing the right kind of application to migrate helps the asset inventory and picking what kind of data should go into cloud. - Start with a low risk posture - starting with guardrails and if practical a landing zone style environment in the cloud with best practices in place, before moving applications helps build the right foundations before all the applications migrate.

Whether on-premises or cloud everywhere have to think about a trust security model, where all the devices or any individual access the services from their identity and IAM should always be role-based access, azure security center, firewall rules, encryption can help to keep secure the cloud services without slowing down definitely

In my perspective, assessing risks and defining security requirements before transitioning to the cloud is crucial. Utilizing resources like the SANS Cloud Security Maturity Model can be immensely beneficial. By examining data sensitivity, user permissions, and potential threats, you can develop a roadmap based on your current maturity level. This roadmap guides security enhancements in a structured way, ensuring a secure cloud environment that aligns with your organization's goals and evolves as your maturity level advances.

When securing cloud services, a commonly overlooked risk is persistent 24/7 access – the Achilles' heel in cloud security. Users often retain unnecessary access, creating a prime target for threat actors. Why is this problematic? Because these standing 24/7 permissions are akin to leaving all the doors wide open, creating an inviting target for threat actors in cloud hacks. Fix? Adopt a Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) model. Dynamically control access based on pre-approved policies, preserving user velocity. Emergency access? Channel it through a pre-defined workflow. As cloud adoption rises, this shift becomes crucial. ZSP significantly reduces your cloud risk – users gain access as needed, promptly revoked upon task completion.

The top 3 security controls for effective cloud security are: 1. Identity and Access Management (IAM): Strong IAM policies ensure that only authorized users and applications can access resources, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. 2. Encryption:Employing encryption for data at rest and in transit ensures data confidentiality and integrity, even if a breach occurs. 3. Logging and Monitoring: Comprehensive logging and monitoring enable real-time threat detection and rapid response, helping to identify and mitigate security incidents promptly.

Map out, in as much detail as you can, the path your data will take, and not just at the application layer. It is important to understand every hop made along the way, and the underlying protocols and network hops. This ensures a clear understanding of what the vulnerable surface looks like, and which pieces are actually in your control. Ideally, we don't want to make trust assumptions based on network layers and 3rd parties that are outside our control.

In my perspective, implementing security controls is paramount for safeguarding cloud assets. The SANS Cloud Security Maturity Model aids in prioritizing controls based on your current maturity level. These controls, such as encryption and authentication, play a pivotal role in preventing, detecting, and mitigating security incidents. Understanding your shared responsibility model is crucial, as it defines your role in implementing these controls based on your chosen cloud service model. Effective coordination with your provider ensures that security controls align with your security objectives, contributing to a robust cloud security strategy.

Security Controls don't need to be complicated too. For those looking to make a start they can start with the following: - CIS Benchmark from their chose Cloud Service Provider is a good start - Most Cloud Service Providers provided a security advisor services which makes basic recommendations and checks to know your posture - Have MFA on Identities created with access to cloud

Integrating automation in the CI/CD pipeline by adding pre-commit git hooks to - prevent secrets in code - prevent any vulnerable open source libraries make it to the environment from the developer's machine these checks happen quickly and are still developer friendly to start integrating security into CI/CD pipeline to head towards a DevSecOps dream land

To train your staff on cloud security best practices effectively, consider these three methods: Online Training: Utilize platforms like AWS, Microsoft, or Google for comprehensive courses and certifications. Simulated Exercises: Conduct cybersecurity simulations to practice incident response and vulnerability identification. Regular Workshops:Organize workshops and awareness programs with security experts to foster a security-conscious culture.

As a CISO, or security leaders it's important to do a self assessment of what your current capability and team skills are. This helps with the decision for when you face new challenges or threats, what is something that the team cannot do and where they need or what they need to be trained in.

Absolutely, training your staff on cloud security best practices is a vital step in bolstering your cloud service security. Your employees are not just users; they are your front-line guardians against cyber threats. By arming them with the knowledge and skills to navigate the cloud securely, you not only reduce risks but also empower them to be responsible stewards of your organization's digital assets. It's about creating a shared sense of responsibility, where every team member plays a crucial role in maintaining a robust cloud security posture. Regular updates, feedback, and a culture of security awareness are key elements in this ongoing effort to protect your digital infrastructure.

Cloud Security just like CyberSecurity is an on-going practice of honing your skills in a constantly changing technology with the only difference being Cloud release happy more frequently then the version of some of softwares are updated. It's important to have great resources like Cloud Security Alliance, Cloud Security Podcast, Cloud Security Bootcamp, OWASP etc which have loads of online cloud security material. Along with this keeping an eye on security conferences and cloud service provider conferences for what's being announced to keep tabs on how you can continue to use Cloud in the best way possible.

Absolutely, maintaining a robust and adaptive cloud security strategy is pivotal in today's digital landscape. Cloud security is indeed an ongoing process, and your words highlight the continuous effort needed to safeguard sensitive data and systems. Metrics and indicators, such as incident severity and recovery costs, provide valuable insights into your security effectiveness. They enable data-driven decisions to enhance your defenses. Incorporating customer and stakeholder feedback is equally vital, as it ensures that security aligns with business objectives and user expectations. The ever-evolving nature of cyber threats and cloud technologies underscores the importance of staying current with trends and best practices.

While assessing risks of migrating to cloud, consider risks associated with Infra-as a code, to ensure the DevSecOps principles are applied as that would be a critical risk area as a result of moving to cloud. Align the existing Cyber Security strategy to include cloud security risks & ctrls so that the migrated applications & infra are marked as safe owning to running on earlier ctrls. While training staff ,keep them aware of the changes expected in the existing policies, procedures and controls as well. Many a times they are well versed with the current ctrls but don't fully understand the implications of how those controls are modified in a cloud environment. It may be a good idea to explore lateral monitoring for a cloud or hybrid env.

Securing Cloud services is very much important because we have noticed a quite a shift towards using cloud product & services, reason being ease of use and accessibility. With this shift it has also enabled a critical component of securing this as most of the vendor say it's shared responsibility. To protect this we follow a couple of steps- - Enable basic security checks at early stages - Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across or to the instance open to internet - If budget permits use managed security services - Setup a monitoring system to detect unwanted threat - Setup process for Patch Management, Asset Scan, Training and Awareness and Audit process And many more can be done like enabling security vendor, based on budget.

Securing cloud services requires a balanced approach. Tips: 1. Develop a robust security strategy. 2. Implement IAM and strong authentication. 3. Encrypt data in transit and at rest. 4. Continuously monitor your cloud environment. 5. Ensure compliance and conduct audits. 6. Train staff in cloud security. 7. Automate security tasks. 8. Adopt a zero-trust architecture. 9. Use cloud-native security solutions. 10. Regularly assess and test security. 11. Have backup and disaster recovery plans. 12. Collaborate with your cloud provider. 13. Customize security controls. 14. Prioritize efforts based on risk assessments.