Is public cloud really secure?
With so many benefits, why are there companies who still have not taken advantage of the cloud?
There are many misconceptions surrounding public cloud, most of them stem from the idea there is an increased security risk for your data and you are more susceptible to security breaches. It’s unclear where this outdated idea came from, but it seems, in part, that many executives just don’t understand all of the security that comes with public cloud.
The benefits of cloud are mostly accepted and understood, such as cost efficiency, accessibility and productivity, many CIOs have not taken advantage of all that it has to offer. This is likely due to the perceived risks associated with public cloud services.
The truth is, security in the cloud is likely to be more stringent than your existing setup (that is, if you’re not in the cloud). The marketplace has changed, and cloud has been a catalyst for this change. As a result, cloud service providers developed solutions to increase the security monitoring, detection and identification of potential threats. There are third-party companies who are creating advanced security tools to leverage these platforms. After several years of improvement and innovation, CIOs need to take another look at cloud benefits, especially where security is concerned.
Security misconceptions, debunked
Public cloud is easily breached.
This misconception about public cloud stems from a complicated issue when it comes to data breaches. Public-facing apps are the most frequent source of confirmed breaches, according to SANS 2017 State of Application Security Survey, and they also make up the largest category of applications in the cloud. The best way to combat these vulnerabilities is to segment each application in its own VPC (Virtual Private Cloud), which dramatically lowers the blast radius of any single breach, according to recent findings in Alert Logic’s e-book. However, depending on the type of attack, on-prem is far more susceptible than public-facing apps.
Public cloud lacks real security.
Cloud security is continuously improving. Most cloud service vendors are likely to have more data encryption functionality and security procedures in place than their clients. These cloud service providers employ experts and data is usually safer in the hands of these experts than in-house administrators. Alert Logic observed in its 2017 e-book that security incident rates in public cloud environments across the industry are lower than they are on-premises. The cloud offers a multi-layer approach to security that is built into the infrastructure, making it quite robust.
Compliance needs are not met.
Companies should have compliance at top of mind as the standards are continually evolving. You can successfully meet these standards in the cloud, where compliance is a vital component of the cloud. Compliance is easier to achieve in the cloud. This is because providers are proactive in ensuring an organization is adhering to the latest requirements.
Of course, not all problems are known before they happen. New vulnerabilities in infrastructure, stolen credentials and employee/insider misbehavior are issues that cannot be detected without an auditor tool. These issues can lead to significant problems and weaknesses for the company. The bottom line is, public cloud is not the issue when it comes to breaches or compliance issues.
Secure Your Environment
Learn more about maintaining a secure cloud environment by speaking to one of our cloud experts. Connect with us today to get started with a premier San Diego managed service provider by calling 858-777-6950 or email sales@pointivity.com.
