How can your organization prioritize cloud security?

Assess Your Cloud Security Posture: Start by conducting a thorough assessment of your organization's cloud security posture. In my experience, this involves identifying potential vulnerabilities and understanding the unique security challenges within your specific cloud environment. A comprehensive audit sets the foundation for a robust security strategy.

Depending on your Cloud Provider, you can use there Cloud Security Assessment tools against what you currently have im the Cloud. They will usually have ISO 27001 standards, NIST 800-53 R5 as of now, Zero Trust Architecture and many other Standards. You will also have SQL Vulnerabilities Assessment at the ready, Cloud Asset Assessments from the Cloud Provider, and other Assessment tools. The Cloud providers are constantly updating the Regulations and Standards so Security Engineer and Customers are aware of there Cloud Security Posture.

In order to keep our data safe and our operations running smoothly, it is essential to evaluate the company's cloud security measures. Some possible approaches are as follows: Self-Assessment: To evaluate your controls in key areas like as access management, data security, and infrastructure security, we can utilize questionnaires based on security frameworks such as CIS Benchmarks or NIST SP 800-53. In addition, we may check for misconfigurations and determine if the cloud setup is in accordance with corporate policies and standards by conducting an internal audit.

Cloud security is a shared responsibility between the organization and the cloud provider. We can ensure data and operations remain secure by actively managing the cloud environment adapting to new threats and conducting regular cloud security audits to identify vulnerabilities and gaps. Continuously monitor the cloud environment for suspicious activity and threats. Utilize cloud-native security features like access controls, encryption, and anomaly detection.

Trabalhar com CDN, duplo fator de autenticação, VPN, backup, e ambiente de redundância podem ser as premissas para se possuir segurança na nuvem.

Imaginemos "una empresa" que ha migrado sus operaciones a la nube. Para priorizar la seguridad, realiza una evaluación usando la Matriz de Controles en la Nube de la Cloud Security Alliance. Se identifican brechas en la configuración de permisos, vulnerabilidades en las aplicaciones y riesgos asociados a la gestión de datos. También se evalúa el cumplimiento con ISO/IEC 27017. Esta evaluación proporciona una visión clara de la postura actual en seguridad en la nube, permitiendo a la empresa tomar medidas correctivas y reforzar controles existentes para asegurar la integridad y confidencialidad de sus datos.

Always approach and really try to VIEW what you are doing with you choose to develop or implement or modify your security best practices for your cloud related assets and access, with the lens of the plethora of people out there with a computer in a dark room or basement or even their phone or Chromebook and think like those many that wish harm to the tech admin and cloud admin out there just trying to keep the lock on tight without someone getting a dang key without permission. but if you think like a criminal you are more apt to think of the one or two little but very beneficial ideas that lets them get that key from your key ring, and open your tech cabinets, cause you need to be right 100 % of the time, they only need to be right once!

Eu adotaria uma abordagem abrangente. Inicialmente, realizaríamos uma avaliação de riscos para identificar e priorizar potenciais ameaças, concentrando-nos nos riscos mais críticos. Em seguida, desenvolveríamos e implementaríamos políticas de segurança na nuvem alinhadas com as melhores práticas da indústria e regulamentações aplicáveis. A promoção da conscientização através de programas regulares de treinamento, incluindo simulações de phishing, seria uma parte essencial para fortalecer a segurança entre os funcionários. Adicionalmente, implementaríamos controles rigorosos de acesso, incorporando autenticação multifator sempre que possível, e revisaríamos regularmente os privilégios de acesso com base nas funções e responsabilidades.

The ISO27001 security standard provides over 100 controls. In a nutshell, once the scope is defined, a risk assessment needs to be conducted considering all applicable controls. Policies and procedures need to be created or updated based on the standard as well as business requirements. Then we move on to implementing the changes required, recording on change management controls, implementing systems and configurations as needed. Training stakeholders, setting up monitors, scheduling reviews and continually improving will be the following stages. It needs to be thorough but doesn't need to be complicated!

Costumo dizer que Cloud é como se você estivesse pedindo um "Açaí". Vai muito de encontro com o que você tem de investimento e apetite. Você pode pedir um Açaí básico e apreciá-lo porém você pode incrementar seu Açaí de acordo com seu apetite e custo com morangos, granola, leite condensado e outros ingredientes que deixarão o mesmo mais robusto e saboroso. O mesmo acontece para o Cloud, quanto de investimento você tem para incrementar sua solução baseado em seu apetite de risco? Implementar Pessoas, processo e tecnologias vão demandar "morangos" raros e custos significativos em seu "Açaí", tudo vai de acordo com sua apetite de risco baseado na classificação de dados que são coletado, armazenados e processados em Cloud.

Implement Cloud Security Best Practices: It's not just about having security measures; it's about implementing the best practices that resonate with your cloud infrastructure. For instance, in our journey, adopting encryption at rest and in transit played a pivotal role in securing sensitive data, ensuring compliance, and building trust with stakeholders.

