There’s no denying that cloud technologies have completely transformed enterprise IT over the past decade, making it very easy to create a new development platform or spin up a new SaaS application with a few clicks and a credit card. 

But the benefits of this simplified deployment model has introduced some new challenges into enterprise IT architectures. Most enterprises now make extensive use of cloud instances—wheter a stand-alone software-as-a-service (SaaS) application or platform elements in a hybrid or multi-cloud environment. This approach requires a new security posture.

Indeed, cloud instances expand an enterprise’s attack surface, with CIO.com reporting that 79% of companies experienced a cloud data breach in the 18 months prior to the start of 2023. Harvard Business Review reported that there was a 20% increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023, driven in part by cloud misconfigurations.  

Misconfigurations lead to vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities lead to data breaches. But Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) solutions can  monitor large-scale public cloud deployments (including hybrid and multi-cloud environments) to detect misconfigurations in complex cloud-based architectures and limit the security exposure of enterprise cloud deployments. 

Exploring Cloud Security Posture Management

The reach of a CSPM solution must be broad enough to cover the entire cloud estate. This means applying CSPM’s continuous monitoring and automated remediation processes to all cloud platforms, e.g., Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), as well as to private clouds. CSPM must also cover platform-as-a-service (PaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS). 

Adopting CSPM is necessarily part of the transition from conventional cybersecurity (defined by on-premesis IT) to cloud-focused security models.

One problem with traditional security models is that they don’t deal with the cloud’s split ownership and shared responsibility model. Responsibility for security varies by cloud provider, but also by service type. With Microsoft Azure PaaS, for example, Microsoft is responsible for securing the operating system. With IaaS on Azure, in contrast, operating system security is the responsibility of the customer. With these variations in responsibility, it is easy for a misconfiguration to escape detection and cause risk exposure.

The other major issue is simply one of control. The cloud creates risk exposure because people may not follow security best practices for the cloud. And it can be very difficult to tell if they have.

CSPM seeks to mitigate these risks though a number of technologies and practices:

  • Pervasive visibility: Awareness of and visibility into all cloud assets is essential for a successful  CSPM deployment

  • Always on: An effective CSPM solution never stops monitoring the cloud

  • Real time: As soon as vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and threats are discovered, they must be reported and remediated in real time

  • Automation: CSPM workflows must be automated to the greatest extent possible

  • Risk mitigation: CSPM should have automated methods to mitigate risks  as they are discovered

  • Unified: CSPM brings together different functions and solutions into a unified environment to achieve maximum cloud risk reduction

One important note: an effective CSPM will mitigate accidental as well as intentional threats. Indeed, a great deal of risk exposure in the cloud is completely innocent: For example, people forget where they put data, release software into production on the cloud without hardening servers. Your CSPM must be able to tell the difference between malicious and accidental security threats and react accordingly.  

Key Elements of CSPM

What defines CSPM? Here are some the key aspects of CSPM solutions:  

  • Establishing a single source of truth for all cloud risks: By creating a complete overview of the cloud estate, with visibility into all cloud assets, a CSPM solution provides a single point of reference and control for tasks that improve cloud security posture.

  • Safeguarding sensitive data in the cloud: Companies now store some of the most sensitive data in the cloud. CSPM solutions, combined with the help of a Data Security Posture Management solution, help protect sensitive data from attack.

  • Ensuring compliance: The cloud can create unexpected (or unknown) difficulties for regulatory compliance, e.g., breaking rules about data sovereignty. With continuous, pervasive monitoring of data across all cloud assets, a CSPM solution can identify cloud configurations that are out of compliance. .

  • Supporting the security operations center (SOC): The SOC is where most detection and response occur for cyber threats. CSPM should support the SOC with information on threats, vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, etc. The SOC should be aware of the CSPM solution’s automated remediation processes, as well. In fact, the SOC can provide “playbooks” that inform the CSPM remediations.

  • Securing DevOps: Companies that use the DevOps model for software development are usually releasing new code to the cloud on a rapid basis, sometimes several times a day. This practice has the potential to create risk exposure. CSPM mitigates application security (AppSec) risks in the cloud by detecting vulnerabilities and related security problems with newly deployed code. 

Contrasting CSPM with Traditional Cloud Security

Traditional cloud security architecture primarily focuses on securing access to the system, operating under the assumption that every device within the inner network is trusted. This mindset stems from older, on-premises security paradigms where perimeter defense mechanisms (such as firewalls and intrusion prevention systems) were used to secure the network against external threats.

