Cloud protection encompasses all the measures and technologies you use to safeguard data, applications, and infrastructures in cloud environments from external and internal threats. It is crucial for businesses pursuing digital transformation and adopting more cloud-based tools.

Some external threats cloud protection addresses include cyberattacks that aim to steal data or disrupt services. Internal threats, on the other hand, could involve unauthorized access by employees or accidental data leaks.

Common threats to cloud environments

Zero-day exploits

These are unknown or unaddressed vulnerabilities in software. They’re dangerous because, despite having a top-notch cloud configuration, attackers can still gain a foothold using these new, unpatched vulnerabilities.

Advanced persistent threats (APTs)

APTs aren't just quick smash-and-grabs. They're sophisticated, long-term strategies where an attacker establishes a presence in your cloud environment, often staying undetected for months. 

What's scary about APTs is that these attackers move slowly from one workload to another, looking for sensitive data to steal. They might start with something as common as a zero-day exploit, making them doubly tricky to detect and deal with.

Insider threats

These come from within your organization, often from current or former employees. It could be someone who has direct access to your network and knows your business processes like the back of their hand. 

If that person goes rogue, they can cause significant damage. They might steal intellectual property or sensitive data because they already have the keys to the kingdom.

Cyberattacks

These are attempts by cybercriminals to access your network or systems to tamper with, steal, destroy, or expose information. It could be malware, phishing efforts, or even a DDoS attack that floods your system causing it to crash. 

They could also be something more specialized like SQL injections that target your database directly. The attackers often employ various tactics, making it a constant game of cat and mouse.

Potential risks of unprotected cloud environments

Data breaches

If you don't have proper security measures, cybercriminals could gain access to your sensitive data. This isn't just a theoretical risk; it's a reality many companies have faced. 

For example, if your customer database is compromised, it could lead to the exposure of personal information. This would not only damage your reputation but could also result in legal consequences.

Unauthorized access

Without effective Identity and Access Management (IAM) controls, anyone with the right credentials could access your systems. This could be an ex-employee who still has access to your financial records. IAM tools help you ensure that only the right people have access to the right resources, reducing this risk significantly.

Data loss

Without Data Loss Prevention (DLP) strategies, your important data could be lost or accidentally deleted. For instance, an employee might unintentionally delete a crucial project file or transfer sensitive information to an unsecured device. DLP solutions help mitigate these risks by encrypting data and monitoring suspicious activities.

Unauthorized access

To protect your network resources and prevent data loss and business disruption, you need a system for detecting security incidents early or as they happen. For example, someone might try to hack into your system over a weekend. 

Without a security incident detection solution, you might not even notice until Monday morning, by which time the damage could be extensive. SIEM tools, for example, enable real-time threat detection, allowing you to respond swiftly.

Business disruption

If you experience a cyberattack or a natural disaster, you need to be able to recover quickly. Without an incident response plan or disaster recovery strategy, even a minor incident could lead to prolonged downtime and significant financial losses. 

Say, a data center is hit by a flood and you have no backup plan. It could take days or even weeks to restore your operations. Having a detailed response plan ensures that you can get back on your feet with minimal disruption.

Ignoring cloud protection doesn't just leave you vulnerable; it puts your entire business at risk. Each of these threats could harm your operations, reputation, and bottom line. So, it's crucial to take cloud protection seriously.

Key components of cloud protection

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

IAM ensures the right people have the right access. For instance, when one of your team members logs into your cloud services, IAM tools verify their identity. 

These tools grant access based on roles, so only authorized individuals can access sensitive information. With IAM, an ex-employee trying to gain access to a restricted network resource would be automatically blocked, keeping your data safe.

Data encryption

Encryption transforms your data from its original plain text format into an unreadable format, often called ciphertext. This ensures that even if unauthorized individuals get their hands on the data, they can't make sense of it without the decryption key.

Let’s say you are transferring sensitive customer data to your cloud storage. Before the data leaves your servers, encryption algorithms first scramble it. This way, if anyone intercepts the data during its journey to the cloud, all they'll see is gibberish. 

Once the data reaches its destination, authorized users can decrypt it using the right keys. This process is what we call encrypting data in transit.

For data that's already resting in the cloud, encryption also plays a vital role. Think about sensitive documents or databases you store in the cloud. By encrypting this data, you ensure that even if someone breaches your cloud storage, they can't extract any useful information without the decryption key. So, your customer records, financial information, and intellectual property remain protected.

