Global spending in 2024 is expected to touch $679 billion in 2024 and this is likely to increase to $947.3 billion by 2026. Despite this exponential increase, there are growing concerns about cloud security. Thales conducted a survey among 3,000 respondents from 18 countries spread across 37 industries. The findings show that 44% of the respondents have reported a security breach due to human actions. Moreover, 72% have opined that cloud security is a top priority now and in the future.
In light of these numbers, let’s delve into cloud security measures and explore the relevant legislation revolving around cloud security. These laws and regulations are designed to ensure data security and privacy, and adhering to them can go a long way in mitigating the risks. We will also end with a list of best practices, drawing insights from the podcast conversation between Jacob Hill, GRC Academy’s host, and Michael Greenman from Deltek.
But before we jump into the legislation, let’s briefly understand what encompasses cloud security.
What is Cloud Security?
In simple words, cloud security is the technologies and processes that protect the cloud infrastructure and its applications and data from internal and external threats. But, given the complexity of the cloud itself, these technologies, policies, controls, and processes can be overarching.
Below are the key components of every cloud security program:
- Data Protection – Encrypting data both at rest and in transit to safeguard sensitive information.
- Access Control – Implementing robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to restrict access.
- Network Security – Using firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems to secure data transmission.
- Incident Response – Developing protocols to detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents.
- Compliance – Adhering to regulatory standards relevant to the industry and geographical location.
The rest of this article will focus on the compliance component.
Let’s start with the relevant laws and legislation.
Laws and Regulations for Cloud Security
DFARS 7012
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012 mandates cybersecurity requirements for contractors working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This regulation emphasizes incident reporting, requiring contractors to report cyber incidents that affect Covered Defense Information (CDI). It also mandates the implementation of security controls as outlined in NIST SP 800-171 to protect CDI, and requires regular assessment and monitoring of security measures to ensure compliance.
Michael Greenman in the GRC academy podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding and complying with DFARS 7012 to protect CDI effectively, highlighting the necessity of adopting FedRAMP moderate equivalency standards to meet the stringent requirements of government clouds.
NIST SP 800-171
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171 outlines security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems and organizations. It emphasizes access control by restricting access to authorized users and providing awareness and training to ensure personnel are aware of security risks. Organizations must also provide adequate training to ensure that the employees can mitigate risks as they are discovered. Audit and accountability are other essential components to track access and usage.
Greenman suggests that understanding the shared responsibility matrix between cloud providers and customers can help meet the NIST SP 800-171 requirements.
FedRAMP
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) standardizes security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used by federal agencies. It goes hand in hand with DFARS, and ensures a consistent approach to security for cloud services. It also emphasizes continuous monitoring and remediation of security controls, and a rigorous evaluation process for cloud service providers (CSPs).
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) establishes national standards for protecting sensitive patient information. For cloud service providers handling health data, compliance involves safeguarding individual health information under the Privacy Rule, protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI) under the Security Rule, and reporting any breaches of unsecured ePHI under the Breach Notification Rule.
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law in the European Union. It mandates incorporating data protection measures from the outset of projects (Data Protection by Design), obtaining explicit consent for data processing, and ensuring individuals can access, rectify, and delete their data (Data Subject Rights).
Now that you know the regulations governing cloud security, let’s turn to the best practices that will help achieve compliance with these standards and frameworks.
10 Best Practices for Cloud Security and Compliance
Implementing best practices is crucial to maintain security and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Here are some essential best practices for organizations using cloud services:
1. Data Encryption
Encrypt data both at rest and in transit to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Use strong encryption protocols like AES-256.
2. Access Management
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to limit access to critical systems and data. Regularly review and update access permissions. Also, have a robust password policy and communicate it to all employees.
3. Regular Audits
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and mitigate risks. Use tools like penetration testing and automated vulnerability scanners. Consider hiring professional services when needed.
4. Employee Training
Train employees on cybersecurity best practices and the importance of compliance. Regularly update training programs to address new threats and regulatory changes.
5. Incident Response Plan
Develop and regularly update an incident response plan to quickly address security breaches. Conduct regular drills to ensure the plan’s effectiveness. Also, assign clear roles and responsibilities to the concerned teams and employees.
6. Patch Management
Ensure that all systems and applications are up-to-date with the latest security patches. Automate patch management where possible to reduce the risk of vulnerabilities.
7. Data Backup and Recovery
Implement a robust data backup and recovery strategy to protect against data loss. Have a data backup plan in place. Regularly test backup and recovery procedures to ensure they work as intended. These measures can prevent data loss even during a cyberattack.
8. Vendor Management
Evaluate and monitor the security practices of third-party vendors, and lay down specific guidelines based on your security policies. Also, ensure they comply with relevant security standards and regulations.
9. Compliance Monitoring
Use automated tools to continuously monitor compliance with relevant regulations and standards. Opt for tools that generate regular compliance reports, as this helps identify and address gaps. Make sure to share these reports with the relevant stakeholders for informed strategy and decision-making.
10. Zero Trust Architecture
Implement a zero-trust security model where no user or device is trusted by default, even if they are inside the network. This helps prevent insider threats. Also, continuously verify access and monitor for suspicious activity.
With these best practices, you can meet cloud security compliance and more importantly, safeguard your cloud assets from external and internal threats.
Final Words
Ensuring cloud security and compliance is essential for protecting sensitive data and meeting regulatory requirements. The robust security measures in this article can help adhere to standards like the DFARS 7012, NIST SP 800-171, FedRAMP, HIPAA, and GDPR. More importantly, organizations can safeguard their cloud environments and maintain trust with stakeholders with these best practices for cloud security compliance.