In contrast, CSPM adopts a continuous, automated approach to manage and improve the security posture of cloud environments, directly addressing the dynamic and scalable nature of the cloud. CSPM offers continuous monitoring and management of cloud security posture to identify misconfigurations and compliance violations across cloud infrastructures.

CSPM tools automate security risk analysis and compliance monitoring, allowing for a proactive stance on cloud security rather than the reactive nature of traditional security measures. This is critical in cloud environments, where dynamic and scalable resources can quickly lead to complex configurations that challenge traditional security models.

Moreover, CSPM tools provide greater visibility into the cloud environment, addressing the lack of visibility that is one of the significant challenges in cloud security. This focus on configuration and compliance uniquely suits the nature of cloud services, where resource setups and data flows can change frequently, introducing new vulnerabilities.

Significance of CSPM for Managing Cloud Resources

CSPM enables organizations to pursue innovative cloud strategies without being held back by security concerns. Security policies can often be an obstacle to cloud innovation and the development of valuable cloud resources.

For example, if a company wants to implement a digital transformation project that deploys cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) devices and cloud data storage for all the resulting device data, that program could be thwarted by concerns about security risks. With CSPM, it’s possible to roll out the project with security countermeasures that attach easily and connect to the CSPM solution’s unified, centralized functionality.

A similar benefit emerges from the use of CSPM in multi-cloud infrastructures. A lack of visibility into the configurations of cloud platforms can be a security problem. CSPM addresses this issue by automatically discovering all cloud services, cloud-based applications, data, metadata, and configurations. IThis allows security teams to easily monitor all related cloud instances.

Implementing CSPM: Strategies and Best Practices

Implementing CSPM is not a push-button process. Depending on the existing cloud security tools and countermeasures in place, it may take some work. But it’s worth it. 

One element of an effective approach to CSPM implementation is to create as full a map as possible of all cloud resources. Start by knowing what you have to defend in the cloud.

Then, align that map with existing cloud security frameworks. You might employ a cloud access security broker (CASB), for instance. A CSPM solution will most likely integrate with the CASB, augmenting its security capabilities by adding CSPM visibility and automated remediation to its functionality. 

Or, you might have a cloud workload protection platform (CWPP), which defends specific workloads against exploits. Integrating CSPM with CWPP will drive better overall cloud security outcomes.

The reason to do such integrations is to avoid duplication of cloud security capabilities. The goal should be to balance cloud security with operational efficiency. It’s best to utilize what you already have, enabling existing cloud security solutions to make CSPM work optimally.

It’s important to keep in mind that making CSPM work is partly a matter of people and organization. For each cloud security tool, there will be a person or team who runs it. These people fit into an organizational structure. CSPM needs to fit, with everyone understanding their respective roles and responsibility for CSPM success.

CSPM’s Role in Multi-Cloud Environments

Deploying CSPM in multi-cloud environments is at once a non-negotiable effort and a potential challenge. Securing complex cloud environments is the essence of CSPM. Without CSPM, the variations in configurations (along with the potentially massive and varied scope of multi-cloud) make a strong security posture difficult to achieve.

Building CSPM into a pillar for diverse cloud security architectures is a big task, but it need not be excessively difficult. In some cases, the CSPM platform will provide native functionality for multi-cloud. For example, Microsoft Windows Defender CSPM has built-in asset inventory, workflow automation, and remediation tools with pre-built integrations for AWS and GCP.

CSPM for multi-cloud is as much about people as it is about technology. A separate team or person will likely be responsible for managing and securing AWS, Azure, and GCP. These people must work together to deploy CSPM across their respective platforms. It’s worth paying attention to policies and incentives that can interfere with this workflow.

Getting to success with CSPM

The best way to successfully deploy an effective CSPM solution is to pair it with a complementary DSPM solution. These two technologies work together to provide comprehensive security coverage in cloud environments. 

By combining CSPM and DSPM, organizations gain an integrated view of their security posture that encompasses both infrastructure configuration and data security. This holistic approach ensures that gaps in one area are not overlooked simply because another area is secure. By aligning CSPM and DSPM, you can promote collaboration between infrastructure and data security teams and encourage a culture of shared responsibility for cloud security.

Rubrik’s DSPM solutions can help your enterprise extend the value of your CSPM investments. Check out this free DSPM lab to find out how. 
 

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