By 2025, Gartner says 95% of digital workloads are going to be on cloud-native platforms. That means cloud-native security is about to become non-negotiable. Unlike the old-school, on-premises security that monitors applications within our own data centers, cloud-native security is built for the fast, flexible, and distributed nature of the cloud. Take something like an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system; when patient data moves around on the cloud, we need strong security to keep it safe.
Source: Gartner
For anyone working on cloud projects—whether it’s cloud-native app development, cloud migration, or updating existing systems—now’s the time to get serious about cloud-native security. These skills will help you keep data safe, stay compliant, and keep it all running smoothly as we shift to cloud-based environments.
1. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
ZTA is basically a “trust no one” security strategy. It means that no one and nothing is automatically trusted—not users, devices, or systems. Every access request is verified each time, which is great for cloud environments where users and devices can hop on from any location.
Challenges to Keep in Mind
Getting ZTA up and running isn’t always a walk in the park, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. While only 22% of leaders feel “very confident” about making the most of cloud infrastructure, you can make things easier by updating newer systems first. This way, you don’t have to overhaul every single legacy system all at once.
Another tricky part is keeping things running without bogging everyone down with constant security checks. To help with this, you can focus on high-risk areas first, such as access to sensitive patient data in healthcare. You should also add adaptive policies that work quietly in the background under normal conditions. This IBM expert defines three principles of Zero Trust: Never trust and always verify, implement least privilege, and assume bridge. Learn how each of those makes zero trust an effective approach in cloud-native security.
How to Implement ZTA
With 63% of organizations already implementing ZTA to some extent, here’s a practical approach to adding ZTA to your cloud data:
- User Identity and Access Management: Verify each user uniquely, typically with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security. It’s likely you’ve experienced this mechanism to access sensitive information. For example, a doctor might log in with their password and then confirm their identity with a one-time code on their phone before accessing patient records.
- Least Privilege Access: Only give users access to what’s required for their job, reducing risk if credentials get compromised.
- Network Segmentation: Split the network into smaller sections, so it’s harder for attackers to access everything if they get into one place.
- Continuous Monitoring: Use AI and machine learning to monitor activity in real-time, so alerts stay timely and focused on real threats.
2. Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
CSPM keeps your cloud setup safe by automatically scanning for issues like missing permissions or weak software and gives your team a heads-up before things go wrong. It’s especially handy for Infrastructure as a Service, or IaaS (think servers and storage), helping keep everything secure. And with a 91% failure rate in runtime scans, continuous monitoring is necessary to catch issues in real-time.
What to Watch Out For
CSPM can definitely be a good investment, and you don’t have to break the bank to make it work. Look for tools that fit your company’s size and budget—there are plenty with pay-as-you-go options. Start small with the core features you actually need, and add more only if or when it makes sense.
These tools also tend to flag a lot of misconfigurations, which can feel a bit overwhelming. To keep it manageable, just focus on the high-stakes issues. It also helps to pick tools that integrate well with what you’re already using, like Identity and Access Management (IAM). Plus, regularly updating policies and working with your security team helps everything fit together.
Get Started with CSPM
To get started with CSPM, pick a tool (like AWS Security Hub) that suits your organization’s needs and budget. Connect it with your current security systems, such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), to keep data organized. Set it up to flag high-risk issues first, turn on automated alerts, and keep it running to catch new problems continuously.
3. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IAM is all about controlling who can access resources within the cloud. The idea is to keep sensitive information safe and avoid accidental access to confidential data.
Balancing Security and Productivity
Surprisingly, only 2% of granted permissions are actually used. Assign each person only the access they need (known as “least privilege”), to reduce unnecessary restrictions that could slow down productivity. Regularly reviewing permissions also helps catch any slip-ups that might expose sensitive data, keeping security tight without disrupting work.
Simplifying IAM Implementation
With nearly 95% of organizations using IAM, it’s clear it plays a big role in cloud security. To get started, jot down the resources you need to protect—like files and cloud applications—and list key roles like manager, IT admin, and finance. Then, determine the IAM technology that fits your needs, whether it’s a cloud solution or something like Okta. Our team can help you choose the best security tools to protect your information.
Next, you’ll set permissions by role, using the “least privilege” approach so people only have access to what they need. Add MFA for extra security, and turn on logging to keep an eye out for unusual activity.
4. Container Security
Container security keeps your containerized applications and the sensitive data they hold safe. It covers everything from securing container images (the blueprints for containers) to managing who has access and looking for threats. Cloud providers can spin up or shut down containers as demand changes. This flexibility of cloud-native environments makes container security necessary to block any unauthorized access.
Staying on Top of Vulnerabilities
One of the main challenges is making sure you’re always using up-to-date images, as older ones can leave you open to security issues. For instance, an outdated MySQL image could let hackers in. It’s also key to set up access controls; only give people access if they need it and avoid giving out excessive permissions, which can lead to security gaps.
How to Get Started with Container Security
Start with secure, trusted images from reliable sources, and set up access controls to keep things locked down. Use tools to continuously scan containers for any vulnerabilities and track suspicious activity. Don’t forget to regularly update containers with the latest security patches to keep it all running securely throughout the container lifecycle.
5. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
SIEM is a real-time watchtower for security events. Unlike CSPM, which just focuses on fixing cloud misconfigurations, SIEM covers both cloud and on-premises systems to find any sketchy activity. The real-time monitoring helps find unusual behavior early so teams can jump in before small issues turn into huge problems.
Overcoming SIEM Challenges
Setting up SIEM is a project that delivers major benefits. While connecting to things like cloud services, databases, and data centers might feel complex, sticking with your core applications first makes it way more manageable.
Since SIEM’s monitoring generates tons of alerts, setting up filters (like unauthorized patient access attempts or random privilege changes) and focusing on critical issues helps your team avoid false positives and stay on top of the most important events. Sure, SIEM does need a bit of investment and some skilled management, but the real-time insights it brings make it a powerful tool for your organization.
Here’s a deeper but brief dive into how SIEM works.
SIEM Setup: Where to Begin
Let’s say you own a healthcare clinic looking to implement SIEM. Here are a few key steps to get you on the right track:
- Define Your Security Goals: Identify key security needs for your clinic, like watching for unusual activity around prescription systems.
- Choose the Right SIEM Solution: Select a SIEM that scales with your company’s growth and has strong threat detection.
- Connect with Core Business Systems: Link SIEM to critical systems like your EHR, pharmacy management, and billing systems. This way, you’re monitoring access to patient data and financial information, protecting the areas that matter most.
- Set Up to Catch Patterns: Set up SIEM to spot patterns like repeated failed logins or any unauthorized access to medical devices.
- Test and Fine-Tune Regularly: Simulate unauthorized access attempts to patient records, for example, to make sure alerts are accurate and actionable.
Conclusion
With so many applications shifting to the cloud, we need to rethink how we protect our data. That’s where Zero Trust, CSPM, IAM, container security, and SIEM come in—they’re the backbone of cloud security these days. Focusing on these areas can protect your organization, especially given how flexible (and complex) cloud setups can be.
If you’re looking to dig deeper, check out our solutions in cybersecurity and cloud app development; they’re designed to make it easier to secure and manage your entire cloud security journey.
