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Cloud security control is a series of security measures aimed at protecting cloud settings against weaknesses and minimizing the effects of cyber-criminal attacks. This is a blanket term for all the best procedures, practices, and rules implemented to protect cloud environments. These controls help businesses address issues involving cloud security.
When you switch to cloud computing, your business’s applications are hosted by a cloud service provider. The provider stores your applications and data on its servers and enables you to access them over the internet. Cloud security is different from your business’s data center security. A cloud service provider has various cloud security tools and services used to secure your applications and networks. However, you still need to implement your security controls to protect your systems.
Additionally, when a business moves its private data and applications to the cloud, users can remotely access these systems. Administrators are faced with the implementation of cloud-based user access controls. For flexibility, many companies distribute their applications and data across various cloud service models.
Cloud Service Deployment Models
The three primary forms of cloud service deployment models are public, private, and hybrid.
Public Deployment Model
For public cloud services, the provider owns the physical network, infrastructure, and hypervisor. Examples of public cloud providers are Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Your company owns the applications, operating system, data, virtual network, and access to the cloud environment in the public deployment model. These cloud services can be acquired for free or through a subscription package.
With the public cloud deployment model, the cloud providers are responsible for implementing cloud security controls for their cloud infrastructure. On the other hand, your company is responsible for implementing security controls for its applications, operating system, infrastructure, and all its assets that are in the cloud. A public cloud has many resources in different locations. This means it can offer its services to any location. The only major drawback of this technology is that it’s shared publicly.
Private Deployment Model
For private cloud services, the cloud resources are used by only one business. The private cloud can be located at your business’s data center. A third-party cloud service provider can host the business’s data and applications. The infrastructure and services are controlled on a private network. The hardware and software are all used by your organization.
It’s easier for a business to customize its resources to address specific requirements with private cloud services. One advantage of this model is that accessibility is limited to your business. The public cannot access your resources. Private cloud models provide more security to resources and data.
Hybrid Deployment Model
Hybrid clouds are a combination of public and private cloud services. With hybrid clouds, a company can exploit the benefits of public and private clouds. In this cloud service, applications and data can move between public and private clouds. This offers more flexibility and deployment options. A private cloud can be used for critical activities, whereas a public cloud for non-critical activities. For example, you can choose to use the private cloud for sensitive operations like financial reporting and the public cloud for lower-security needs like web-based email.
Hybrid cloud also has a feature known as cloud bursting. With this feature, an application running in the private cloud can quickly switch to the public cloud when there’s a rise in demand. For example, applications running in the private cloud can be deployed in the public cloud during seasonal events like filing taxes. This allows business access to additional computing resources in the public cloud.
Service Models
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS vendors implement cloud security controls for their cloud platforms. This includes security for applications and infrastructure. However, these vendors don’t own or control customer data and applications. The organization is liable for implementing cloud security to prevent and minimize malicious attacks.
Infrastructure as a Service (Iaas)
IaaS is responsible for computer systems, storage, and network resources over the internet. IaaS allows businesses to run applications or operating systems on rented servers. Furthermore, organizations don’t have to manage servers in their data centers.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
The PaaS model provides a platform for customers to run, manage, and develop applications without building and maintaining infrastructure. The vendor hosts all the hardware and software on its infrastructure. The PaaS vendor is also responsible for data management, development tools, business intelligence software, and all facilities required for developers to create their applications.
In Conclusion
The cloud has provided businesses with many options for the storage and security of business applications and data. Cloud technology users have access to resources like virtual storage and machines. Cloud also provides deployment tools and runtime environments for developing applications.
Cloud computing also allows resources to be shared easily. However, with cloud technology, there’s a distinct form of security control that’s different from the data security controls implemented in your business. When choosing cloud service models, you need to weigh the advantages and applications of each, along with the security controls that are best suited for your business.
