Secure cloud services include a set of solutions, practices, and technologies designed to ensure the protection of data and applications running in cloud environments. The protection applies to public, private, and hybrid cloud environments and includes security for data storage, transmission, and processing. Key elements of secure cloud services include encryption, identity management, protection against DDoS attacks, cloud application security, and activity monitoring. Secure cloud services are designed to protect against unauthorised access, insider threats, and breaches of data integrity and confidentiality.
Secure Cloud Services
Type of technology
Description of the technology
Basic elements
- Data encryption: Protecting data during storage and transmission in the cloud.
- Identity management: Role-based access control (RBAC) systems and authorisation.
- Application security: Protecting applications running in a cloud environment from attacks and security vulnerabilities.
- DDoS protection: Mechanisms for preventing and mitigating Distributed Denial of Service attacks.
- Activity monitoring: Analysing network traffic and user activity in the cloud to detect anomalies.
Industry usage
- Storage of sensitive data: Protecting medical, financial, and corporate data in the cloud.
- SaaS services: Securing applications delivered in a Software-as-a-Service model.
- IT infrastructure management: Secure management of servers and data stored in the cloud.
- ERP and CRM systems: Protecting systems for managing enterprise resources and customer relationships.
- Data analysis: Secure processing of large data sets in a cloud model.
Importance for the economy
Secure cloud services are key to ensuring operational continuity for companies that move their IT systems to the cloud. Unsecured cloud environments can be vulnerable to data leaks, cyber attacks, and breaches of operational integrity. Effective protection of cloud services minimises the risk of financial loss, makes it possible to meet regulatory requirements, and increases customer and business partner confidence in the organisation.
Related technologies
Cybersecurity
Comprehensive protection of cloud environments as part of an organisation’s security strategy.
Mechanism of action
- Secure cloud services use a range of integrated protection mechanisms to ensure the security of data and applications in the cloud environment. Data is encrypted both during storage and transmission. Identity management systems control who can access certain resources, while monitoring tools constantly analyse user activity and network traffic to detect suspicious activity. In addition, DDoS protection mechanisms prevent cloud systems from being overloaded by massive attacks, while application security features detect and address vulnerabilities.
Advantages
- Enhanced data protection: Securing sensitive information from unauthorised access.
- Operational continuity: Protecting cloud systems from failures and attacks.
- Improved visibility: Monitoring traffic and activity in real time.
- Security scalability: Ability to adjust the level of protection to meet the needs of the growing cloud infrastructure.
- Regulatory compliance: Meeting data protection and security requirements (e.g. GDPR and CCPA).
Disadvantages
- Risk of internal attacks: Potential threat from employees accessing cloud systems.
- Configuration errors: Improper configuration of cloud services can lead to security vulnerabilities.
- Data portability: Difficulties in migrating data between different cloud providers.
- Lack of control over infrastructure: Limited visibility and control over the physical security of cloud resources.
- Dependence on external providers: Dependence on outside providers for security and management.
Implementation of the technology
Required resources
- Security management platforms: Tools for monitoring and securing cloud environments.
- Identity management systems: Cloud-based access control and privilege management solutions.
- Encryption systems: Data encryption mechanisms during storage and transmission.
- DDoS protection services: Mechanisms for preventing and responding to DDoS attacks in real time.
- Monitoring systems: Software for tracking user activity and analysing traffic.
Required competences
- IT security management: Planning and implementing security strategies in a cloud environment.
- Cloud administration: Knowledge of architecture and management of cloud platforms.
- Application security: Securing applications and identifying vulnerabilities in cloud software.
- Threat analysis: Ability to identify threats and neutralise them in the cloud.
- Identity management: Configuring and controlling access to cloud resources
Environmental aspects
- Energy consumption: High energy demand of by data centres running cloud services.
- Waste generated: Problems with disposal of obsolete servers and hardware used in the cloud.
- Recycling: Limited recyclability of materials from data centres.
- Raw material consumption: High demand for rare earth metals and semiconductors.
- Emissions of pollutants: Emissions from the operation of server rooms and data centres.
Legal conditions
- Data protection regulations: Regulations for the storage and processing of data in the cloud (e.g. GDPR).
- IT security: Standards for protecting cloud systems (e.g. ISO/IEC 27018).
- Data protection: Privacy and data processing regulations (e.g. CCPA).
- Compliance with industry standards: Requirements for compliance with sector regulations (e.g. HIPAA).
- Regulations regarding cloud providers