Cloud infrastructure security is a big decision for any company. No matter the size and scale, the clarity of concepts in making a safe and rewarding transition to the cloud is essential. While experts predicted that more than 16% of enterprise workloads would be in the cloud by 2019, the reality is that just 9% of the workloads had shifted to the cloud. Major roadblocks in moving to the cloud are the misleading myths surrounding the topic. Some believe that the cloud is the ultimate solution to all their problems, only to realize it is not. Some think that the cloud is a sham, only to see their competitors an edge. If you are a decision-maker or a team member looking to make a move, here are the top myths around cloud infrastructure security that you should know.
Myth 1: On-Premises vs Cloud Infrastructure Security
Cloud is secure; it is the interaction of cloud apps and software with employees and customers that exposes it to a security breach. Most of the security risk comes from the misconfiguration of cloud services and discrepancies in human interaction with the cloud.
When you move to the cloud, you cannot secure it like an on-premises hardware room. You are responsible for analyzing use-cases, identifying procedural loopholes, and securing cloud apps from outside infiltration. The following are the best ways to secure your cloud infrastructure.
- Network segmentation for different departments, instances, and apps.
- Identity and access management.
- User activity monitoring.
- Combine traditional passwords with other authentication methods such as RSA keys.
- Ensure regular patching and maintenance sweeps by your vendor to detect and prevent breaches.
- Provision for a disaster recovery system.
These are some of the best ways to secure your cloud infra. Having said that, safety is never guaranteed. We must be vigilant and never let our guards down.
Myth 2: Cloud is a one-stop Solution for Everything.
Cloud is a great match for numerous use-cases involving self-provisioning of resources and dynamic workload management. But it is not the elixir of IT infra. If you currently use a legacy application with decades of data and procedures, it will not be advisable to shift everything to the cloud.
A better approach is building parallel capabilities and planning a gradual move from the existing legacy application to cloud infra. You should carefully analyze the current workloads on legacy apps and plan your move safely and securely.
Myth 3: Focus Either on Applications or Data Centers
If you follow the application by application approach, you will not benefit. For instance, if you move a subset of applications such as the user-profile app leaving behind the on-boarding and transactional aspects, you are limiting the enhanced time-to-market potential of the cloud.
On the other hand, you might face many problems if you plan to move the entire data center to the cloud. Some apps might not be configured or made to run on the cloud. Instead, a sensible approach is to club subsets as business domains such as customer on-boarding, profiles, and payments. The idea is to plan the move so that everything interrelated is shifted together.
Myth 4: Cloud Service Provider(CSP) Networks are More Latent than On-premise Networks
Many people believe that cloud infra has more latency than on-premise systems. However, that is far from the truth. What happens is that the organization starts routing traffic through an on-premise network in expectation of greater control.
Because the organization is backhauling data, it creates greater complexity of information transfer and creates higher latency in cloud apps. The important point is that CSPs now offer much more robust security perimeters, reducing the need for backhauling data and increasing latency for control and security.
Myth 5: Enterprises are Moving Back
Enterprises that move to the cloud with a structured, planned, and patient approach rarely move back to conventional infrastructure. Once they start realizing the benefits of cloud-based business, there is no turning back.
Organizations move back due to the lack of execution finesse and planning for cloud infrastructures. If you are looking to make a move, invest time identifying the right approach and planning every transition stage.
Myth 6: On-premise Security is Better than Cloud Security
Another myth surrounding cloud infra is that on-premise is more secure; however, that is not true. If anything, the cloud gives you better control over your IT, it further increases the visibility of your business by providing impeccable speed and smooth user experiences.
Cloud service providers employ robust security procedures with heavy-duty malware protection, firewalls, data encryption, vulnerability management, and regular threat analysis.
Myth 7: Cloud Means NO Infrastructure Organizations
Many professionals assume that the cloud means an end-to-end solution that will not require infrastructure management, and that is not the truth. Even after moving to the cloud, you will have to keep a close eye on your infrastructure. You will encounter hundreds of modules and services that will need an experienced team to standardize, maintain, and improve business processes.
Conclusion
Cloud Infrastructure is an exciting proposition for every business. The only important thing is to ensure that you put your best foot forward. Take your time to prepare your organization for the big move. Plan every aspect of the transition down to the most minute details. And do not worry, if you need some expert help, Cloudlytics is always just a quick call away. We love helping enterprises ‘make the move’ and leverage the limitless opportunities of the cloud. Start your free trial of our security platform or request a demo today.
