Delivery of services over the network is becoming an increasingly popular way for companies to do business. Cloud computing security and architecture give decision makers more options when deploying services and tackling new projects.
Software as a service (SaaS) delivery models benefit from cloud-based deployments due to lower costs and an increased capacity for centralized hosting. This centralisation is essential for companies investing in cloud security to build on-demand solutions tailored to their specific use case.
What Is Cloud Security?
Cloud security is a vital part of protecting online data, which is especially important for enterprise storage strategies. The broad range of policies and practices that organisations put into place to protect their digital assets and infrastructure make up their cloud security solutions.
For many businesses, cloud security issues represent a major hurdle for increased revenue and growth. While cloud storage can elevate a company’s ability to store and manage vital data, it also places it within the crossfires of ransomware threats and attackers. Understand how cloud security works, the risks of using cloud-based systems, and how cloud security can be used to reduce potential network vulnerabilities.
How Does Cloud Security Work?
Cloud computing moves data storage to remote servers, meaning that it can be accessed online. To protect this data, there are several approaches enterprises can take, including:
- Establishing a disaster recovery plan and business continuity roadmap
- Using object storage for important information and leveraging IAM policies or object lock to ensure data protection
- Partnering with cloud services that use advanced encryption
When onboarding a method of cloud security, it’s recommended that the internal IT team and business leaders consider how it will be implemented across the company in order to limit security risk.
Four Major Categories of Cloud Architecture
There are many models that businesses can use to deploy cloud security. Depending on the cloud architecture you choose, you’ll want to tailor security efforts accordingly.
These include:
- Hybrid cloud
- Multicloud
- Private
- Public
Hybrid and multicloud architectures work between various cloud storage models, which help enterprises scale their storage and operate with more flexibility. However, this added complexity needs to be considered when establishing security methods.
What Are the Security Risks of Cloud Computing?
While there are important benefits for businesses operating in the cloud, there are also many potential risks. These might include:
- Data being exposed, leaked, or shared with someone outside of the organisation
- A backdoor within important data is used by an unauthorised user
- Too many people, even those within the organisation, have access to important data
- A malicious attack, such as ransomware or another threat, encrypts vital data or destroys the existing cloud infrastructure
SaaS business models are especially vulnerable to attacks as they not only hold internal information and data within the cloud, but the information of other businesses they serve as well.
What Are the Six Pillars of Cloud Security?
Good cloud security practices are built with consistency in mind. For many organisations, it’s important to supplement cloud security resources with trusted practices.
The six pillars of cloud security include:
1. Control Access
Create security controls that isolate users and operate under zero-trust principles for better data protection.
2. Ensure Authenticity
Establish internal best practices for creating, using, and updating passwords so that systems aren’t accidentally compromised.
3. Limit Traffic
Use a trusted and updated firewall to monitor and limit external access into the network to reduce the potential for unwanted threats.
4. Build Resiliency
At some point, it will be necessary to edit, change, or move data to another location. When this happens, businesses should have protocols in place for ensuring data integrity.
5. Use Logging
For better tracking and maintenance of problems, make sure internal systems and processes have measures for logging issues and communicating errors, so IT can provide better support.
6. Protect Data
If you want to protect your data from potential threats, make sure to encrypt network traffic and have strict protocols for how and where information can be used.
Businesses that follow these important principles are better equipped to deliver effective SaaS cloud solutions.
Benefits of Cloud Security for Your Company
If your company is looking for better protection from potential online threats, cloud security offers a wide range of services that can protect the entire network from attack. Antivirus software, network monitoring, and real-time support are just a few ways cloud security can benefit users. These provide:
- Added encryption to protect data
- The ability to establish policies regulating who can access what data
Cloud Security Responsibilities: What Falls on the Provider and What Falls on You?
Because most cloud services are outsourced to a third-party provider, the responsibility for compromised data should be clearly defined.
Generally, users and providers use a shared responsibility model in which providers cover any infrastructure and users are in control of specific aspects such as backups, restores and locations.
Top SaaS Cloud Security Challenges
SaaS providers that deploy cloud security solutions face many challenges.
Cloud Application Theft
Cloud applications provide important tools and platforms for users to improve their operations. However, they can be vulnerable to cyberattacks that allow malicious actors to hijack important systems. SaaS businesses should secure their applications with best practices to ensure they aren’t abused.
Holes in Who Can Access What Data
Important user data and internal documents are stored in the cloud. This approach can leave vital systems vulnerable to breaches if they aren’t correctly secured. SaaS businesses need to control access to important information and data to limit the potential for theft or misuse.
Inability to Monitor Data During Cloud Application Migration
Data is most vulnerable when migrating data from internal servers to the cloud. IT leaders need to use encrypted traffic and limit the amount of information moved at any single point in time.
Security Shadow Weaknesses
When systems and applications are accessed or used without pre-approval from IT managers, they can create unseen vulnerabilities within the network. Businesses that want to deploy secure SaaS solutions should maintain tight control over which applications are used, by whom, and when to limit security shadow weaknesses.
Low Investment in Maintenance
SaaS cloud computing security and infrastructure require ongoing maintenance and management to ensure they are kept up to date and running efficiently. Business leaders need to invest time, money, and people in the ongoing maintenance of vital SaaS cloud computing security solutions.
Security Threats and Attacks Against Cloud Providers
While cloud providers offer offsite redundancy and protection from cyber threats, they shouldn’t be the only solution. Cloud providers are not immune to security threats and attacks, making data backups and redundancy all the more important.
Unable to Maintain Compliance
Legal documentation is necessary for ensuring cloud-based SaaS organisations maintain compliance. By adopting strict data management protocols, IT leaders can ensure they have the data they need to support accurate legal reporting.
SMB Cloud Security Solutions
When small-to-midsized businesses turn to cloud systems for their security solutions, they gain access to better management capabilities and more accurate methods for data collection.
Businesses looking to adopt cloud solutions within their organisation should use careful planning and consideration so they can deploy solutions that fit their needs.
Enterprise Company Cloud Security Solutions
Maintaining SaaS cloud computing security environments means understanding the best solutions for your budget.
Seagate Lyve Cloud offers security that is complementary to existing S3 object storage efforts, leveraging added encryption that’s ideal for enhancing security within a multicloud architecture. Lyve Cloud is scalable, allowing you to easily expand storage capacity alongside your enterprise’s growth.
The applications, services, and infrastructure that you deploy to protect your systems should be built with strict user control and application software defence. By monitoring traffic, looking for weaknesses, and investing where needed, SaaS businesses will be better equipped to reduce threats and limit liability.
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