In this post-covid era, cloud computing has become the primary strategy of most companies working in the IT space. The reasoning behind this is that cloud computing offers solutions that are more versatile and affordable than working on-premise. Whether you need the cloud to improve the deployment speed of your native apps, or you just want to enjoy the benefits of accessible storage and data processing, cloud computing is here to help.
However, since the cloud has become so popular, hackers have also started seeing it as a great opportunity for more cyberattacks. After the digital shift of the covid pandemic in 2020, more than 90% of companies have started using at least one cloud-based service. This makes the majority of companies vulnerable to attacks, as they might not have taken the necessary precautions required to secure their cloud. This is precisely why cloud-native application protection platforms are on the rise (CNAPPs), as they offer an all-in-one solution for cloud security.
Now that we've understood the importance of cloud security, let's go over the different types of cloud security solutions and see what they offer.
Types of Cloud Security Solutions
Although there are many types of cloud security solutions, the most popular ones are CWPPs, CIEMs, and CSPMs. Let’s go over them and see what they are.
Cloud Workflow Protection Platforms (CWPP)
A CWPP is a type of security solution that's designed to protect an organization's cloud-based workflow. This includes the company's email servers, SaaS (News - Alert) applications, and other cloud-based tools that are used to manage workflows.
Solutions such as these enable companies to easily scale up and down on their resources whenever required, making them incredibly flexible. Moreover, the DevOps team can benefit from using CWPP, as they can automatically configure CI/CD pipelines to secure the apps.
Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)
CIEM is a type of security solution that's designed to protect an organization's cloud infrastructure. This includes the company's servers, storage, and networking equipment that are used to power their cloud-based applications.
The main benefit of using a CIEM solution is that it drastically reduces both external and internal risks associated with human action. Namely, a CIEM solution serves as an inventory for every user's permissions in the environment, using the principle of least privilege to ensure that no one can exploit any vulnerabilities.
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
CSPM is a type of security solution that's designed to assess an organization's cloud security posture. This includes the company's policies, procedures, and controls that are used to secure their cloud-based applications. Moreover, a CSPM solution will automatically monitor the cloud for vulnerabilities by determining whether some sensitive information is at risk.
In addition to monitoring for vulnerabilities, a CSPM solution will evaluate the exposure a company has against compliance requirements. This will make sure that you're not only securing your data, but you're also doing so in a way that's compliant with the industry's best practices.
Benefits of Securing Your Cloud
The main benefits of securing your cloud are:
Increased visibility
When you have the right security solution for your cloud in place, you're able to see exactly what's happening in your environment at all times. This increased visibility will help you quickly identify any potential threats and take the necessary measures to mitigate them. Even though attacks on the cloud can be devastating, the truth is that the majority of them can be prevented with monitoring and threat management.
Reduced costs
By securing your cloud, you're able to avoid costly downtime and data breaches. An attack on your cloud can be quite destructive - especially if you're handling users' personal data. In addition to the direct damage to your company, you might also have to pay costly fines and expensive penalties. Not to mention the permanent stain on your reputation, which might cause your clients to run elsewhere.
Improved detection
A good security solution will not only provide you with visibility, but it will also help you quickly detect any anomalies in your environment. This way, you can take the necessary steps to prevent an attack before it even happens. In the majority of cases, attacks on the cloud are potent due to misconfigurations. By being able to detect even the smallest potential vulnerabilities, you'll be sure that your cloud is truly secure.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, securing your cloud is incredibly important. By using the right security solution, you're able to increase your visibility, improve your detection, and reduce your costs. If you're not sure where to start with cloud security, we recommend looking into CWPP, CIEM, and CSPM solutions. You can also consider looking into a CNAPP solution, as it will offer an incredibly wide variety of features in just one service.
