Cloud security: The trends you should know about and the practices you need to implement
The cloud isn’t anything new, and over the years, it has become increasingly essential for business sectors and markets from all over the world.
Cloud computing is one of the most necessary technologies in the world right now, being essential for businesses, organizations, and individuals from all over the world.
The technology allows for greater visibility and efficiency, adding strategic value to the processes and enabling enterprises to use infrastructures and apps over the Internet instead of having to maintain them on the premises. Nowadays, the tech is essentially omnipresent, being found in the newest, tiniest startups as well as the largest corporations on the planet. Increasingly, businesses have also begun to rely on the cloud in order to enable remote work and make the most of innovations such as edge computing and artificial intelligence.
However, just because cloud computing is used on such a wide scale doesn’t mean that the sector doesn’t continue to grow and evolve as well. There are many developments taking place in the industry, most of which are focused on the need for more comprehensive security measures.
2020s overview
The concept of cloud security and what it entails has been changing and evolving over the years, as the demands of the marketplaces have continued to evolve and the regulations have become more stringent. In the 2000s, cloud computing was still very new, so its security practices were robust and straightforward. They typically included classic firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control mechanisms that had been adapted for use in the cloud infrastructure. In the 2010s, the technology became more mature and started expanding, as cloud computing started to be used on a larger scale.
Risk assessments, guaranteeing compliance, and detecting misconfigurations became the norm, as they ensured that potential issues weren’t just solved if they happened to arise but were prevented in the first place. Although it hasn’t been that long at all since those days, major changes have already taken place, and others are currently in the making. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become cornerstones of cloud security, as they not only detect potential risks but can also adapt to them automatically in order to diminish their scope and strength.
The 2020s cloud system operates on the philosophy of “never trust, always verify,” even in the case of authorized users. Automating routine security tasks and mitigating threats are some of the other complex features that businesses have been focusing on. With technologies such as quantum computing predicted to fundamentally change the digital world in the future, quantum-resistant encryption must also be designed and introduced in order to ensure the security and integrity of cloud data.
Zero Trust
The adoption of Zero Trust models is, without a doubt, one of the trends that most cloud users will implement either this year or in the next couple of years at the latest. This method is gaining a lot of momentum and popularity nowadays due to the fact that it can provide one of the highest levels of security currently available. Working with a professional service such as Intercept will allow you to ensure your cloud always benefits from the latest developments available and that it is managed and optimized in an adequate manner. The technology also remains perfectly scalable and cost-efficient as well so that you don’t have to exceed your budget to protect the safety and security of your corporate data.
In a Zero Trust environment nobody is trusted by default, even if they’re inside the network. This is achieved through thorough access controls and strict verification processes. It is a particularly beneficial solution for the companies that support remote or hybrid work environments in order to guarantee that users don’t have unchecked access to systems. Micro-segmentation, least-privilege access, and real-time monitoring are some of the methods used in this approach.
Leading clouds
Major cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud will continue to evolve and attract even larger market shares from smaller environments. Private data centers will most likely be impacted as well. The reason for this is the fact that these larger providers have the resources and capacity to provide much better functionality, seamless processing, and higher security standards. These capabilities can often not be replicated by smaller enterprises, or at least not at the same level. If you want to ensure your company thrives, you should always look for the best solutions that can help you achieve your goals.
By the end of this year, nearly 90% of all businesses are predicted to adopt a cloud-first methodology, with the number of tools from native providers being on the rise as well, so that you have access to more choices.
Proactive approach
Proactive security is essential for a safe digital environment. The newer cloud models will integrate security into every stage of development and processing in order to ensure all operational activities yield the best results. This also guarantees that the systems are resistant to attacks from the very beginning so that delays are avoided. Automation is the core of this strategy, as the size and complexity of the cloud nowadays makes it cost prohibitive to manage security the traditional way.
Security teams get the chance to focus on other activities that require more comprehensive actions like threat response. Integrating DevSecOps (short for “development, security and operations”) lets you build a network that is not only more secure, but more flexible as well, and which can respond promptly to the demands of markets nowadays.
Beyond
But what does the future hold for cloud computing beyond the 2020s? AI compliance will definitely continue to play an important role and will most likely become even more common. Horizontal security systems will gradually replace older safety features, and green cloud practices and functionality will become more important as data centers using renewable power and a focus on energy-efficient tasks take over.
The cloud isn’t anything new, and over the years, it has become increasingly essential for business sectors and markets from all over the world. But the developments are far from over, and during the next few years, things will certainly continue to change. If you’re a business owner, you should keep up with these shifts as much as possible in order to retain your competitive advantage.
