Gartner: How to build a secure enterprise cloud environment

For enterprises, the cloud is no longer just an option; it’s a necessity. With 80% of businesses now viewing the public cloud as vital to their digital objectives, the pressure is on to integrate security from the get-go because without proper security measures, the risk of breaches and cyberattacks looms large.

So, how can businesses leverage cloud technology for growth while maintaining robust security? There are a series of strategic steps that security leaders can take to ensure successful cloud deployment with a focus on cloud security architecture.

Align cloud security architecture with organizational strategy

The first step in achieving a secure cloud deployment is mapping the cloud security architecture to the organization’s overarching cloud strategy. This alignment ensures that security measures are not just an afterthought but an integral part of business objectives.

Frameworks like the Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture (SABSA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework provide a structured approach to integrating security into cloud strategy. By applying these frameworks, security leaders can ensure that security capabilities are in sync with overall business goals, paving the way for positive outcomes.

Establish a cloud governance framework

The next step is to develop a robust cloud governance framework. This is crucial for maintaining consistent security standards across the organization.

One effective approach is to establish a centralized cloud center of excellence. This centralized body ensures that security policies are uniformly applied and that best practices are shared across teams. By having a dedicated team focused on cloud governance, security leaders can ensure that security measures are not only consistent but also scalable as the organization grows.

Address common cloud security challenges

While in the process of cloud deployment, security leaders will quickly find that cloud security is not without its challenges.

One of the most common issues is customer misconfiguration, which often leads to vulnerabilities and potential data breaches. This issue arises from the complexity of cloud environments and the need for specialized knowledge to manage them effectively. Misconfigurations can occur due to inexperience, oversight or a lack of understanding of the cloud’s unique security requirements.

To address this, continuous risk identification and management are crucial. Security leaders must regularly assess their cloud environments to identify potential risks and address vulnerabilities before they escalate into major issues. This involves using tools that provide compliance mappings to risk frameworks and security standards, enabling organizations to prioritize and manage risks effectively.

It’s also essential to develop cloud security skill sets within the organization. This includes training and certification programs that equip security teams with the necessary skills to manage cloud-specific risks. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, organizations can ensure that their security teams are prepared to handle the evolving challenges of cloud security.

Explore emerging security architecture patterns

As the cloud landscape evolves, so too do the security architecture patterns that support it. One such emerging pattern is the so-called cybersecurity mesh architecture. This approach allows for scalable and flexible deployment of security controls across distributed assets. By adopting a cybersecurity mesh, organizations can extend their security controls beyond traditional boundaries, ensuring comprehensive protection across their entire cloud environment.

In the realm of cloud security, a variety of tools and strategies are essential for managing security across different cloud models, including infrastructure-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service and software-as-a-service. Cloud access security brokers (CASBs) are instrumental in enforcing security policies and safeguarding cloud services, particularly within SaaS environments. These tools offer capabilities such as risk identification, adaptive access control, data loss prevention and encryption, all of which are crucial for maintaining a secure cloud environment.