Cloud Security

Why cloud security matters

The cloud has become one of the main vectors of cyberattacks, as confirmed by data. According to Netskope, since May 2024 Europe has led the global average in malicious software downloads. Microsoft applications are especially popular targets for attackers.

The main threats related to cloud security include:

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Unmanaged attack surface

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Human error

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Misconfiguration

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Data breaches

An effective cloud cybersecurity strategy is based on a comprehensive approach that combines processes, policies, and technologies to protect data, infrastructure, and applications in the cloud, while also ensuring full control over the entire environment.

Cloud security means:

  • 01.

    Secure access to cloud resources

    Securing access to applications and data becomes crucial when an organization moves most of its resources and tools to the cloud (to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or AWS S3).

    This is where the Secure Access Service Edge solution comes into play. SASE is a modern security architecture that enables organizations to provide efficient and secure access to cloud resources from anywhere (including through MFA), centrally manage security policies, and eliminate the limitations of traditional solutions such as VPNs or firewalls. SASE plays a particularly important role in distributed environments and with the growing popularity of remote work.

  • 02.

    Cloud data security

    Data in the cloud is vulnerable to threats and should be protected through an approach that primarily takes into account appropriate technologies and an organization’s internal policies. The key areas of this protection include:

    • data at rest security – related to stored data,
    • data in transit security – related to data being downloaded or transmitted.

    In both cases, it is important to determine whether the data is properly encrypted and who has access to it and with what permissions. Additionally, for data at rest, it is also necessary to verify whether appropriate data retention policies are in place.

    Most data breaches occur when data is being downloaded or transmitted, which is why we recommend that companies use SSL encryption (to secure the transmission of sensitive data) on every connection between cloud services.

  • 03.

    Multicloud environment security

    Multicloud security refers to the protection of data, applications, and services across cloud environments that span multiple platforms, each with its own specific security mechanisms and compliance requirements. Key aspects of this approach include:

    • Data management and compliance: Ensuring that all data is managed in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal organizational policies.
    • Identity and Access Management (IAM): Controlling who has access to which resources and ensuring that this access is both secure and compliant with company policies.
    • Threat detection and management: Proactively identifying and mitigating threats before they impact business operations, helping to minimize risk and potential incidents.
    • Unified security posture: Achieving full visibility and control across all cloud environments to maintain a consistent and comprehensive security posture across different platforms.
  • 04.

    Control over cloud applications and Shadow IT

    Shadow IT refers to the use of cloud applications and technologies by employees without the knowledge or approval of the IT department. Unauthorized use of company resources or independently downloading tools such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or WhatsApp creates security gaps, which can ultimately lead to incidents.

    This is where solutions that enable full control over cloud applications prove effective, including Next Generation Secure Web Gateway, Cloud Firewall, and CASB.

  • 05.

    Regulatory compliance (cloud compliance)

    Cloud compliance means ensuring that data and processes handled in cloud environments comply with applicable laws, industry standards, and internal company policies. This includes both international regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, as well as newer acts like DORA, NIS2, and the AI Act.

    Compliance is not limited to personal data alone. It also covers identity and access management, data encryption, event logging, incident response, process documentation, and control over who uses cloud infrastructure, where, and how.

    In practice, this primarily means implementing clear policies, using tools that automate the detection of non-compliance, and being ready to immediately present audit evidence.

  • 06.

    Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)

    Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) refers to a process and a set of tools used to manage and secure cloud environments against threats and misconfigurations. The primary role of CSPM is to determine whether cloud configurations and settings comply with security best practices and regulatory requirements.

    Key CSPM functions:

    • Compliance management: CSPM enables monitoring and assessment of whether a cloud environment meets the requirements of specific security standards and regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. It automatically detects non-compliance and supports adjusting configurations to meet required standards.
    • Risk assessment: CSPM identifies potential threats and misconfigurations in cloud environments, such as improperly configured resources or unauthorized access. It helps prioritize and manage risk by classifying issues and providing remediation recommendations.
    • Security monitoring: It automatically analyzes logs, events, and configuration settings to detect unusual or suspicious activities, enabling rapid response to potential threats.
    • Security controls management: CSPM supports the implementation of recommended security policies, access controls, and the management of keys and certificates in cloud environments.
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FAQs

In complex cloud environments, security begins with asset discovery—deploying tools that provide full visibility. This helps identify what resources are in use, how they are structured, and who has access. The next step is assessing the security layer: identifying vulnerabilities such as misconfigurations, exposed ports, or outdated libraries. The final stage involves reviewing operational processes, including deployment pipelines, disaster recovery, and scalability.

Many organizations mainly use SaaS services like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. In these cases, Security as a Service solutions such as CASB/SSE platforms (e.g., Netskope) are crucial, providing granular security controls without building new infrastructure.

Multi-cloud environments increase business flexibility but introduce major security challenges: inconsistent policies across providers, complex IAM, higher risk of misconfigurations, limited visibility, data protection across locations, API security, vulnerability management, vendor risk, and compliance with regulations like NIS2 and GDPR.

Multi-cloud architecture uses multiple platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP simultaneously. It includes:

  • Application layer – microservices, containers, serverless

  • Data layer – replication, encryption, key management

  • Integration layer – secure API communication

  • Network layer – VPN, SD-WAN, centralized security

  • Security layer – identity federation, SIEM/SOAR, CSPM, CWPP

  • Operations layer – monitoring, automation, cost and compliance control

  1. Strengthen identity and access management (IAM)
  • Use MFA everywhere
  • Apply least privilege
  • Standardize IAM policies
  • Eliminate hardcoded credentials
  • Disable unused accounts
  1. Improve configuration and security posture
  • Follow the shared responsibility model

  • Monitor misconfigurations with CSPM

  • Limit public exposure

  • Audit configurations regularly

  • Use agentless vulnerability management

  1. Protect data in multi-cloud
  • Encrypt data at rest and in transit

  • Classify sensitive data

  • Strengthen key management

  • Back up critical data

  1. Secure workloads, networks, and APIs
  • Patch workloads regularly

  • Harden network configurations

  • Protect APIs with strong auth and rate limiting

  • Secure containers and serverless

  • Use native protections like WAF and firewalls

  1. Monitoring, detection, and incident response
  • Centralize logs

  • Monitor activity continuously

  • Automate compliance and alerting

  • Test incident response regularly

  • Assess cloud provider security practices

Under the NIS2 directive, cloud security is not a separate requirement but an integral part of risk management and information security obligations. Any organization using cloud services for data processing or critical operations must include cloud security in its overall security architecture. This includes proper configuration, access control, encryption, monitoring, incident response, and vendor risk management—proportionate to the organization’s risk level and business impact.

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