Applying Identity and Access Management (IAM) would be the first step in your best practices. Within that, you would want to use Just-in-time access or Privileges Identity Management (PIM) depending on what you are trying to access. Also within IAM, you would want to have Multifactor Authentication (MFA) for your users and geo-location active as well. Single Sign-on with help with authentication of the person to you organization. Next would be encryption. Encryption at rest should be use for any resource that will store some sort of data. Having policies in place to enforce this will greatly help. Meaning, when a resource is created, the policy should not allow it to be created unless the policy is met. Depending on the cloud provider.

My recommendation is to use fully managed security software. Such service helps us detect and respond quickly to any potential security threats. It works seamlessly with our cloud platforms and makes sure our security rules are always in place, reducing the chances of mistakes. The fully managed service works usually 24X7, keeps an eye on the latest threats, helping us stay ahead. Plus, it can grow with our needs, adapting to changes in our cloud setup. By using this simple and effective security solution, we make sure our organization's data stays safe and secure in the cloud.

Adopt a Cloud-Native Security Approach: Transitioning to a cloud-native security approach is imperative. My team's experience reflects the shift towards integrating security measures seamlessly into our cloud applications. Leveraging native cloud security services, like AWS Key Management Service (KMS) or Azure Key Vault, enhances protection without compromising efficiency.

All the tools that are named above great tools that are provided by a cloud provider. They will definitely help an organization be more secure in the cloud. The question is, do you have the right personal configuring these tools to notify the right teams for inspection? With all this data being generated and aggregate, you will have to make sure the right team gets notify of the misconfiguration, MITRE Attack sequence, or Attack Vector. Most cloud providers have a Cloud Security Posture built-in to let the organization know what is going on with there resources. Security teams will have to have the properly trained personnel to configure all of these tools. That will be the biggest peice. Trained individuals.

Train and Educate Your Staff: Human error is a significant factor in security breaches. In our environment, investing in continuous training and education programs for our staff proved invaluable. Empowered employees are better equipped to recognize and respond to potential threats, creating a proactive security culture.

As a contractor cybersecurity analyst, I once worked with a company focused on fostering a security-conscious culture during their transition to the cloud. We conducted workshops and webinars to educate employees on cloud security. During one session, an employee shared their experience of falling for a phishing email, but their training helped them recognize and report the threat. To enhance security awareness, we initiated engaging campaigns and newsletters. We appointed security champions and mentors in various departments, creating a culture where everyone understood their role in maintaining a secure cloud environment. This empowered staff to be the first line of defence against cyber threats and implement a cloud security strategy.

En una empresa financiera líder, un empleado cayó en un intento de phishing, proporcionando información confidencial debido a un correo electrónico aparentemente legítimo. Este incidente resaltó la necesidad de educar a los usuarios. La empresa reaccionó implementando programas de capacitación recurrentes para sensibilizar a los empleados sobre tácticas de phishing y prácticas seguras en línea. La lección aprendida fue que, además de las medidas tecnológicas, la formación continua es esencial para fortalecer la ciberseguridad y capacitar a los empleados para identificar y evitar amenazas potenciales.

It comes down to the organization culture. For smaller businesses, it is a bit hard to establish cultural of security when they are more worried about the bottom line. And that's understandable. They have less money to spend on training for security as a whole. For the smaller businesses, try to find personal that are really invested in security. Want to make a difference in a business. But for larger businesses with 10,000 people or more, there's not much room for not making security a priority. Especially if you're Hybrid model. The attack vector is much bigger. Budget much bigger. If the business doesn't want to lose it status and prestige in a industry, they will want to invest in security.

Review and Improve Your Cloud Security Strategy: Periodic reviews are essential. Reflecting on our own practices, we conduct regular evaluations of our cloud security strategy. This ensures that it evolves alongside emerging threats and aligns with the ever-changing landscape of cloud services. Continuous improvement is the cornerstone of effective security.

All the above needs to be implemented. I would add, have a security auditor or some type of auditor on your staff. They will track your security posture and conduct internal audits as well. They will also keep the organization apprised of any changes to regulations and guidelines. They are there to keep the organization in compliance. For other cloud security strategies, have policies in place that have the Security Analysis and engineers comb over the environment together. Gathering the data and information to put into a report to send to the auditor. Being proactive will do wonders.

Embrace a collaborative security community. Sharing insights and experiences with peers in the industry provides a wealth of knowledge. Additionally, staying abreast of compliance requirements ensures your security measures are not only robust but also meet industry standards. Remember, security is a journey, not a destination. Let's fortify our cloud defenses together! 🔐 #CloudSecurity #Cybersecurity #TechLeadership

En una empresa líder en tecnología, un pequeño descuido durante una actualización en la infraestructura de la nube destacó la importancia de la seguridad. Un ingeniero olvidó desactivar temporalmente ciertos permisos, permitiendo un acceso no autorizado a datos sensibles. Gracias al monitoreo constante y alertas automatizadas del equipo de seguridad en la nube, el incidente se detectó rápidamente y se mitigaron los riesgos. Esta experiencia llevó a la empresa a fortalecer sus protocolos de seguridad y concienciación del personal, subrayando la necesidad de controles rigurosos en la gestión de cambios, incluso en entornos tecnológicamente avanzados.