1. Plan the security and privacy of your cloud computing solutions before implementing them.
Compared to traditional on-premises data centers, cloud computing is an infrastructure that anyone can access. Planning ensures that the computing environment is as safe and secure as possible. It also guarantees the environment complies with all relevant regulations and protects privacy. Additionally, planning ensures that you get the most out of your IT investment.
Before transferring data, applications, and other resources to the cloud, you should consider your security objectives carefully. It is essential for you to take a risk-based approach when evaluating security and privacy options and moving functions to the cloud.
A security and privacy plan should be part of your system lifecycle from the very beginning. In addition to being complex and expensive, security measures can be difficult to fix after cloud implementation, as you may already have exposed your organization to unnecessary risks.
2. Understand the cloud computing environment offered by the cloud provider.
Depending on your service model, both your organization and the cloud provider hold security and privacy responsibilities. This arrangement is called the shared responsibility model. It's crucial to understand your security responsibilities in the cloud. Make sure to verify the cloud provider’s assurances about security or privacy through an independent assessment whenever possible.
To assess a cloud provider's security and privacy assurances, you need to understand its policies, procedures, and technical controls. In addition, you should know how cloud services are provisioned as well as how they impact security and privacy. An analysis of a cloud's system architecture makes it easier for you to assess and manage risk more accurately. You can more easily mitigate risk by continually monitoring your security state with the proper techniques and procedures.
3. Verify the cloud computing solution satisfies your organization’s security and privacy requirements.
Many cloud providers exist with a multitude of services to choose from. Stay cautious when selecting and migrating data and applications to the cloud. Your decisions regarding services and service arrangements require you to weigh cost and productivity against risk and liability. If you take appropriate risk mitigation steps, you should be able to move a significant amount of your IT services to the cloud.
4. Ensure that the client-side computing environment meets your organization’s security and privacy requirements for cloud computing.
In cloud computing, both a server and a client are involved. It can be easy to overlook the latter when you are focused on the former. Using a cloud provider, as well as cloud-based applications that your company has developed, can place greater demands on the client, which can affect security and privacy.
Web browsers are crucial for client-side access to cloud computing services, but they are known for their security problems. Additionally, many browser add-ons won’t update automatically, so vulnerabilities are more likely to persist. You should review client security as part of your overall cloud computing security planning.
5. Maintain accountability over the privacy, data, and applications in the cloud.
To meet cloud security standards, you must put cloud computing security management and controls in place. Your security and privacy practices should include monitoring information system assets and assessing how policies, standards, procedures, controls, and guidelines are implemented to ensure that your data is confidential, secure, and available.
It's essential to collect and analyze data about your systems regularly and as often as needed to manage security and privacy risks. Keeping up with privacy and security controls, vulnerabilities, and threats is essential for risk management. You should continuously monitor your networks, information, and systems for threats and avoid or mitigate risks as circumstances change.
