9 Cloud Security Best Practices in 2023

By: Sean Cummings

January 13, 2023

9 Cloud Security Best Practices in 2023

A cloud-based security system combines technologies, controls, processes, and policies to protect systems, data, and infrastructure in the cloud. Essentially, it is a sub-domain of computer security, and in a broader sense, it is a concept in information security. Now, the responsibility rests with both you and your cloud migration services provider.  

Protecting your data, adhering to regulatory compliance, and protecting the privacy of your customers are all factors in creating a cloud security strategy. In this way, you avoid data breaches’ reputational, financial, and legal repercussions for your company.

Nevertheless, businesses need to do more than adopt these solutions. To get the most out of cloud security, you should also follow the best practices. The following are a few steps you should take in 2023 and beyond. 

Invest in a Trusted Provider

In order to ensure the security of your cloud computing environment, you should select a trusted service provider. Ideally, it is wise to partner with a cloud provider that provides high-quality security protocols and industry-leading best practices. Your deployment’s security is further enhanced by a company that offers a marketplace of partners and solutions. 

Security compliance and certification are the hallmarks of a trustworthy provider. It’s something every good provider makes public. All leading providers, for example, offer transparent access where you can verify their security compliance and certification.

Learn About the Shared Responsibility Model

Partnering with a cloud service provider and moving your data to the cloud means sharing responsibility for security implementation. In order to implement best practices, it is essential to review and understand your shared responsibility.

Learning which security tasks you will still be responsible for and which charges the provider will handle is a great practice to keep in mind. This, however, may vary depending on whether you are choosing Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), or in-house.

Establish Identity and Access Management

Identity and access management (IAM) plays a crucial role in protecting enterprise systems, information, and assets in a heterogeneous technology environment.

Cloud environments can be effectively secured using authorization, authentication, verification, and storage solutions provided by IAM. Additionally, it has settings that control how much data an individual can see or change once he has access to it. 

Protect Data with Encryption

If you upload data to the cloud, you should ensure that it remains secure through encryption—especially during transit. Translating your data into another code or format can prevent unauthorized users from accessing it.

These encryption services can be facilitated by managed cloud security providers. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that you choose encryption options that fit your existing workflow, so you will not need to take any additional compliance precautions.

Secure User Endpoints

To use cloud services, users must log in through a personal device and a web browser, and deploying an endpoint security solution is crucial to protect end-user devices. Security can be initiated at the client’s end, and users will have to update their browsers regularly to keep their data safe.

Invest in a tool that offers internet security measures such as mobile device security, antivirus, firewalls, and access verification solutions. The use of automation tools can also assist in the provision of endpoint security. If you have any questions about this, speak with your service provider. 

Hacktivism, supply chain attacks, information-stealer malware, and one-time password (OTP) bypass services are among the emerging cyber security threats. As such, make sure your employees are also skilled in cybersecurity fundamentals.

Educate Your Users

In secure cloud computing, your users are your first line of defense. They can make the difference between protecting your system and opening it up to cyberattacks by knowing and applying security practices on their end.

To ensure secure cloud practices, train all your users — staff and stakeholders — who access your systems. Educate them on malware detection and phishing emails, as well as the risks associated with insecure practices. Consider industry-specific training and certification for advanced users, such as administrators, who are directly involved in implementing cloud security.

Set Limits for User Access

Cloud security best practices also include controlling user access through policies. You will be able to manage the users who attempt to access your cloud services this way.

By starting at zero trust, users should only be able to access the systems and data they need. Establish well-defined groups with defined roles to only grant access to specified resources to avoid complexity when implementing policies. This way, users can be added directly to groups instead of individually customizing their access.

Make Sure Your Cloud Services are Visible

Cloud services can be used in many different ways and for a variety of purposes. It is common for organizations to use multiple cloud services across multiple providers and geographies. 

Your cloud environment suffers from blind spots as a result of this behavior. You can’t secure something if you can’t see it. Consider implementing a security solution that offers visibility across your entire ecosystem.

Using one single portal, you will be able to manage and protect cloud usage across all your disparate resources, projects, and regions. By gaining this visibility, you can implement granular security policies and mitigate risks across the board.

Create a Strong Password Security Policy

No matter what service you access, maintaining a strong password security policy is the best practice. An essential aspect of preventing unauthorized access is implementing the most robust policy possible.

It is recommended that both upper-case and lower-case letters, a number, a symbol, and a minimum of 14 characters should be included in all passwords. It should also be enforced that users update their passwords every 90 days and ensure that the system should remember their last 24 entries.

Cloud Security Services by Laminar Consulting Service​

It takes planning and an understanding of the cloud security best practice to implement vulnerability management. Before selecting a platform, you should understand the top challenges to consider.

The information presented above will provide you with a good starting point for developing a process to manage vulnerabilities within your cloud environment. We are able to assist your organization in achieving this goal.By carefully planning your cloud strategy, you can ensure that data security and privacy are protected. For a free initial consultation about cloud migration services, email us at contactus@laminarco.com or contact us at 888-531-9995 at Laminar Consulting Service today!

Share this Article:

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram chevron-down