5 Security Hacks Every Business Needs To Implement For A Safer AWS Cloud 

Nowadays, when it comes to cloud infrastructure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) takes the crown as the go-to provider. It’s like the backbone for countless businesses, helping them serve their employees, contractors, and clients with a whole range of services. 

Big shots like LinkedIn and Netflix are all in on AWS, using it as the engine that powers their operations. But with recent cyberattacks hitting major players, it’s become super clear just how vital it is to keep cloud services like AWS safe and sound. 

So, when a company is thinking about migrating to the cloud, they must have a serious discussion with an AWS expert about security measures. A solid security plan in place is the key to making sure important bits of Amazon Web Services stay protected from any potential threats.  

What Exactly Is Cloud Security? 

Cloud security involves the procedures, technologies, and controls put in place to protect data, applications, and infrastructure hosted in the cloud. Both the client and the cloud service provider share responsibility for ensuring security. 

With cloud computing, where data and applications are stored and operated on remote servers owned by providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, security risks extend beyond the direct control of the customer. Sensitive company and customer data are transmitted, processed, and stored on systems that utilize virtualization and resource sharing with other customers. 

To address these risks, cloud providers implement various security measures at the network, server, and application levels to protect their data centers and infrastructure. However, customers are still responsible for securing operating systems, applications, and data accessed within the cloud.  

Key aspects of cloud security include: 

• Perimeter defenses: Use firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and segmentation to keep bad actors out. 
• Strengthening the core: Secure your virtual machines, servers, and applications. 
• Data privacy: Encryption is key to keeping your information confidential. 
• Always be ready: Backups and disaster recovery ensure business continuity. 
• Know who has access: Manage user permissions carefully. 
• See everything: Monitor your cloud environment for threats. 
• Keep things up-to-date: Patch your systems regularly to close security holes. 
• Follow the rules: Stay compliant with relevant data protection regulations. 
• Migrations: Optimize resource utilization, enhance scalability, and achieve operational efficiency with easy migration.  
• Hybrid Hosting: Ensure a the perfect blend of on-premises and cloud resources to balance performance. 
• Disaster Recovery: Build a safety net, ensuring rapid data and system restoration, minimizing downtime, and safeguarding against potential data loss. 

As over 94% of organizations have adopted cloud services like Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS) for their infrastructure, workloads, and applications, it’s essential to evaluate associated risks and implement appropriate security measures. Continuously assessing vulnerabilities and threats and adhering to best practices ensures the resilient and secure use of cloud resources over time. 

Understanding Cloud Security In AWS 

Many businesses and individuals rely on Amazon Web Services (AWS), a prominent cloud computing platform, to develop, launch, and oversee their IT resources and applications. AWS provides an extensive range of cloud-based services, including networking, storage, databases, machine learning, security, and beyond. These services are hosted within AWS’s global network of data centers strategically positioned across various geographic regions. This widespread infrastructure empowers organizations to deploy their applications and data in proximity to their users, ensuring swift access with minimal latency and optimal availability. 

For security and compliance, AWS follows the Shared Responsibility Model. This framework outlines the roles of both AWS and its users in ensuring cloud security. Generally, AWS is responsible for securing the cloud infrastructure, while users are accountable for safeguarding their data and applications in the cloud. Organizations should focus on areas such as data protection, access management, network security, system and application security, threat monitoring, incident response, and compliance. 

Maintaining a secure cloud environment can be challenging for organizations due to the extensive security responsibilities involved. According to Gartner, most cloud security incidents by 2025 will be attributed to human error. Therefore, organizations must understand their security responsibilities better and adopt cloud security best practices to defend against security breaches actively. 

Top 5 Cloud Security Trends To Follow 

The level of responsibility customers have for security varies based on the AWS services they use and how they integrate them into their IT setup. However, AWS’ flexibility and control rely on the shared responsibility model to ensure everything stays secure and compliant. What customers do within their own organizations truly matters. 

Now, let’s have a look at some hacks you can implement right away to boost your AWS cloud security. 

1. Embrace Devsecops In Devops Practices 

If you’re already implementing the DevOps methodology in your business, you’re likely on the right track. This approach has been a staple in the tech industry for years. However, the current landscape demands a heightened focus on security. 

To ensure robust development cycles coupled with top-notch security, it’s important to integrate security directly into your DevOps process. This integration, often referred to as DevSecOps (Development, Security, Operations), aims to seamlessly embed security at every stage of the software development lifecycle. 

2. Enhance Your Cloud Visibility 

While many cloud administrators grant permissions to all employees, most users typically use only a fraction of these permissions. This creates a vast landscape of unused access potentially exploitable by malicious actors. Implement tools that keep a close watch over your entire infrastructure, meticulously monitoring both used and unused permissions. This comprehensive approach provides unparalleled visibility into your cloud environment across various domains. 

3. Enforce Strong Authentication Measures  

Gone are the days of relying solely on usernames and passwords for cloud access. Instead, user identity serves as the linchpin for security and compliance. IAM (Identity and Access Management) has become a key aspect in enabling organizations to manage and control access to user identities. IAM solutions employ various features, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), which necessitates users to authenticate through multiple identification methods like a username, password, and a one-time password. 

4. Apply Least-Privilege Permissions 

Granting administrative access to the cloud or allowing employees to alter configurations should be a thing of the past. Least-Privilege Permissions eliminate the implicit trust traditionally placed in employees within the security perimeter, replacing it with explicit trust based on employee roles and giving the access to data and controls based on the need of their roles. These granular permissions should undergo continuous evaluation and monitoring to ensure that employees have only the necessary access to cloud services for their respective roles.  
 
Furthermore, there might be users, permissions, roles, policies, or credentials that you don’t need ain your AWS account anymore. You’ll have to review, remove and update the access and permissions regularly to keep your infrastucture safe from internal/external threats. 

5. Maintain Logs Of Your Cloud Environment  

Enabling logging within your environment yields several security advantages. Firstly, security teams can actively monitor logs in real time, taking proactive measures to thwart attempts by malicious actors to breach your network. Additionally, logs offer valuable insights post-incident, offering details such as the incident’s date and time, the attacker’s IP address or source, the targeted resources, and the outcome of their attempts. Last but not least, logs help pinpoint the root cause of connectivity issues, expediting their resolution. 

Final Thoughts  

As AWS continues to grow in popularity as a leading cloud service provider, more and more organizations are turning to cloud services to manage their operations. However, moving to the cloud doesn’t mean the end of cybersecurity risks. Organizations still bear the responsibility of ensuring the security of their business data. Given the ever-changing nature of cloud environments, it’s essential for organizations to continuously track their assets and vulnerabilities and address any security weaknesses as they emerge. 

If you have any concerns regarding your organization’s AWS cloud security, please reach out to Verticiti and our cloud security experts would be more than happy to offer a FREE consultation. We’re here to provide expert guidance and support to SMBs leading them to exponential success.