Cloud computing is transforming the way we are doing business. It is making IT readily available, efficient, and cost-effective. At the same time, it is exposing enterprises to new types of cyber threats.
Today, the majority of the world uses business websites and digital services extensively to do a variety of transactions. Right from booking a movie ticket to booking a vacation online, everything is done so easily and efficiently.
But what about security? Are these networks safe enough to put personal information on them?
Well, these days, threat actors are getting smarter and are coming up with sophisticated techniques to hack company systems to steal user data and later sell it on the dark web to earn a lot of money.
What are companies doing about it?
Here is a short story that helps me explain the concept better.
Imagine you want to pamper your self with a solo trip, and you instantly brought one of the most lucrative trip packages to the destination of your choice. And later, you realize that the fantastic photos you shared with your friend using the travel partner app are spamming your friends who viewed these photos.
So, what do you do next? Well, obviously complain to the company. And to your surprise, the web development team of the company is already rectifying the issue. Wonder how they came to know about such type of a breach even before the users notified it? And what measures can they take to alleviate any such kind of problems and prevent them from happening again?
The best defense is a security response team that can take necessary steps to thwart attacks and restore the system’s health. Well, this is the team that guards the cloud with the latest software and security technology. They are the ones responsible for safeguarding a gamut of security issues with three essential steps.
- Gaining visibility
- Monitoring data
- Managing access
Well, this was just a sneak-peek into cloud network security. Read on until the end to unveil information that can add value to your organization.
What is cloud network security?
Cloud computing security or cloud security is a concept that includes a set of policies, controls, measures, and technologies that work in sync to safeguard cloud-based systems, data, and infrastructure.
These security measures are aligned to protect cloud data, safeguard customer’s privacy, and adhere to compliance. Additionally, cloud security builds a set of authentication rules for individual users and devices to add to the security quotient.
Why is cloud security important from a business point of view?
From validating access to filtering traffic, cloud security can be tailormade to fit the exact business needs. Another essential element of cloud security is that it can be configured and managed from a central place, which ultimately reduces administration overheads and enables core and in-house IT teams to focus on the other areas of business.
Please note: The process of delivering cloud security will ultimately depend on the format followed by the cloud provider. However, businesses should know that cloud network security needs to be a mutual effort as both the cloud provider and the enterprise are equally responsible for the same.
How cloud computing breaks the legacy network model?
As humans, we tend to fear concepts that are difficult to understand. Especially when we talk about new technologies, most of us hesitate and worry a lot before we embrace it.
Here is a list of reasons that tell why cloud security is better than legacy network models.
1. Strong perimeters and surveillance for legacy systems
Legacy system security can be unreliable and extremely difficult to implement and can leave room for vulnerability. On the other hand, cloud security by cloud service providers offers multi-layered security options.
2. Controlled access
When data is stored on servers on remote locations under the expertise and security of cloud service providers, it physically separates stakeholders from the company’s critical data. This element of cloud security executes controlled access and makes it tricky for third parties to misuse data.
3. Cybersecurity expertise
Cloud infrastructure is monitored perpetually by a set of skilled cybersecurity experts that are professionally trained to identify potential security threats even before they make an impact.
Five ways cloud computing transforms network security
When the cloud made an entry in the tech spectrum, trust me, it was not that grand. Initially, the cloud received skeptical comments and reviews in terms of reliability and security.
And here we are today, where almost everything is on the cloud, right from your updated CV on Google drive to a heavy load business-related information. The cloud is there for everything. With a track record of business benefits, cloud computing has never looked back.
The transformation journey described in 5 simple points:
1. Security against DDoS attacks
Distributed denial-of-service, popularly known as DDoS attacks, is a fraudulent attempt to interrupt the regular traffic of a targeted server by overpowering the target.
It is understood that no cloud service provider is 100% immune to DDoS attacks, but some providers have the potential to absorb and diffuse such attacks with a lower impact.
2. Regulatory compliance
As cloud service providers deal with a variety and a large number of customers, they often comply with national and international regulations to cater to a worldwide audience. This makes the services and the security options offered by them more reliable.
3. Agility
It does not matter which service package you choose from a cloud service provider; they always offer businesses the ease of expanding at any given moment in time. This flexibility is not readily available in legacy security systems as they are stringent in nature.
For instance, on a Sunday morning, the footfall at a retail store increases by 30% than a normal day. The added capacity to deal with the surge is automatically made available by the cloud service provider. Well, these additional services will certainly get added to your invoice, but it would save the systems from crashing and save your business from the brunt of unhappy customers.
4. Security fixes and updates
Depending on the level of service, the cloud service provider shares timely updates and patches with you. This saves your IT team from working on maintenance and security fixes, and the time and resources can be utilized for core business functions.
5. Physical security
The fact that cloud service providers deal with a massive amount of client data adds to the need to have impeccable and robust physical security aspects. The level of security offered by these vendors is much more than what a small to medium-sized company can build. Plus, the physical security aspects provided by a cloud service provider have the potential to break basic security principles, and essentially, these features’ cost is split between all the subscribers.
Conclusion
Cloud, undoubtedly, is an excellent way to keep data safe and secure. But it is also essential for businesses to learn that it is a mutual process that needs participation from both the cloud services provider and the enterprise itself.
Nevertheless, security offered on the cloud comes with enhanced flexibility, control, and cost benefits. And to bank on the excellent security options, all that you need to do as a business is select the service provider that can offer you a smooth and secure transition along with supreme security features. Find more such content and information in our latest whitepapers on cloud solution.