As the cloud has largely become the standard means of computing for businesses small and large, surveys show that the overwhelming majority of companies use multiple cloud services
While this flexibility can lead to better efficiency, it also raises significant security concerns. Here are a few guidelines for ensuring your multi-cloud installation is safe.
It’s generally best to avoid running and services or APIs that aren’t crucial for your operations, but this advice is especially true when it comes to using multiple cloud interfaces. Removing connectivity features helps simplify your management efforts, and it helps workers better understand the complex installations typical of multi-cloud installations. Furthermore, turning off services and other means of connecting to your systems significantly reduces the likelihood of DoS and DDoS attacks, which are becoming increasingly common.
Expect Regular Change
The concept of the cloud continues to evolve. Companies relying on a single cloud provider can expect change to happen slowly and predictably, but these changes come more quickly as the number of cloud providers and platforms used grows. When making decisions, focus on options that make it easy to implement adjustments. This approach also has the benefit of making it easier to adopt new technologies that can provide performance advantages and other benefits. Furthermore, flexibility lets you switch between providers for security reasons: If you feel a particular cloud provider doesn’t offer the security capabilities you need, you can more easily switch to another.
Using the cloud allows businesses to defer some tasks, including some security tasks, to others. However, this delegation of responsibilities is more complex than many realize, and it’s easy to mistakenly assume that some aspect of security will be handled by a cloud provider when it’s actually the responsibility of the user. Read carefully through the documentation offered by cloud providers, and feel free to ask questions if you need additional clarity. Security audits are always worthwhile, but perhaps the greatest benefit is the clarity they provide regarding what security needs aren’t covered by your cloud providers.
Internal security teams can be invaluable for keeping complex cloud installations secure. However, even talented security experts can overlook small details that can lead to data loss and other dangers. It’s worth forming connections with external companies focused on security, as their perspective can help uncover problems internal security experts might overlook. Furthermore, third-party security experts have the time and resources to remain on the cutting edge of cloud security, giving them valuable insight not specific to your cloud installation. This generalized knowledge is great for examining complex systems.
There’s no simple solution to cloud security, and one of the keys to success is remaining flexible. When trying to use multiple cloud providers, it can be tempting to cut corners to get everything working as quickly as possible. Doing so, however, can increase complexity and leave you network vulnerable to a range of possible attacks. Spend extra time planning when dealing with your multi-cloud installations, as extra preparation will pay off over the long term, especially when it comes to securing your data and keeping your systems online.
