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Get StartedThe threat model behind cloud workloads is certainly a new one, and very different from protecting assets on-premises. Effective cloud workload security provides improved visibility into the workloads you are running, allowing you to control and address issues immediately. It can even shield you against attacks that traditional solutions cannot address by employing advanced protection against threats.
According to a 2020 Cloud Computing Study done by the International Data Group (IDG), 92 percent of organizations have at least some of their IT environment in the cloud, and the total cloud workload is only expected to grow. This article discusses how cloud workload security works, common risks associated with cloud workloads, and steps to ensure the security of your cloud workload.
Cloud computing makes use of a large bank of computer systems and resources shared among multiple users. These resources offer flexible computing power that can be accessed remotely, enabling easier collaboration and sharing of files between remote team members, as well as the ability to scale usage without needing to provision on-premises infrastructure. With IT needs evolving rapidly, modern companies now realize that migrating to the cloud not only makes sense from a flexibility standpoint but is essential for staying ahead of the competition.
Containerization involves keeping all of the software and code that supports an application together in a virtual “container.” The container can be moved seamlessly between different development environments, and the code inside remains intact. Containerization makes cloud migration even more attractive to businesses because it means they don’t need to worry about encountering bugs when they change their cloud usage or migrate applications. While containerization is great for isolating workloads and keeping threats from spreading from one application to another, the isolation factor makes it difficult to deploy a security solution across multiple containers at once.
One of the biggest concerns with cloud usage is security. With the cloud comes a larger and differently structured attack surface compared to on-premises. Misunderstandings between cloud providers and users as to who is responsible for which aspects of security can also result in security gaps that leave cloud-stored data and applications vulnerable.
An organization’s cloud workload is the total of all its computational work currently being done in the cloud. The focus of cloud workload security is to keep that workload secure, whether it relies on infrastructure as a service (IaaS) or platform as a service (PaaS).
With on-premises IT infrastructure, securing workloads involves putting barriers between an organization’s network and the outside world. However, in a cloud environment, the goal is to have the workloads and applications accessible to users from anywhere and from any device. This requires a different approach. Good cloud workload security will provide visibility into the workloads, often via a single dashboard or interface that allows users to control and address any security-related issues and deploy needed security measures.
Security measures the cloud provider is responsible for versus security measures the user is responsible for varies depending on the type of cloud service and the provider in question.
However, users should always check if their cloud providers outline a shared security responsibility model before making any final decisions regarding cloud security. This will detail exactly what security options your specific cloud provider will offer.
While cloud providers tend to give their customers a fair amount of security, there are still risks of running cloud workloads. The major risks are as follows:
Keep in mind this list of threats isn’t comprehensive, and new vulnerabilities may appear with time. It’s crucial that your IT team dedicates plenty of time to researching common threats for your chosen cloud solution, especially within your industry.
Ensuring cloud workload security is an ongoing process. You will not only need to secure everything as it is, but you will need to be able to monitor your entire network and update security features in the future. The following steps are a guideline for getting started:
Staying ahead of security threats in the modern threat landscape is challenging. At SoftwareONE, we designed our Cloud Workload Security service to meet these challenges by protecting your virtual servers in multi-cloud and hybrid environments, including Azure, AWS, and on-premises architectures. Our cloud security consultants work with you to find the right solution using a three-stage approach of protection, detection, and response. Contact us today to learn more.
Get in touch today and let our experts find the cloud workload security solution that’s right for you.
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