Cloud Security Is Not A Panacea

The need for businesses to build quickly and operate at dynamic scales has lead to widespread cloud adoption across most industries and the public sector. The adoption of cloud services has lead to an incredible increase in IT productivity across all aspects of infrastructure creation, automation, operation, and management. Yet, the euphoria of this digital transformation can often be overshadowed by the complex challenges that come with it, particularly in network security. The dynamic, scalable nature of the cloud introduces security challenges that must be addressed.

 

While cloud adoption has given IT organizations a significant boost in productivity, that is not to say that from a security standpoint the Cloud has been a panacea for security. The shared responsibility model of cloud services is another challenge for many organizations. While cloud providers ensure the security of the cloud, the security in the cloud is up to the customers. Businesses must take responsibility for securing their applications, data, and individual identities. This requires a clear understanding of the division of responsibility between the cloud provider and the customer, leading to a necessity for continuous education and training on cloud security best practices.

 

As with any networked system, a single vulnerability in one area can potentially compromise the entire network. Businesses, therefore, need to review their security posture. Unlike traditional systems where the infrastructure is mostly static, cloud environments are incredibly dynamic. This constant flux requires a shift from conventional, perimeter-based security approaches to more holistic, process-focused ones that can keep up with the fluidity of the dynamism of cloud infrastructure.

 

The scalability of the cloud leads to a complexity that requires a fresh look at management strategies. The sheer volume of assets, resources, and services can be overwhelming, making it hard to maintain visibility and control. While maintaining automated tools that can map, monitor, and manage the cloud environment effectively is paramount, conducting continual reviews of the tool output and reviewing business requirement roadmaps to see how they fit with both the current and future infrastructure state becomes one of the most important jobs of an IT organization. The need for rapid deployment, inherent to the cloud’s appeal, can sometimes compromise security. The pressure to push applications quickly often leads to overlooking security checks, resulting in potential vulnerabilities. To counteract this, businesses need to embrace a ‘security by design’ approach, embedding security processes from the inception of a project.