The public cloud is a range of cloud computing services offered by platforms like GCP, Azure, and AWS, making them available over the internet. Cloud security is an essential aspect of cloud platforms. There is no common framework to assess CSPs, and no two cloud service providers are the same.
Every cloud service provider has its proprietary security functions and methods that are an inherent part of cloud security. Here we look at functions that you should expect from public cloud security platforms.
Centralized Visibility into Cloud Infrastructure
According to experts like https://sonraisecurity.com/cloud-security-platform/, one of the public cloud security essentials is visibility in configuration settings, security policies, and user activity. This function reduces the chances of a security team missing an unusual activity or overlooking vulnerability in cloud security due to misconfiguration that can open doors to attackers.
To minimize these risks, security teams need to monitor and assess the configuration of essential cloud services. It also helps determine the overall security posture of the cloud environment.
Native Integration of Cloud Management and Cloud Security
The public cloud environment is based on a shared model where the security of the cloud environment is also a shared responsibility. The customer controls some security settings while the cloud security provider manages some others.
Visibility into cloud infrastructure requires close coordination between cloud workload protection and the underlying cloud environment. It depends on the API-level integration of security tools in the cloud platform. The cloud security software you choose should allow native integration of cloud security and management to help you identify risks and configuration issues specific to the SaaS model.
Web Application Layer Protections
One of the problems with shared responsibility is that it is often unclear who manages a particular responsibility. You need to ensure the cloud platform supports web application firewalls to secure your applications.
Threat detection runs differently when the application is running on-premise and when running in the cloud. The cloud security platform should detect threats within application content and make granular adjustments to secure apps.
Identity-Based and Network-Based Access Control
Identity access management is a critical cloud function that allows developers to create, view, modify, and delete functions. This function can be accessed through the main console, and it can show all permissions for any given function, VM, or individual.
The IAM function allows administrators to remove a role from the member, which automatically truncates the permissions related to the role. It also allows for expanding roles for any user. The IAM function performs an essential role in determining whether the caller of any function has the right to invoke that function.
Authentication Functions and End-Users
When enterprises move systems to the cloud, they need to assign users the right to access cloud resources. The authentication functions grant the users or group of users the ability to perform these actions like granting roles to users. The authentication functions are useful in the following use cases:
- It allows developers to specify which users can invoke testing functions.
- It enables function-to-function access to ensure that only authorized functions are allowed to invoke related functions.
- It secures end-user access to a web client or application on the mobile.
Function Identity
If you have multiple cloud functions, you would want to give every function a separate identity. It can be achieved through function identity. It allows you to deploy a function with a named service account with a relevant role. For example, a function can be deployed if it is created in the same project to which it is attached.
VPC Service Controls
VPC service control function allows you to set up a secure perimeter for your application and data. It is your shield against data exfiltration and can be easily set up. All you must do is specify the security perimeter and add projects to the perimeter.
After you set the service perimeter, the cloud security platform will ensure all calls to the Cloud functions API are checked, and they originate from the same security perimeter.
Sharing Policies
The organization’s security policy works to restrict domain sharing. This policy restricts public data sharing. Organization policies can be set at the project, folder, or organization level. This sharing function determines which functions can be deployed and what features need authentication invocation.
The corporate network that was earlier behind a security perimeter is now accessible through the internet. This only way to provide comprehensive protection is by employing advanced cloud security software that can secure all aspects and elements of cloud functioning. The security functions discussed in the post covers the entire spectrum of cloud services and ensure clients optimal security for applications and data. For more information, visit: https://sonraisecurity.com/cloud-security-platform/.
