Enterprises have been migrating data and applications to the cloud over the years for good reasons. The cloud improves data accessibility, enhances collaboration and eases content management. But cloud security remains a concern for many CIOs and enterprise leaders. They feel moving to the cloud will raise governance, safety, and compliance issues. At the end of the day, moving data to the cloud means entrusting data to a third party. The third-party provider stores the data in remote servers outside the enterprise’s direct control. 

Most cloud service providers offer robust security. But enterprises worry sensitive data such as trade secrets, intellectual property and customer’s personally identifiable information may still fall into the wrong hands. They fear accidental leaks or sophisticated cyber attacks. Many CIOs remain reluctant to abandon the perimeter security model and regard it as the only way to control access and keep data safe. 

While such concerns had some basis in the past, advancements in cloud security have put to rest these concerns. 

Cloud security represents a collection of security deployments that protect cloud assets. These measures ensure the integrity of information stored in cloud databases. Here are the ways and techniques cloud security protects sensitive enterprise data.

1. Build-in controls

Cloud service providers offer built-in granular controls that prevent data leakage. These controls preempt unauthorised access, accidental data leakage, and data theft. 

The most prominent internal control is access control. Cloud service providers restrict access to users authorised by their customers. 

Access control methods such as authentication and authorisation limit access on a “need-to” basis. It also helps to apply security policies consistently across all cloud resources. Enterprises can manage and change access policies easily as the environment changes.

The best providers: 

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), which may include strong passwords, OTPs and biometric authentication.
• Allow users to apply the desired levels of control. Users may enforce protection depending on the sensitivity of the data.
• Sync the access control systems with existing identity and access management solutions. Seamless sync enables automated provisioning and de-provisioning of users.
• Enable micro-segmentation. Dividing the cloud network into small zones creates separate access to every part of the network and minimises data loss in the event of a breach.

These measures ensure that sensitive information is not accessible to those who do not need it. It eliminates the risk of unauthorised users syphoning off data.

2. Data encryption

 The spread-out nature of cloud access means that conventional security approaches do not protect data. Instead, newer approaches, such as encryption, offer foolproof ways to ensure cloud data security. 

Robust encryption ensures that bad actors cannot use the data even if they steal it. Algorithms such as AES, DES, and RSA convert the data into unreadable ciphertext. The sender transmits the ciphertext and public and private decryption keys to the receiver. The receiver uses the encryption key to decide the ciphertext. 

The best encryption systems: 

• Offer end-to-end protection of sensitive information while in motion or at rest across any device or between users.
• Allow users to manage their encryption keys without diminishing user experience.

Encryption eases the compliance burden on enterprises. Data-based standards such as US FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) and HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) require enterprises to encrypt all sensitive customer data. In some cases, enterprises do not have to disclose data breaches if cyber criminals take away encrypted data. 

Encryption also offers a safeguard against APIs with weak security protocols. For instance, an insecure external API may become a gateway for cybercriminals to make unauthorised access. But if these bad actors can access only encrypted data, their efforts fail. 

Gartner estimates 40% of enterprises to have hybrid and multi-cloud data encryption strategies by 2023. The figure was just 5% in 2020.

3. Visibility and threat detection

Cloud providers who take security seriously deploy robust network monitoring capabilities. The latest network monitoring tools detect rogue behaviour and identify other threats. The system leverages Artificial Intelligence for live alerts and even offers automated remediation. Machine learning algorithms learn typical use patterns and see traffic outside such norms. For instance, if someone from the sales team tries to download a confidential product design, it flags an alert. If it detects an unauthorised user in the network, it shuts down the web immediately. 

The best network monitoring tools:

• Offer administrators a unified view of user activity and shared content. 
• Eliminate false positives and ensure continuous monitoring does not harm the user experience.

4. Continuous compliance

A critical component of cloud security is content lifecycle management. Cloud service providers provide compliance protection to their customers and save them from legal hassles. 

Advanced cloud security solutions:

• Offer capabilities such as document retention and disposition and legal holds. 
• Ensure compliance mechanisms meet global standards such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. 
• Is flexible to integrate with existing security stacks through APIs. The cloud service provider ensures seamless internal and external collaboration and workflows. 

The best security deployments gel seamlessly with the workflow and do not impede the user experience. Some security measures become an obstacle to the extent that users must find a workaround to get things done!

Many cloud security providers offer advanced tools for cloud users. One such leading provider is Proofpoint, which offers a comprehensive yet flexible approach to security. Proofpoint offers advanced threat protection capabilities for content stored in the cloud. The tool provides dynamic and flexible access controls with advanced customisation options. Users may automate the deployment of security protocols without impeding user experience. 

The tool also offers advanced monitoring capacities with several innovative capabilities. One such capability is people-centric visibility into cloud risks that make explicit the top users at risk. An integrated analytics dashboard offers insights to mitigate the risks caused by account compromise and malicious files. In the unlikely event of breaches, the tool provides forensic insights. Customisable alerts keep related parties in the loop.

Cloud security is ultimately a shared responsibility between the cloud service provider and the customer. A shared responsibility security model (SRSM), co-opting tools such as Proofpoint, allow users to secure data at their end. Applying these tools also serves to avoid misunderstandings with cloud service providers, and close out grey areas in cloud security that threat actors often exploit.