Ensure Security controls to stay on a safe side

Why do you need Cloud Security?

In the past, data was controlled mainly through IT and stored inside a protected perimeter. Remote access to the data was permission-based and almost always through a VPN. Threats were focused on the network and endpoint. With a defined perimeter, IT was able to control access tightly. However, with the mix of Hybrid, SAAS, IAAS and PAAS, controls now need to span from on-prem to cloud and potentially a combination of them. With access to corporate cloud resources now increasing outside the firewall via remote/BYOD, there is a need to ensure security controls.

What to consider

Many organisations are now looking at the cloud as an alternative to running some or all applications on-premise. For some company boards or C-level execs, it can be to look at the finances involved in running a service to deciding whether it makes financial sense to move. What is lacking in most cases is how these cloud services, be they Hybrid, SAAS, IAAS or PAAS, can be automated or managed from a centralised, corporate level with control and governance. Many cloud services have built-in tools to manage access, but how do these align with corporate policy, especially if I.T. has no visibility of some of the apps in use, i.e. shadow-I.T.. How do we manage user access? How do we control the flow of inappropriate or sensitive data? How do we ensure the corporate policy is aligned? How do we ensure corporate-approved tools are used, and most importantly, how do we enforce policies specifying that your data never leaves your environments? These are just some of the questions that need to be considered when introducing the cloud into an organisation.

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There are many elements that can offer better protection when using Cloud services, global policy controls that ensure security posture follows virtual workloads even if they traverse onto public cloud platforms, portability of those workloads back in-house if needed, getting visibility of non-Sanctioned or non-IT controlled cloud apps, how to ensure IP, Trade Secrets, Customer or PII data do not reside in unsanctioned areas, ensuring proper configuration of Azure, AWS and Google Cloud ensuring no unintentional exposure to sensitive data takes place, and cloud access security brokering are all elements we can assist with.