Cloud Security
As organisations adopt cloud technology to improve speed, agility, scale and cost savings, a cloud security assessment can support and guide IT organizations tasked with protecting business-critical assets in the cloud.
Enterprises are adopting a wide number of cloud applications and cloud technologies. From cloud storage, collaboration tools, office suites and enterprise applications, cloud services are adding remarkable computing power to day-to-day operations – as well as significant cloud security risks. Most cloud applications are not enterprise ready, and IT teams are unable to secure cloud technology at the same rate it is being adopted by enterprise users. Various deterrent, preventative and detective control therefore need to be put in place.
A cloud security assessment can help by identifying risks, evaluating current controls, identifying gaps or weaknesses, and providing recommendations tailored to business priorities. With a superior cloud security assessment, enterprises can successfully navigate the shifting landscape of cloud computing security while developing a mature cloud security architecture to protect data, users and the organization.
That's where Risk Imperium can help. With a bench of security experts well-versed in all aspects of cloud security, we can help to design, plan, and implement a cloud security assessment to help organizations achieve cloud strategy goals, improve cloud security and enable new business models.
Elements of Risk Imperium’s Cloud Security Assessment
Our cloud security service includes a wide range of capabilities for a cloud security assessment, including:
• Identification of cloud security risks.
• Performing a cloud security audit to document current controls and provide visibility into the strengths
and weaknesses of current systems.
• Assessment of gaps in current capabilities that may weaken cloud security in recommending technology and
services to address them.
• Assessment of security maturity by benchmarking current controls and practices against leading methods and standards.
• Performing a cloud security assessment of the effectiveness of current policies and their alignment with business goals.
Cloud security controls
Cloud security architecture is effective only if the correct defensive implementations are in place. An efficient cloud security architecture should recognize the issues that will arise with security management. Risk Imperium ensures that security management addresses these issues with security controls. These controls are put in place to safeguard any weaknesses in the system and reduce the effect of an attack. While there are many types of controls behind a cloud security architecture, they can usually be found in one of the following categories:
Deterrent controls
These controls are intended to reduce attacks on a cloud system. Much like a warning sign on a fence or a property, deterrent controls typically reduce the threat level by informing potential attackers that there will be adverse consequences for them if they proceed. (Some consider them a subset of preventive controls.)
Preventive controls
Preventive controls strengthen the system against incidents, generally by reducing if not actually eliminating vulnerabilities. Strong authentication of cloud users, for instance, makes it less likely that unauthorized users can access cloud systems, and more likely that cloud users are positively identified.
Detective controls
Detective controls are intended to detect and react appropriately to any incidents that occur. In the event of an attack, a detective control will signal the preventative or corrective controls to address the issue. System and network security monitoring, including intrusion detection and prevention arrangements, are typically employed to detect attacks on cloud systems and the supporting communications infrastructure.