Cloud Infrastructure Drives Security and Management Challenges

If you are using Gmail, google drive, google photos, or Microsoft one drive or you watch movies on Netflix or prime videos then you are already connected to the cloud as they are based on cloud computing. Over the years many Cloud service providers have started giving out services for infrastructure drives such as Amazon, s3 buckets, and Azure blob.

Cloud infrastructure provides flexibility and scalability, allowing organizations to easily expand their resources as needed. However, this also creates security and management challenges. With multiple applications and data stored in the cloud, it can be difficult to monitor and control access to sensitive information. Additionally, different cloud providers may have varying security protocols, making it challenging to maintain consistent security standards.

Factor Affecting Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is way better than using an on-premises system. Factors affecting cloud computing include internet connectivity, cost, security, compliance regulations, and vendor lock-in. Other factors may include data transfer speeds, service level agreements (SLAs), and the availability of cloud resources. These factors can impact an organization's ability to adopt and effectively use cloud computing technologies. Let's discuss some of the factors.

Scalability:

Cloud computing allows you to pay only for how much you use with much easier and faster provisions for scaling up or down.

Server Storage:

Cloud storage solutions are offered by cloud service providers who manage and maintain the servers saving you both money and space and also providing you resilience such as AWS,s3 that provides 99% uptime.

Data Security:

Cloud computing systems offer much better security and let you avoid having to constantly monitor and manage security protocols.

Data Loss:

Cloud computing systems have robust disaster recovery measures in place to ensure faster and easier data recovery.

Maintenance:

Cloud computing systems on the other hand are maintained by the cloud service providers reducing your cost and resource allocation substantially.

Top Cloud Challenges and How to Overcome them

Servers in the cloud are cheaper when you take into account all the management costs. If you're not using the cloud You may need one data center in Europe, one in Asia, one in North America, and so on. Loads of data storage may force you to do that or you may want your server close to the user to reduce latency. That means it's hard to go global.

Cloud infrastructure also requires specialized skills and tools to manage, which can lead to increased costs and resource allocation. Proper planning, training, and risk management strategies are crucial to effectively addressing these challenges and ensuring the security and efficiency of cloud infrastructure. Major challenges cloud users commonly faced:

Encryption:

Data in the cloud should be encrypted at rest and while being transferred. This can either be done using your own keys or by using keys provided by the Cloud provider. Encryption makes sure your data is protected from unauthorized access in case your storage volumes like EBS or s3 end up in the wrong hands. To make this process efficient Most of the cloud service providers have encryption features in place for their storage blocks that let you enable encryption with keys stored on your cloud.

Access Management (or How to Protect your Volumes from Unauthorized Access):

Access management is a big topic in Information security. While you can enable encryption to protect your storage drives from unauthorized access there are other ways your data can be harmed which may include simply deleting the s3 bucket or ebs volume which has nothing to do with the encryption in place. It is important for IAM(identity and access management in place) to segregate access to the drives. Following best practices like setting MFA and not giving users access to your root account will help you stay clear of such access issues.

The Art of Proper Backup and Recovery:

Despite having the best security practices in place there is always a possibility of data corruption and loss. Having multiple copies of your data storage units is a crucial step in Data recovery that makes sure that you can recover your data adequately if necessary. Modern cloud solutions provide you with options such as EBS snapshots.

NetworkFort has a Unique Solution

The modern-day problems on the cloud require a comprehensive solution that combats the threats and protects your data so you can focus on the more mission-critical tasks. NetworkFort has come up with unique solutions that utilize AI and machine learning capabilities that enhance the traditional approach to cloud security. NetworkFort offers a comprehensive solution for cloud challenges by providing a unified platform that simplifies and secures cloud infrastructure management.

NetworkFort cloud IDS helps organizations eliminate the chances of a cloud breach & eliminate cloud attacks. With NetworkFort you can deploy one platform for intrusion detection, asset investigation, vulnerability evaluation, log management, and behavioral monitoring for all your cloud and on‑premises infrastructure. Thus, it saves your valuable time and money compared to integrating traditional security solutions.