We use two main types of encryption algorithms: symmetric and asymmetric. Symmetric encryption is like using the same key to lock and unlock a door. It's fast and works well for encrypting large amounts of data. 

However, if someone gets hold of the key, they can unlock everything. On the other hand, asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys—a public key to encrypt and a private key to decrypt. This method is more secure because even if someone intercepts the public key, they can't decrypt the data without the private key.

Data Loss Protection (DLP) tools are handy for safeguarding your data. They help protect your sensitive data from being lost, misused, or accessed by unauthorized users. These tools can encrypt data whether it’s at rest or in transit. They can also alert you to any suspicious activities. 

For example, if an employee tries to download a database they normally don't access, the DLP system flags this action. This alert allows you to review the activity and take necessary action if needed.

Threat detection and response

Threat detection and response entails identifying and responding to potential security threats as they happen. This is where Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools come into play. They collect log data from various sources across your cloud environment, analyze it, and alert you to any suspicious activities. 

For instance, if there's an unusual login attempt from a foreign IP address at 3 AM, the SIEM system will notify our security team immediately. This quick alert enables us to investigate and respond swiftly, mitigating potential threats before they escalate.

Response is just as important as detection. Once a threat is detected, you need to take immediate action. This is where incident response (IR) plans come into the picture. IR plans are predefined procedures that guide you on handling different types of security incidents. 

For example, if the SIEM system flags an unusual download of a large dataset, your IR plan might involve isolating the affected accounts and conducting a thorough investigation. This step-by-step approach ensures you don’t miss any critical actions in the heat of the moment.

Incident response shouldn’t end with neutralizing the immediate threat. You must also perform a post-incident analysis to understand what went wrong and how to prevent it in the future. This might involve updating our security policies, refining your IR plans, or even changing some of your cloud configurations.

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs)

CASBs are essential tools for cloud protection. They act as security checkpoints between your on-premises infrastructure and your cloud service providers. 

CASBs provide visibility, compliance, data security, and threat protection, all in one package. For example, they help you monitor user activities across different cloud services. This means you can see who is accessing what data, when, and from where. 

If someone tries to access your cloud environment from an unauthorized location, the CASB can flag this activity and restrict access, keeping you secure.

CASBs also play a significant role in enforcing your security policies. If you have a policy prohibiting downloading sensitive data to personal devices, CASB can enforce it by blocking such downloads and alerting you to any attempts. 

This is particularly useful when you have remote workers who use their own devices. You can ensure that your security protocols are consistently applied, no matter where your team members are.

Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP)

An EPP is a suite of security technologies designed to protect endpoint devices like laptops, mobile phones, and servers from security threats. It is your first line of defense against malware, ransomware, and other malicious activities targeting these devices. 

For instance, traditional EPP tools often include antivirus software, data encryption, and data loss prevention mechanisms, working together to detect and prevent attacks on endpoint devices.

Historically, EPP solutions were managed via on-premises infrastructures. This setup involved a central console in the data center, managing endpoint security through installed agents on devices. However, this approach created security silos, making it difficult to protect endpoints outside the network perimeter, like remote workers' laptops.

Today, cloud-native EPP solutions offer a more effective approach. These are controlled through a central console in the cloud and connect to devices via agents on the endpoints. 

The cloud-native model means these agents can work independently, even if the device is offline. This setup maximizes security performance and eliminates the gaps caused by traditional on-premises solutions. 

In addition, modern EPP solutions also include endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities. Integrating EDR allows the EPP to prevent, detect, and mitigate breaches. 

This means that if a threat does slip through, the EPP can contain the exposed endpoints, halting the breach and allowing for remediation before significant damage occurs.

Compliance and governance

Cloud protection is not just about safeguarding data; it’s also about adhering to laws and regulations that govern data privacy and security. 

Compliance refers to standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. These regulations require you to implement stringent security measures to protect sensitive information, whether it is personal data, health records, or payment details.

For example, GDPR mandates that you safeguard the personal data of EU citizens. This means establishing strong access controls, ensuring your data is encrypted, and regularly auditing our security practices. If you fail to comply, you could face hefty fines and significant reputational damage. 

Your IAM system can help you meet these requirements by ensuring that only authorized individuals can access personal data. IAM also logs user activities, making it easier for you to audit access and identify any unauthorized attempts.