Organisations already have to store files and data in the cloud as a regular work process, and studies have shown that the security side of it is at high risk. Businesses are now balancing the cost of cloud management and security, meaning organisations are at risk of needing help managing their data correctly within these systems. In the following article, I will discuss the challenges the cloud environment faces and the risks organisations face with security.

Security procedures in the cloud

One continuous challenge in cloud security is the mistake that security procedures with on-premise data centres can also be applied to the cloud. Cloud systems are a lot more complex and need additional security measures than on-prem does. It is worth noting that monitoring internal traffic is just as important as monitoring external traffic. Once a hacker breaks in, they are able to move around within the system. This then creates vulnerability in cloud security.

In more traditional data centres, security is focussed in physical forms such as locked rooms and restricted entry points. But where cloud resources can be spread across multiple locations and can be accessed from anywhere, it means that the security side of it has to be flexible and adaptable. From this, organisations need to make sure that their security processes can handle the constantly changing cloud environment, where workloads can quickly start or stop, and data moves easily between services.

Studies have revealed that 95% of internet traffic is now encrypted, producing another challenge in the cloud security landscape. Though encryption is essential for protecting sensitive data, it then creates a blind spot for security teams. Hackers take advantage of this and mask their attacks, meaning that organisations must find ways to inspect encrypted traffic effectively without compromising performance and incurring excessive costs.

Don’t have cloud “tool sprawl”!

Cost management is another challenge that cloud security faces and there are a few strategies that organisations should consider to overcome this challenge. One way is for organisations to review their security tools across different cloud platforms. By doing this, it then highlights areas where the same tool can be used across different cloud environments, creating a simpler oeprating system and providing a clearer picture of what is happening in the cloud setups, resulting in improving security overall.

Following on from this, gathering excessive amounts of different tools and methods for collecting data can cause complications and higher costs. As mentioned above, by constantly reviewing tools that are in use, companies can avoid “tool sprawl” and help provide consistency across the whole cloud system. Tool sprawl is where too many tools are used; this results in increasing licensing costs and requires employees to have a variety of skills to manage these tools. So, by managing the tools used, organisations can manage their cost spending.

Be picky with your data

There is nothing wrong with being selective about the data you send. Companies need to be more selective and careful about the data their tools collect. By ignoring low-risk traffic and focussing on real threats, they can reduce the amount of data that is process, which then enables them so save on cost.

With processes put in place that filter out unnecessary data, organisations can be confident that the security tools they use focus on the most important and critical data. Work processes are then improved, such as enhancing their ability to detect and respond to genuine threats.

The rise of generative AI brings new security concerns to the cloud environment. It’s always been said that you should be careful with who you share your data with; this can also be the same when sharing data with AI tools. Organisations need to monitor the network traffic between the company and AI to understand precisely how the data is being used and highlight any potential risks. Regularly reviewing the data collected will help with this.

The 3 keys

As cloud tech becomes more popular, there are three key points that should be remembered to ensure a safe working environment. Security features are something that needs to be understood clearly. Organisations need to know their responsibility with security in the cloud. Though cloud providers offer strong security features, they do not handle every part and need to be understood. It isn’t uncommon to find that the customer has the main responsibility for security.

The second key point is that organisations need to be able to balance the speed of innovation with thorough security planning. Do not rush to the finish line and deploy cloud processes without proper evaluation of the long-term implications. When launching cloud applications, security, as always, should be a top priority, and organisations should never add security features later on. During the early stages of design and development, security should be one of the features that must be considered first.

The final point is one that can save organisations money. For each new project, unless it is necessary, do not buy new tools; instead, focussing on current tools allows companies to save money and resources. Through reviewing, businesses often find they are able to make better use of current tools of a variety of cloud platforms, and employees are then able to develop their skills in this.

Cost Management & Regulatory Compliance

Continuing on with cost management, a lot of companies need to find a way to manage their cost management in cloud security. Businesses need to make sure that as they look to more cost-effective spending in the cloud, that security is not at risk. This issue can be solved by using automation and AI-processed security solutions, which will help balance cost and cloud security successfully. From this, businesses are able to delegate resources effectively and confidentially, knowing that their cloud security is strong.

Another challenge that many are facing is linked with the regulatory requirements. Data protection regulations are constantly being reviewed and amended with stricter rules, organisations must be aware that their cloud security practices must follow the guidelines and any industry standards. Ways which they are able to ensure they do the following: practising proper data governance practices, maintaining audit trails, and ensuring that data is gathered properly and correctly.

Adding a Human Touch to Cloud Security

Technology itself is only part of the puzzle that organisations need to focus on; another aspect is employees within the company itself. Employee training and awareness cannot be overlooked and must be incorporated to ensure that they are aware of their role in keeping the cloud system secure. Creating a culture within the organisation where employees are able to see their responsibility in protecting data will keep the security of cloud platforms strong. Taking steps such as regular training, running practice exercises like fake phishing attacks, and having clear security rules will help maintain this culture.

In conclusion, businesses need to update and manage their security practices to overcome the challenges mentioned in this article. By focusing on understanding all network activity, secure data management, and choosing the right security tools, organisations will be able to manage costs and improve cloud security. Cloud security is constantly developing, which means that businesses need to review and ensure that their practices are following alongside and evolving appropriately without risking security. How are you managing your cloud security?

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