The rapid adoption of cloud systems & services is helping enterprises transform how digital infrastructure works. Cloud services allow organizations to scale efficiently, innovate quickly, integrate new components, and enhance computational performance. However, relying on one cloud service provider (CSP) can be problematic as a single downtime or vulnerability can cost the enterprise millions, if not billions, of dollars. Therefore, enterprises prefer to use the multi-cloud environment to migrate their applications & data across different cloud platforms.
However, by leveraging the multi-cloud architecture, securing and managing these complex environments and their configurations becomes intricate. That has led to the emergence of multi-cloud security architecture. Here, enterprise security professionals use diverse approaches to ensure the security, compliance, and resilience of enterprises. This article will provide a quick guide on robust protection across multi-cloud environments. We will also understand the various security challenges associated with multi-cloud systems. Then, we will examine the principles and best practices that enterprises should follow to prevent multi-cloud environments from cyber threats.
What is a multi-cloud system?
A multi-cloud system is an IT infrastructure wherein the enterprise uses two or more cloud service provider’s computing services to meet various business and technical needs. Numerous cloud service providers (CSPs) like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, or other public or private cloud platforms offer services such as infrastructure (IaaS), platforms (PaaS), and software (SaaS). A multi-cloud environment leverages the strengths and benefits of different cloud providers. It helps optimize performance, enhance resilience, boost productivity, and helps avoid vendor lock-in.
Essential Components of a Multi-cloud System
A multi-cloud architecture offers numerous components to deliver security and compliance for robust protection and resilience. Here are some essential multi-cloud components from a security standpoint.
1. Centralized control over security
Enterprises can integrate dashboards to govern security aspects from a centralized perspective. This will help enforce uniform security across all cloud services and platforms.
2. Encryption
Data protection is another essential feature that a multi-cloud architecture offers for both data at rest and in transit.
3. Automated Threat Detection
Whatever cloud services you are using, most of them offer AI-powered automated threat detection systems, and multi-cloud is no different. They deliver real-time threat detection & response features across all cloud infrastructures.
Also Read: Emergence of Automated Cybersecurity Threats
4. Compliance & data backup
Multi-cloud also adheres to various compliance & industry standards to maintain data security regulations across multi-cloud environments. Also, spontaneous data backup helps keep a copy of data from ransomware and other malware infections.
Challenges in Multi-Cloud Security Systems
Although a multi-cloud environment offers numerous flexibility & advantages, leveraging multiple cloud providers’ services also invites unique security challenges. Here are some of them.
1. Lack of centralized visibility
Since a multi-cloud architecture combines the services of numerous providers, gaining comprehensive visibility across all cloud platforms becomes difficult. Each provider comes with their own monitoring, logging, and alerting tools. Hence, it becomes difficult for security professionals to integrate various functionalities seamlessly. Security professionals have to sift through disparate logs & dashboards, making it harder for them to recognize & react to potential threats in real time.
2. Inconsistent security policies
Each cloud service provider might offer proprietary security tools or configuration mechanisms. This often leads to inconsistency in managing security policies across different platforms. For example, one cloud environment might enforce asymmetric encryption while another might prefer symmetric encryption with access control lists to offer security. Thus, managing them under one umbrella can become intricate.
3. Data Sprawling and Protection Concern
Multi-cloud environments often lead to disordered & unstructured spreading of data across its environment. It is called data sprawling. It increases the complexity of managing and securing data. Every CSP within the multi-cloud architecture offers different encryption standards & access control mechanisms. That can lead to exposure of sensitive data without a unified encryption strategy.
4. Regulatory and Compliance Issue
Different CSPs offer different compliance types with diverse update levels. Data protection, privacy, and compliance also vary according to regions globally. When enterprises use multiple cloud platforms, they may inadvertently violate local laws if all multi-cloud services fail to implement compliance controls spanning across the multi-cloud environments.
