As part of SADA’s focus on cloud security, we’re diving into Cloud Security Posture Management, one of the key components of a comprehensive cloud security strategy. In this blog post, you’ll find a list of the three top questions about CSPM, steps to implement CSPM in your organization, and some insights into CSPM best practices.
Ready? Let’s dig a bit deeper.
1. What exactly is cloud security posture management (CSPM)?
CSPM is a security solution that helps organizations assess, monitor, and maintain their security posture in the cloud. It allows organizations to identify security risks, compliance issues, and misconfigurations in their cloud environment.
CSPM solutions use automated tools to analyze cloud environments, detect vulnerabilities, and provide remediation recommendations. CSPM solutions provide visibility into the cloud infrastructure, including access controls, network configurations, data encryption, and other security controls.
Every organization and industry must contend with slightly different cloud security requirements and regulations, but regardless, you will need to protect your cloud environments by understanding their current state and emerging threats.
SADA’s Cloud Security Confidence Program is designed to give you a programmatic approach to cloud security and operations across organizations of all sizes and industries. CSPM is a key component of that programmatic approach.
2. Why is CSPM important?
Once you have completed your cloud migration, it’s important to leverage automation to keep up with the emerging threat landscape and ensure that you aren’t exposed.
Cloud security is a shared responsibility between the cloud provider and the customer. While cloud providers ensure the security of their infrastructure, customers are responsible for securing their data and applications in the cloud.
With the increasing adoption of cloud computing, the risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and other security threats is also increasing. CSPM provides organizations with a comprehensive view of their cloud security posture, helping them identify and remediate security issues before they can be exploited. CSPM solutions also help organizations maintain compliance with industry regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
3. What’s the best way to implement CSPM?
Implementing CSPM requires a holistic approach that covers people, processes, and technology. Your dedicated SADA security team will supply technical and change management expertise, working closely with your internal teams, to implement the CSPM solutions best suited for your unique business. Here are some common steps to implement CSPM in your organization:
Step 1: Perform a security assessment to identify security risks, compliance violations, and misconfigurations in your cloud environment.
Step 2: Define your security policies for the cloud environment, including access controls, data encryption, network segmentation, and other security controls.
Step 3: Devise a CSPM solution that meets your organization's security requirements. CSPM solutions are available as SaaS, on-premise, multi-cloud, or hybrid deployments.
Step 4: Integrate your CSPM solution with your cloud environment. This involves configuring the solution to access your cloud environment, including providing credentials and permissions.
Step 5: Remediate security issues identified in the security assessment. CSPM solutions provide remediation recommendations, but you may need to modify your security policies or cloud configurations to address any issues.
Step 6: Continuous monitoring is essential to maintain your security posture in the cloud. CSPM solutions provide real-time visibility into your cloud environment, allowing you to detect and remediate security issues as they occur.
Best programs and practices for managing cloud security
With the increasing adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud environments, organizations are wise to use a management platform to ensure that their cloud security posture remains consistent across all environments and at scale. Combining a CSPM with SADA’s Cloud Security Confidence Program establishes a well-rounded strategy for defending your assets..
“It’s important to us at SADA that we maintain a view of the entire security and regulatory landscape, across every possible industry and enterprise,” says Rocky Giglio, SADA’s Director, Security Go-to-Market & Solutions. “And while SADA’s security experts have developed best practices drawn from industries that handle the most sensitive data, including healthcare, finance, and government, the threat landscape is ever evolving and environments change constantly. Having a CSPM in place along with the practices built into SADA’s Cloud Security Confidence Program provides you the confidence to confront evolving cyber threats.”
Paired with services provided by SADA’s Cloud Security Confidence program, Google Cloud Platform offers a range of services that can assist in securing your cloud environments, including Google Cloud Security Command Center, Google Cloud Security Scanner, and Google Cloud Identity and Access Management. These services can help your organization assess your security posture, detect threats, and remediate security risks automatically and in real-time.
SADA helps businesses across the globe implement these and other tools designed to secure cloud environments. Your dedicated SADA security team will help you navigate complex cyber landscapes, ensuring that your cloud security posture remains compliant with industry and government regulations. In addition, SADA’s Flex Services team provides ongoing monitoring and management of your cloud security posture, freeing your in-house resources to focus on core business activities.
For an even deeper dive into the latest insights on cloud security, register for SADA Ground School, the cloud transformation summit with a full slate of programming related to cyber threats and how to confront them. And be sure to catch the session, “What does cloud security posture management mean for your organization?”
