What are the best ways to secure cloud-based virtual machines?

1 Encrypt your data

One of the most important steps to secure your cloud-based VMs is to encrypt your data, both in transit and at rest. Encryption ensures that only authorized parties can access your data, even if it is intercepted or compromised. You can use various encryption methods, such as symmetric, asymmetric, or hybrid, depending on your needs and preferences. You should also use encryption keys that are generated and stored securely, preferably outside the cloud provider's control.

3 Use strong authentication and authorization

A third way to secure your cloud-based VMs is to use strong authentication and authorization mechanisms. Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device that tries to access your VMs, while authorization is the process of granting or denying permissions based on predefined rules. You should use multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires more than one piece of evidence to prove one's identity, such as a password, a code, or a biometric. You should also use role-based access control (RBAC), which assigns roles and privileges to users based on their responsibilities and needs.

4 Monitor and audit your VMs

A fourth way to secure your cloud-based VMs is to monitor and audit your VMs regularly. Monitoring is the process of collecting and analyzing data about the performance, health, and activity of your VMs, while auditing is the process of reviewing and verifying the compliance and security of your VMs. You should use tools and services that can provide you with real-time visibility, alerts, and reports on your VMs, as well as identify and resolve any issues or anomalies. You should also keep logs and records of your VMs' actions and events, and review them periodically.

5 Update and patch your VMs

A fifth way to secure your cloud-based VMs is to update and patch your VMs frequently. Updates and patches are software modifications that fix bugs, improve functionality, or enhance security. You should apply updates and patches to your VMs as soon as they are available, as they can prevent or mitigate vulnerabilities and exploits that could compromise your VMs. You should also use tools and services that can automate and streamline the update and patch process, as well as test and backup your VMs before and after applying them.

6 Harden your VMs

A sixth way to secure your cloud-based VMs is to harden your VMs, which means to reduce the attack surface and eliminate unnecessary or risky features or functions. You should follow the principle of least privilege, which means to grant only the minimum level of access and permissions required for a task or function. You should also disable or remove any unused or unwanted services, ports, protocols, or applications that could expose your VMs to threats. You should also configure and enforce security policies and settings that can protect your VMs from unauthorized changes or access.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?