Cloud is becoming the preferred way of operating business, with 90% of businesses using cloud computing in one form or another. This fact is not surprising given the numerous benefits a company can realize such as hybrid work flexibility, increased collaboration, scalability, and so much more. While many organizations embrace this major shift to the cloud, one thing that must be a priority is your cloud security posture. But what is cloud security exactly?
What is Cloud Security?
Cloud computing security or cloud security is the practice of securing your off-premises data (cloud), applications, people, and devices from cyberthreats. Rather than solely protecting critical resources (on-premises) behind a network perimeter as traditional security practices do, cloud security uses advanced cloud security solutions and techniques to secure the business beyond its established perimeter.
Shared Responsibility
One aspect of cloud security that can often be unclear is what level of security tasks are the responsibility of the cloud service provider (CSP), such as Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, and what security tasks belong to your organization. Cloud security can be thought of in a “shared responsibility model” (review image provided by Microsoft below.) The amount and placement of responsibilities will vary depending on your CSP carrier and what type of cloud service you have with them. Services provided by the CSP are generally categorized as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), or Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS).
In a traditional on-premises networking environment, you own all the security responsibilities. As you move your workload to the cloud, some of the responsibilities are transferred to the CSP based on your service type. In all situations, however, the security responsibility of data, endpoints, accounts, and access management will always be retained by you. A good example of this shared responsibility model can be seen in the chart below diagramming the transfer of cloud security tasks when using Microsoft Azure compared to a fully on-premises network.
Deeper Dive
When using the cloud for business operations, it is important to understand what cloud security really means to your organization. With so much information swirling around about evolving threats to cloud computing, compromised credentials, etc., it can be hard to determine what is relevant to your small to medium-sized business (SMB) network. In an effort to bring some clarity around this topic, we have created a Cloud Security Resources hub. Here you will find a condensed view of cloud security topics that are relevant to your SMB in one easy-to-access page.
Answers to frequently asked questions, cloud security strategies, and details about essential security tools can all be found within the Cloud Security Resources hub. Take a look at the information available to guide your SMB down the right cloud security path.
If you are looking to partner with an experienced Cloud MSP who can help maximize the benefits of your cloud environment, connect with Systems Engineering at 888.624.6737 or info@systemsengineering.com.