5. Configuration mismatch
Inadequate privileges & system misconfiguration for access rights can lead to unauthorized access to internal cloud services. A multi-cloud environment often faces misconfiguration issues. Thus, managing identities and access rights across different cloud platforms becomes overly complex. Each CSP offers its own IAM services. So, without centralized management, enterprises struggle to maintain consistent access policies.
Also Read: Multi Cloud Challenges and Solutions
Security Best Practices to Build a Robust Multi-Cloud Environment
Since multi-cloud environments encounter numerous security challenges, enterprises should ensure stringent protection of these cloud environments. That is where security experts & cloud professionals must adapt to various best practices that address the unique security challenges posed by the use of multiple CSPs. Apart from the best practices, enterprises should also choose popular cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, GCP, etc., rather than some random providers for designing the multi-cloud architecture. Here is a list of some well-known best practices and their benefits.
Use of cloud-native security solutions
Popular cloud service providers (CSPs) offer native security tools & proprietary solutions designed to enhance the platforms’ security postures. AWS offers its own Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution and AWS Key Management Service (KMS), while Google Cloud offers Cloud Identity and Google KMS. They also come with built-in native enterprise-grade firewalls. These CSPs tailor these native cloud security tools according to their respective environment to bolster the security stances.
Penetration Testing for Third-party Integrations and API usage
Multi-cloud architecture relies heavily on different APIs and third-party dependencies. It helps connect services and applications within a cloud system. Insecure API integration and third-party solutions can make the entire multi-cloud environment vulnerable. Therefore, organizations should implement strong API security measures and best practices. Enterprises can also impose secure API gateways, rate-limiting features, API penetration testing, and string authentication methods.
Leverage CSPM
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) solutions are security toolkits designed to monitor and assess the security stance of cloud infrastructure in real time. These tools can detect and resolve security risks like system misconfiguration, unauthorized access, non-compliant actions, etc. These tools act as a universal solution for all cloud providers as they enforce security policies and identify misconfiguration across all cloud environments.
Unified IAM and Security Solutions
Enterprises can manage disparate security policies across cloud providers by leveraging unified security solutions. Unified Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions can streamline access management and minimize the risk of unauthorized access. Centralized cloud firewalls are another solution to filter data packets. Again, deploying Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools across cloud environments can help monitor data movements and prevent unauthorized leakage & sharing of sensitive information.
Principles for Securing Multi-cloud Architectures
Enterprises can overcome numerous security challenges if they follow proper security norms & principles. Adopting certain guiding principles helps enterprises build a robust foundation for securing multi-cloud architecture. Centralized visibility across all cloud platforms and services is a must. Consistent monitoring for lateral movement and data flow is also necessary. Enforcing the Zero Trust security model can also help keep the internal systems and data intact. Along with all these, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can also bring autonomous checks on malicious actions. Therefore, with the dynamic scalability of the multi-cloud environment, enterprises can orchestrate threat detection, incident response, and compliance checks through automation and remove the risk of human error.
Conclusion
We hope this article provided a 360 view of the multi-cloud environment and its security challenges. Although the rapid adoption of a multi-cloud environment delivers significant benefits like scalability, flexibility, and innovation, it comes with numerous security challenges. Thus, businesses should distribute the security workload effectively to address these multi-cloud security challenges. Hence, this article is an appropriate guide to multi-cloud security strategies highlighting consistent identity and access management, robust encryption, continuous monitoring, and automated security practices. By leveraging centralized and unified security management tools along with principles and best practices, enterprises can foster a security-first culture within an organization that is utilizing a multi-cloud environment.
As businesses move away from single-cloud environments, ensuring seamless and secure access across multiple cloud platforms will become a game-changer. With VE3’s cloud solutions, we empower organizations to implement a comprehensive identity management strategy that offers total control and visibility across their cloud ecosystems. This includes optimizing access rights, automating compliance, and protecting critical resources—maximizing both security and productivity. Here at VE3, we are committed to supporting this transformation with cutting-edge solutions. For more information visit our expertise or contact us directly.
