Whether you handle things in-house or work with a cloud managed services provider, it’s essential to protect your cloud systems. Believe it or not, cloud solutions aren’t necessarily secure out of the box. They require expertise to implement and maintain the right security controls. Add things like regulatory compliance and hybrid cloud complexity, and internal IT staff may struggle to keep up.
For many organizations, an MSP (managed service provider) is the answer—as long as they have cloud expertise.
Whether you outsource this function or not, here’s everything you need to know about managing cloud security.
Top 5 cloud security challenges
Since cloud systems are fundamentally different from on-premises equivalents, they come with unique challenges. Here are 5 issues that midmarket companies typically encounter.
1. A tough labor market for hiring cloud security specialists
Cloud security won’t manage itself. You need skilled resources who understand cloud systems and the unique cybersecurity strategies they require.
These professionals command high salaries, and they churn frequently. As we discovered in our groundbreaking report, The Rise of Strategic Outsourcing in Cybersecurity and IT, 42% of companies struggle with IT staff availability—and no one expects it to get easier. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the cybersecurity job market will grow 32% between 2022 and 2032.
It’s a tough time for midmarket companies to cover this function with in-house resources. This is one of the biggest reasons we’re seeing companies turn to MSPs who cover cloud security. It’s simply too difficult and expensive to fill these essential seats with staff hires, and managed service providers typically offer access to an entire cloud team for the equivalent of one staff hire.
2. Non-optimized cloud strategy
It’s easy to overspend on cloud systems, especially if you bring a legacy, on-premises mindset to the table. On-premises systems are all about servers. While you can technically rebuild on-premises systems in the cloud with servers as the foundation, that approach gets very expensive. It’s rarely worth the trouble.
Rather than services, you should look at cloud services to fulfill specific functions. These run as needed, rather than 24/7, which greatly reduces the cost.
From a security perspective, reducing cloud bloat can also reduce your attack surface and the breadth of cloud security measures required. You want to find a right-fit solution rather than taking on more responsibility than you can handle. Read more here: Cloud Cost Optimization: 4 Strategies To Win.
3. Cybersecurity regulation
Regulatory frameworks like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GLBA directly impact cloud security for companies in industries affected by these laws. Since cloud security comes with its own challenges, your internal IT team may struggle to manage compliance if they already have their hands full.
In these cases, a managed service provider can help implement and maintain the appropriate cloud security controls. A good provider should have a thorough knowledge of the industry and applicable regulation—plus deep experience with the cloud systems in question.
4. Unique cloud security threats
Cloud systems come with unique security threats. While some of these overlap with on premises threats, they look a little different in a cloud scenario. Broadly speaking, here are the threats that a cloud security provider will manage.
- Insecure APIs. APIs (application programming interfaces) provide the connective tissue between systems, whether in the cloud or in a hybrid scenario (i.e. between a cloud system and an on-premises system). APIs must be kept up to date and secure. Otherwise, they present potential entry points for threat actors.
- Zero-day vulnerabilities. Cloud systems come with a unique benefit—they’re always kept up to date with new releases. Each new release may add features, address bugs, and fix security issues. However, it’s always possible that a zero-day vulnerability (a weakness not yet uncovered by developers or exploited by hackers) will get baked into a new release. Detecting zero-day vulnerabilities requires constant monitoring and the ability to respond to threats in real time—two of the biggest benefits of outsourcing cloud security to a managed service provider.
- Malware. If a hacker breaks into a cloud system, they can install malware that deletes data, encrypts a system and holds it for ransom, and more. Malware is a significant threat for any system, whether on premises or cloud-hosted, but defending against it requires specific skills and tools in a cloud scenario.
- Data loss. Believe it or not, a given cloud system may not come with built-in backup processes. If a system does conduct automatic backups out of the box, that process may not be optimized for the organization’s needs. Effective cloud security management requires a thoughtful, dedicated approach to backup and recovery.
- Account hijacking. Since anyone with an internet connection can reach the login page for a cloud system, there’s a unique risk of account hijacking. Cloud security management includes administering user access, implementing and maintaining MFA, and monitoring logs for suspicious activity.
- Insider threats. Aligning cloud system access to the principle of least privilege can reduce the attack surface that’s available to insider threats. This requires giving every user only the permissions they need to do their jobs—nothing more.
- Lack of regulatory compliance. Your cloud systems may or may not be compliant out of the box with the regulation that applies to your industry. A managed service provider can implement and maintain cloud security controls that comply with your industry’s regulations.
- Default configuration. Believe it or not, cloud systems aren’t usually “ready to go” out of the box from a cybersecurity perspective. They need expert configuration and ongoing management from cloud security specialists. This is one of the biggest reasons to outsource cloud security to a managed service provider.
5. Complexity in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud scenarios
If you’re working with multiple public cloud providers (multi-cloud), or if you’re mixing cloud and on premises—or public cloud and private cloud (i.e. hybrid)—you’ll find additional security challenges. In any of these scenarios, complexity is the name of the game. There’s just no way around it.
Drilling down a little, you’ll also encounter challenges like access management, incident detection and response, lack of comprehensive visibility, and potential supply chain vulnerabilities. If your IT team already has their hands full, it’s tough to manage cloud security in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments. This is another area where a managed service provider can handle that complexity for you—so you can focus on your core business.
What to look for in a cloud security provider
Not all MSPs are created equal. Some specialize in on-premises systems, while others may actually outsource their cybersecurity services. Because cloud security requires specialized expertise, you’ll want to avoid companies that pass the buck to partners.
Specifically, here’s what you should look for in a service provider.
- Deep cloud security expertise. While there’s some overlap, cloud systems require a specialized approach that’s a little different from on premises. Make sure your provider has demonstrated success in cloud security and a deep bench of experts.
- CISO-level consulting capabilities. It’s tough for midmarket companies to hire CISOs. For organizations that don’t have a C-level cybersecurity leader, it’s important to seek out a cloud security provider who doesn’t only work with the nitty-gritty, but also provides essential strategic guidance at the 30,000ft level.
- Can advise on efficient use of the cloud. Not every system is a good fit for the cloud. If the system needs to run 24/7/365, an on-premises solution or a cloud services approach (rather than a cloud server) may be more economical. The right partner won’t push you to spend money that doesn’t make sense. Rather, they’ll help you maximize the value of the cloud without overpaying.
- Industry knowledge. Every industry comes with unique challenges and opportunities in cloud strategy. Make sure your provider understands your industry and can connect specific challenges with the offerings of the market.
- Fully managed or co-managed. Some providers will try to take over your entire IT practice. That may work if you don’t have IT staff, but if you do, you want a partner who fits into your existing IT practice. Their goal should be to make cloud security work for you, not to maximize their billable hours.
The takeaway: Get the managed services you need for cloud security
Unsecured cloud systems represent a significant risk. If your internal resources have too many responsibilities to manage cloud security, or if they lack the expertise, it’s worth evaluating a managed services model. The right partner can ensure you comply with regulation, secure systems appropriately, and greatly reduce your cybersecurity risk from cloud systems. That’s what we’re all about here at Corsica Technologies. From IT to cybersecurity, cloud to on premises, we handle it all with our dedicated team.
Want to learn more about cloud managed security services?
Reach out to schedule a consultation with our cloud specialists.
