Cloud computing has been a game-changer for businesses, providing unparalleled scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. With such value, the number of cloud users will only rise. According to Gartner, the global cloud security services market was worth $490 billion in 2022 and could be higher in 2023 at around $592 billion.
But as cloud computing services become more popular, cloud security has become a growing concern. As companies migrate to the cloud, they must prioritize the safety of their data, applications, and infrastructure to prevent breaches and cyber attacks.
A recent survey found that about 83% of organizations that use these services have had some kind of security breach. Even more alarming is that 43% of the companies reported 10 or more violations around the same time. Therefore, this article will discuss cloud security best practices for 2023 to assist organizations in protecting their data and infrastructure.
What Is Cloud Security, Exactly?
The policies, technologies, and procedures that keep data, apps, and infrastructure safe in the cloud are called “cloud security.” It all comes down to protecting data while it is in motion, at rest, and in use, as well as from cyber attacks, unauthorized access, and other threats.
Organizations can use different cloud security models to keep their cloud infrastructure safe. Here are some of the most common models:
Shared Responsibility Model
The shared responsibility model is a popular cloud security model that shows the cloud service provider (CSP) and the customer their respective security responsibilities. In this model, the CSP is in charge of making sure the cloud infrastructure is safe. At the same time, it is up to the customer to protect the data, applications, and workloads they host in the cloud. The exact division of responsibility between the CSP and the customer depends on the cloud service used.
Zero Trust Model
The zero-trust model is a security framework that assumes that all resources, whether they are inside or outside the organization’s perimeter, are not to be trusted. Access to resources depends on the user’s identity, the device used, and the device’s security posture. The zero-trust model stops threats from spreading laterally and limits how bad a security breach could be.
Defence in Depth Model
The in-depth defence model is a security strategy that uses multiple layers of security controls to protect against a wide range of threats. In this model, security controls are put in place at the network, application, and data layers, among others. The goal is to have multiple layers of security that work together to make up for any flaws in any one layer.
Cloud Access Security Broker Model
The Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) model is a security solution that sits between the organization’s on-premises infrastructure and the cloud service provider. The CASB acts as a gatekeeper, ensuring that security policies are followed and that cloud resources are visible. CASBs can enforce access controls, stop data loss, find security incidents, and deal with them.