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Cloud computing is no longer just for the largest enterprises. Moving to the cloud is now cost-effective for even the smallest organizations. However, security in cloud computing can be an entirely new frontier.

Data security in cloud computing is a particular concern. As businesses move their digital assets from their hardware into the cloud, they need to ensure they will be safe. Fortunately, the latest trends help overcome many of the challenges in cloud computing. With solid operational strategies, companies can achieve top-notch security in cloud computing.

Cloud security is a specialized cybersecurity field focusing on the unique challenges of cloud computing (Kaspersky, 2023). Whereas traditional network security is focused on securing on-premises networks, such as computers and servers, cloud security requires different strategies.

Most cloud computing environments are made up of shared and virtualized resources. Additionally, cloud resources are theoretically open to more attacks since the services are available over the internet instead of behind a companys firewall. Todays cybersecurity professionals need to employ unique strategies and keep up with the latest trends to keep their companys assets safe.

Fortunately, many excellent approaches help address the security issues in cloud computing (Connectria, 2023). Here are a few of the latest cloud security trends in use today.

Successful data breaches have historically exploited vulnerabilities that allow privilege escalation. At a high level, this means an attacker accesses a system using the credentials of a standard user, one without limited privileges. They then exploit a flaw that allows them to gain administrative rights with unlimited access to the systems data and user accounts.

Zero-trust security is a modern cybersecurity approach that no account should be trusted by default. In the zero-trust model, access levels are continuously verified and granted as needed.

The zero-trust approach addresses some of the unique challenges in cloud computing security. All users and devices accessing a server or network go through strong authentication methods, such as MFA (multi-factor authentication), and are then granted the least privileges required to perform specific tasks. If a higher level of access is needed, access control policies are verified before the system grants further privileges.

As a company moves to the cloud, they reduce the number of servers and other hardware their IT department has to maintain. Cloud computing efficiently uses todays powerful processors, fast networks, and massive amounts of storage. Cloud virtual machines allow businesses to run multiple servers on one physical machine.

Containers take that concept a step further. Containers are a lightweight form of virtualization that packages applications and their dependencies in a portable manner. This means that if, for instance, a company wants to run a web server, they no longer have to devote physical or virtual machines to host the server software. A container with only the needed bits runs in the cloud, appearing to the outside world as if it were its dedicated machine. Many containers can run in the same cloud instance for maximum efficiency.

This approach is sometimes called serverless computing or Function as a Service (FaaS). The application-level isolation inherent in serverless computing restricts the attack surface that attackers can exploit. Companies gain cloud network security by not managing multiple servers and operating systems that could be exploited.

Because cloud computing provides flexible and scalable infrastructure, its a perfect match for artificial intelligence and machine learning. AI and ML algorithms require significant computing power, large amounts of data storage, and the fastest networks. The cloud cost-effectively provides all this.

AI and ML can also provide solutions to security issues in cloud computing. AI and ML analyze user behavior and can alert staff to potential problems, like multiple failed login attempts or unauthorized access. AI-powered threat intelligence platforms process massive amounts of security data to keep a cybersecurity team aware of potential threats.

With the right combination of automation and fast human response, AI and ML enable rapid responses to emerging threats. AI and ML algorithms in the cloud are constantly learning, keeping companies up-to-date with the latest threats.

Blockchain first gained worldwide attention as the ledger behind Bitcoin. But the technology has many other uses. Its especially well-suited for enhancing data security in cloud computing.

The structure of blockchain is, appropriately enough, a chain of blocks. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block in the chain. This creates a tamper-proof, chronological record of data transactions. Storing metadata (information that describes the characteristics of other data) in a blockchain ledger ensures that data has not been tampered with.

Furthermore, since blockchain offers transparency and auditability, cloud users can be sure of several things about their data. This is partly due to blockchains timestamping and notarization features. Combining features adds data security to cloud computing because users can trust the information they are working with.

The tools mentioned above add layers of security to cloud computing. However, some proven strategies can further strengthen a companys security posture (Crowdstrike, 2023). Here is a rundown of some of the most popular:

As more and more companies transition to the cloud, the need for more cloud professionals has also peaked. This is especially true because moving to the cloud is not free of challenges. Most companies pay for multiple cloud services from different providers. For example, they might use Microsofts cloud services for email, collaboration, and other day-to-day business activities, along with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for application development.

Multi-cloud environments must work together seamlessly while paying close attention to cloud network security. EC-Councils Certified Cloud Security Engineer (C|CSE) is focused on equipping professionals with cloud security best practices, technologies, frameworks, etc. More than 50 complex labs are dedicated to giving learners practical, hands-on experience in dealing with real-world cloud security risks.

In the C|CSE course, you will learn how to plan, implement, and execute cloud platform security for an organization. Security concepts like IAM, monitoring, and encryption are covered in depth. Candidates will learn how to implement security for multi-cloud environments and private, multi-tenant, and hybrid clouds.

Connectria. (2023, June 8). Cloud security trends and challenges. https://www.connectria.com/blog/cloud-security-trends-and-challenges

Crowdstrike. (2023, April 20). 16 cloud security best practices. https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/cloud-security/cloud-security-best-practices

Kaspersky. (n.d.). What is cloud security? https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/what-is-cloud-security

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What is Cloud Computing? A Comprehensive Guide Strategies ... - EC-Council