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Demand for the cloud is increasing steadily, with Gartner predicting that 85% of organizations will embrace a cloud-first strategy by 2025. To keep cloud networks safe, cloud security is constantly evolving as they work to keep pace with malicious network attacks. Key to this is the adoption of zero trust security by IT managers—the concept that all network operations should be treated as potentially malicious until verified.

Zero trust is aspirational, meaning that often as soon as an organization achieves zero trust maturity, the changing threat landscape means that they must update their security policies to stay protected. Zero trust represents a paradigm shift in securing the cloud, introducing rigorous authentication and verification processes.

Each of these pillars plays a crucial role in reinforcing the overarching goal of zero trust, and they can be addressed sequentially or concurrently when securing the Cloud. Think of cybersecurity as a building; the six pillars uphold the entire structure. Without them, cybersecurity simply would not be able to function correctly.

In this blog, we will delve into each pillar to understand their significance and the tools and strategies needed to realize them.

Why do we need increased security for the Cloud?

Moving to the Cloud offers major benefits that make the transition attractive. It enables organizations to use IT infrastructure without having to manage them on-premises, transforming IT infrastructure into a utility. Benefits include:

• Scalability: A scalable cloud solution enables organizations to respond with appropriate storage and performance adjustments regardless of traffic or workload demands.
• Agility: Nearly 80% of IT professionals say moving to the Cloud improved their efficiency due to less downtime for maintenance and automatic performance improvements.
• Enhanced customer service: Response times and insights into the customer journey are enhanced by the agility of the cloud to improve customer service.

The side effect? An expanded attack surface also increases security risks. The health and safety of networks are constantly in danger from malicious attacks, meaning every user identification, application, and device has to be analyzed and authenticated.

That’s where the six pillars come in.

Pillar 1: Security assessments

Security assessments are critical for securing the cloud and identifying any weaknesses that bad actors can use. Assessments like those offered by OnX offer a structured approach to prioritizing an organization’s security.

The assessment covers categories such as:

• Key management and encryption.
• Data center security.
• Governance and compliance.
• Business continuity.
• Identity access management (IAM).
• Change control procedures and configuration monitoring.
• Vulnerability management.
• Supply chain security.
• Data security.
• Infrastructure management.
• Interoperability.
• Cloud-specific penetration testing.

Read more: Three vital tactics for embedding cloud network security

Pillar 2: Patch management

Patching vulnerabilities is critical for maintaining a secure IT environment, yet it often poses challenges such as system downtime and complexity.

OnX offers patch management services for both cloud and on-premises environments, ensuring timely updates while minimizing disruption. Additionally, our security experts provide guidance on governance and compliance issues, enabling organizations to patch intelligently.

Pillar 3: Managed backup

With the agility of the Cloud comes an increased demand for speed and accessibility. That means organizations need robust data protection measures when securing the Cloud.

Managed backup solutions offer offsite storage in a highly monitored environment, ensuring data integrity and business continuity in the event of a malicious attack.

Read more: Secure your organization’s cloud database with data protection and managed backup

Pillar 4: Cloud security posture management (CSPM)

Unlike traditional data recovery methods, DRaaS offers flexible and rapid deployment options.

These enable organizations to recover swiftly from disruptions caused by malware attacks, data breaches, or natural disasters.

Pillar 6: Cloud monitoring and management

OnX provides comprehensive services to monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize all aspects of cloud operations, including compute, voice, security, and networking.

Whether you require assistance in specific areas or seek complete cloud management outsourcing, OnX offers expertise to effectively guide and protect your IT infrastructure.

Securing the Cloud: Support for a robust cloud security framework

OnX boasts a team of top-tier security professionals and leverages strategic partnerships with leading vendors to deliver exceptional cloud security solutions. Our vendor-agnostic approach ensures that organizations receive tailored, best-of-breed solutions that meet their unique security needs. Whether your organization is just beginning its journey towards zero trust or seeking to enhance existing security measures, OnX is here to provide expert guidance and support.

To learn more about integrating these pillars of cloud security strategy into your defensive posture, reach out to one of OnX’s experts today.