Cloud-based services are a big part of everything we do today. From consumer-based systems, streaming services, and storage solutions all the way to running/saving data for business, the cloud is an integral part of everyday life. Different types of clouds serve unique functions. Some offer infrastructure as a service, some offer platform as a service, while others offer software as a service. If you’ve ever used Amazon web services or Microsoft Azure, then you’re undoubtedly familiar with the different service models. The former offers SaaS while the latter offers all three (IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS). Many organizations also use a hybrid cloud deployment model – a model composed of a public and private, or some other configuration of two or more Cloud models – for most of their business. Hybrid clouds are secure and scalable, making them a great option for most businesses. Here is a quick guy to hybrid clouds, what they can do, and keeping them secure.
Hybrid Cloud Defined
In the world of cloud computing, clouds are defined by their architecture and infrastructure. Architecture in this context just refers to all of the components that make up the cloud and account for its operation. Hybrid clouds combine on-premises data centers with a public cloud solution. This enables data to be shared across both channels. It can also include multi-cloud setups and configurations. There are regulations and compliance standards involved with any hybrid cloud solution. They are a popular choice due to their flexibility, scalability, ease of use, and ability to automate/better manage resources throughout the organization.
Migration
Security issues can pop up during cloud migration procedures. Automation during the migration process lets you discover any issues along the public and private cloud portion of your hybrid solution. When automation does discover an issue, it can automatically protect or guard against it. This creates a more flexible environment for expanding your migration and getting all of the necessary data onto your servers. It also has the benefit of adding some visibility and control over the security within your cloud. Think of it like having really good home insurance. It automatically protects you in the event of an issue and all you have to do is set it up in the first place.
Native Apps
Native apps are an interesting concept for clouds. To keep up with the way the world is changing, applications have to rise to the occasion. That’s why building apps that are native to the cloud is becoming such a common practice. Cloud native applications deliver business value and are small, compact, and easy to deploy. They’re a good way to scale workloads on a hybrid cloud. Through self-service and on-demand resources provisioning, native apps let you take advantage of everything a hybrid cloud has to offer. Securing them is part of a more comprehensive security solution is also rendered easy due to their nature as applications that are native to the cloud itself.
Security
In a cloud structure, you’re going to have a mix of traditional security methods such as firewalls and antivirus programs in addition to other security measures. Many security problems happen during setup and configuration. The first step to securing your cloud is doing a comprehensive risk assessment. Knowing what can go wrong, and how to guard against it is crucial to securing the cloud. Complying with established laws and regulations also contributes positively to cloud security, providing a net gain in the area. With robust hybrid cloud security, You can constantly monitor and assess risk within your cloud while maintaining security standards across the board. Network security, clouds security, container security, and workload security all fall under the umbrella of this scalable all-in-one security method. Users can build the security experience around their needs and ensure cloud operational excellence over time without compromising data or ending up on the wrong side of a deep breach.
Encryption
Encryption is one of the most powerful security tools one can use in any cybersecurity endeavor. From virtual private networks to cloud services, encrypting your data means safeguarding it from would-be attackers and other threats. With encryption, data gets encoded and obscured so that other people can’t access it without a decryption key. As data moves from the cloud to the end user or throughout the cloud, encryption means that if it’s intercepted it won’t be useful. This curves data theft and prevents compromise in the event of a breach. Data can also be encrypted while on the cloud server itself. Other members of the cloud can’t access the data either. There are encryption protocols for data in transit and data at rest that your cloud solution employs to keep your data more secure. Encryption should be employed at several levels of the cloud, including on data storage, within the application, and as it moves over the network (through a VPN or other protocol).
