In Cloud, users have a significant security concern, and data should be permanently stored in an encryption format. It helps to restrict the client from accessing the shared data directly or with proxy and with the help of brokerage services.
Security Planning
Before deploying a particular service on Cloud, the user or enterprise should analyze various resources as follows:
- Choosing the resource that is essential to move to the Cloud and to examine its sensitivity risk
- Users should consider a set of popular cloud services like IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. In these three models of Cloud, the user is entirely responsible for managing security at different levels.
- Users should choose the cloud type from Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Community Cloud, or Hybrid Cloud.
- The next step is to understand the system about cloud service providers, such as data storage, its transfer speed, and information about its cloud services.
- The risk in cloud deployment depends upon the cloud service models and their types.
Understanding Security of Cloud
A service model defines the boundary limit in the middle of responsibility services of provider and customer. Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) stack model defines the limitations between each set of service models and displays how functional units coordinate with each other. Below are the critical points of the CSA model, and they are as follows:
- IaaS is the most basic, and the initial level is followed by the PaaS and SaaS.
- In the next step, every step came over with its service capabilities and their security issues.
- IaaS will provide users with infrastructure, followed by PaaS, which includes a Platform or development environment, and finally, SaaS, which offers an environment for operating.
- IaaS has the most minor level of security, while SaaS has the highest level of protection.
- This model describes the security limitations of boundaries at which the user’s responsibility begins.
Understanding Data Security in Cloud Computing
As an enterprise or user transfers all their data on cloud security of the data is a significant concern. Below is the list of some practices for data protection
- By Access Controlling
- By Audit Performance
- Through Authenticating users
- By providing access to Authorized users
All the security models should include a security mechanism for operating all sections mentioned above.
Isolated Access to Data
As data is being stored in the cloud, multiple users can access it from any location. Thus, a mechanism is essential to follow to isolate data and protect it from direct access.
The solution is Brokered Cloud Storage Access. It is an approach for isolating data or storage in the cloud platform. Below are the services created, and they are as follows:
- A Broker will have complete access to storage, but the client has no access
- A proxy will be as long as with zero access to storage, but it can access by both client and the Broker
- Working Process of Brokered Cloud Storage Access System
- Below are the client issues while requesting access to data, and they are as follows:
- The data request of the client proceeds to the external interface of the proxy service
- The proxy will put forward the request to the Broker
- The Broker will request the data from the Cloud Storage system
- The Cloud Storage system will reply with the data to the Broker
- The Broker will return data to proxy
- Finally, the proxy will hand over the data to the client
Encryption
Encryption helps in protecting the data. It secures the data which is being transferred and also the information which is stored inside the Cloud. And encryption helps in protecting data from any unauthorized users as it helps prevent data loss.
Areas to Secure in Cloud Computing
Users can fulfill their requirements by adopting Cloud Technology. They can take advantage to plan and design cloud deployments. Also, they can arrange to plan the security configurations to be built in the initial phases to avoid threats and risks.
By protecting each section, IT teams can plan for future deployments quickly and confidently.
1. Networks (Traffic Patching, Virtual Patching)
One of the trickiest and challenging sections is Network traffic inspection in Cloud. It can be a defense line protecting against zero-day attacks from known vulnerabilities. Protection can be provided with the help of virtual patching.
Cloud provides a firewall to the users, and it is significantly different from the traditional firewall. The most critical challenge is its execution and deploying the firewall. But the user has to take care that configuration does not affect the network connections or existing connections in a Private Cloud or Cloud network.
2. Cloud Instance (Workload Security at Runtime)
Security Diagrams and structures change the complete understanding of securing the components. In Cloud, Computing workload means a capability unit or total amount of the work done in a cloud instance.
Cloud Administrators face the challenge of protecting these workloads against security threats, malware, or any type of exploitation. The reason cloud administrators are responsible is that they run the server, Cloud, or container environments. The user can deploy their instances as per the requirements, but each instance should be monitored by a cloud administrator and governed by a security policy.
DevOps (Container Security)
In recent years, the software unit in Cloud Computing has become a trend. By using the containers facility, users can ensure the reliability of software compared to the actual computing area. Their areas are complex to replace or maintain. Kubernetes users are stress-free as cluster security assures them.
For the team development team and operations team, security integrity while developing the software is more beneficial. As the Cloud App development is widespread. It means that the containers must be scanned for malware, vulnerabilities even during software dependencies. Also, it protects secrets or keys and also includes compliance violations.
Users perform these checks as early as possible during the build because it’s an ideal choice in continuous integration and Continuous Deployments (CI/CD) pipeline for a better and smooth workflow.
Applications (Serverless, APIs, and Web Apps)
In some serverless or container platforms, traditional security cannot help in the deployment.
In many companies, fast and systematic programming and deployment of new applications are the main drivers of adopting the Cloud. But note these applications are solid doors for the runtime of web applications threats like code injections, automated attacks, and followed by remote command executions.
To protect data, Application Security plays a key role. But unfortunately, if any attacks or vulnerabilities occur, the attack details must be administered and accessible to Cloud Administrators.
File Storage
Companies are adopting Cloud Technology to transfer their complete or partial data from on-premises storage. Cloud Storage, files, or objects can be a primary source of getting damaged if any malicious file gets uploaded. Scanning should be performed daily of any size because it saves to minimize the risk of third-party users accessing and executing a malicious file.
Conformity and Governance
In today’s world, there are Data privacy regulations, and the industries have to follow these standards strictly. These regulations are as follows:
- First, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Second, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS)
- Third, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
These regulations have core and bottom-line implications for enterprises to capture, process, and save the data, especially while working on the Cloud. Cloud administrators must practice and maintain the balance between these requirements along with the cloud benefits. But it is the responsibility of the organization to check and assure with their security technologies and their deployments.
If it does not go along correctly, the organizations will receive a penalty for security violations and will destroy all cost-saving planning.
Conclusion
Thus, in today’s article, we have covered the security concept in Cloud Computing. Data in the Cloud is the critical element. Best security practices should have a note by the users to secure the data. Also, the enterprise or the user can check the cloud provider’s documentation on security practices and data protection.