What is Cloud Security?
Cloud Security is a collection of technologies, policies, and proactive measures that secure applications, data, infrastructure, and services in a cloud environment. It involves a mix of solutions including identity and access management (IAM), CASB, encryption, and other preventive strategies that protect regulated or sensitive information in transit and at rest, whether it’s in a public or private cloud.
As a result of their pervasive connectivity, cloud systems are vulnerable to attacks from end-user devices and networks. Malware or Trojans that sneak onto an employee’s device or network can then be used to attack the cloud system. A strong cloud security system helps guard against these inroads by limiting the number of devices that can connect to the system and ensuring only approved devices do so.
Another concern of cloud security is ensuring that data and systems remain accurate, reliable, and tamper-free. This is accomplished with techniques such as hashing and checksums, version control and backups, and by implementing secure DevOps practices. It also means implementing a robust cloud security posture management solution to address a common cause of breaches—misconfigurations.
Cloud security also covers securing the physical network components that provide connectivity to the cloud, including routers and electrical power. Finally, it includes securing the end-user hardware itself, such as laptops, mobile devices and IoT sensors. This is done with a range of tools such as virtual private networks, Zero Trust network access, and security gateways that help secure remote connections without compromising user privacy.