Hybrid cloud security protects data and infrastructure in a hybrid cloud-driven IT system. Its scope of protection includes providing high levels of security for standard hybrid-cloud systems and functions such as workload portability, applications, and management across various IT environments involving at least one public or private cloud. It allows companies to reduce the risk of potentially exposing their data to malicious elements.
However, as a hybrid cloud security framework needs to operate at every level of a distributed network, it can be complex. In fact, this is just one of the factors contributing to the complexity of hybrid cloud architecture and security systems. If appropriate strategies are implemented to simplify the same, users can minimise and overcome interruptions in hybrid cloud operations and security and optimise their data safeguarding efforts.
What are the measures to minimise hybrid cloud security complexity?
Every cloud security implementation will face challenges based on IT maturity, level of cloud adoption, organisational size, and other factors. Deploying certain measures can simplify the process.
Standardising the cloud implementation process
Organisations can standardise their hybrid cloud public and private cloud implementation to minimise the possibility of security gaps and human errors. Some of the most serious data breaches occur due to errors in the configuration of public clouds. Multiple security issues can be addressed if companies use standard security measures for their on-premises cloud.
Security procedures for their on-premises cloud should also be conducted to protect their public cloud. If they have a process of ensuring credentials are not carried over to production, the same approach should be used in the public cloud. Standardising the process of transferring assets like databases or virtual machines between on-premises and cloud-based environments is also quintessential.
Encrypting Data
Many cloud service providers include data encryption as part of their security features. However, it is vital to coordinate encryption between private and public clouds to ensure that the same degree of encryption is implemented across the board. Special care must be taken to focus on data encryption in transit between on-premises and public clouds.
Establishing Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Policies
Developing backup plans ensures a seamless operation in emergency situations like data centre and service outages. This involves implementing automated image-based backups of virtual machines and data backups. An entire disaster recovery site hosted in a cloud environment can also be backed up if necessary.
Leveraging CWPP
Cloud Workload Protection Platform offers security focused on the level of workload, which offers distinct protection requirements for every workload in a multi or hybrid cloud environment. It can help to assess risk and suggest rectification for specific workloads.
Isolating Most Critical Infrastructure
When a critical system is deployed on a private or public cloud, businesses should ensure that they should be isolated from the other systems and accessed by a limited number of users. This will ensure organisational data security.
Leveraging CSPM
A Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) is a segment of IT security tools that are designed to recognise issues of misconfigurations and risks of compliance in the hybrid cloud. It constantly monitors distributed cloud infrastructure for security policy enforcement gaps.
Managing Access throughout Hybrid Cloud
IAM, which is short for Identity and Access Management, is crucial for protecting assets in diverse public and private cloud environments. Security teams or professionals can stretch IAM across both the environments using identity federations (system of trust for authenticating users) and unified directories (robust identity management deployments).
The principle of least-privileged access should be enforced using IAM in both public and private clouds. This will ensure employees and contractors can have access to the only resources they require.
What are the benefits of simplifying hybrid cloud security?
Managing security in a hybrid cloud can be complex and, by extension, sub-optimal for your data. Therefore simplifying its incorporation in the hybrid cloud is quite beneficial.
Ease in Controlling Data
Simplified hybrid cloud security enables the cyber security team to keep a tab on who is accessing the data. They can implement zero trust and provide access to authorised personnel for a limited time. It helps to evade any threats which may damage the company.
Encryption of Data
In hybrid cloud security, both the data in transit and at rest are encrypted. Many times, data encryption at rest is not turned on, making it simpler for cybercriminals to hack into and extract information from cloud-based devices and databases.
Risk Management
By implementing IDS (Intrusion Detection System), organisations can monitor and get alerts if there are any vulnerabilities to their hybrid cloud platform. This will enable them to assess the degree of risk and deploy the correct measures.
A hybrid cloud ecosystem has tremendously increased in popularity in recent times. As a result, the demand for hybrid cloud security solutions has also risen considerably in the same period. If companies can control the complexity involved in hybrid cloud infrastructure, they will be able to fully extract value out of it for the growth of their businesses.
