January 2023 - Cloudlytics

How is AWS Making a Startup’s Journey to Success Easier, Smoother, and Cost-Efficient?

Posted on January 31, 2023April 19, 2023 by Abhijeet Chinchole

Getting started with AWS can be overwhelming, like treading on uncharted waters. Hence, it’s essential to map out how AWS supports startups and their requirements. Discovering and implementing the right features can get you the best results and make using AWS a smooth sail.

Startups can leverage AWS Activate to access free tools, resources, material, and content and build a startup. AWS provides more than 40 solution templates to develop and deploy a variety of products. In addition, it offers a rich library of tips and recommendations for technical requirements.

Why do Startups Need a Credible Solution for Development?

The success of startups can be directly correlated to a good user experience. Their journey from ideation to execution is driven by the rewards they will receive from their hassle-free services. According to a research article in Harvard Business Review, most failures that startups experience can be avoided through technical training.

Did you know that 6% of startups fail due to tech-related problems? This means that either these startups have chosen the wrong tech stack, or they lack in terms of security, or they are using outdated solutions for their development purposes.

We can relate this directly to another statistic indicating that 16% of startups fail because of cash flow problems. Quite evidently, if you invest in the wrong technologies, build the wrong product, and work with the wrong team, all of these lead to cash burn.

Amazon AWS presents a novel solution for startups and businesses to build effective solutions backed by formidable technology. While using AWS requires some learning, it can easily be mastered by even those with no technical experience.

What is AWS Activate?

The AWS Activate Founders is a program by Amazon allowing startup founders and entrepreneurs to build and grow their businesses. The suite of free tools and resources allows founders to build their product and launch in the market faster quickly, and that too, at lower costs.

However, to begin with, AWS Activate, the startup must satisfy the eligibility criteria;

The startup or founder must be new to AWS Activate.
The company must be funded or unfunded. The eligible series of a startup includes Pre-Seed, Angel, Seed, Debt Finance, and Series A.
The applying company must have a website or a public profile.
Lastly, the company must have been founded in the last 10 years.

Successful startups like DoorDash, Deliveroo, and even Airbnb have created their applications with the AWS Activate suite.

How AWS Makes a Difference in Startup Development?

When you are building an application, a website, or a web application, it has a front end and a back end.

The front end is the client’s end or the interface your customers will engage with. The back end includes the system that powers the front end and makes sure that the clients have a memorable user experience.

In AWS Cloud, the back end has the following aspects;

User Authentication
Data Store
File Store
API
Web Analytics

Amazon Cloud has a solution for all these components. However, using them requires some basic understanding and experience with technology. AWS Activate or its related services make it easier for startup founders to work on their products, even if they have a non-tech background.

AWS allows startup founders and entrepreneurs to build, test, deploy, and troubleshoot applications quickly and repeatedly. For a startup, understanding its customers and getting feedback about its product is essential. AWS allows startup founders to quickly add or remove these features and deliver better experiences to customers.

Here’s how it works;

For a startup, it is essential to build and manage the required infrastructure. The AWS infrastructure model provides continuous access to repeatable infrastructure. This can be done with CloudFormation and or AWS Cloud Development Kit.
For building, testing, and deploying the application automatically, you can use AWS CodePipeline. It automates the release sequence of software or application. Hence, startups can quickly process fast, tested, and reliable updates.
Moving forward, the startups can use AWS Code Build for continuous integration. This is required for building, testing, and packaging code. It allows the founders to compile the source code, run tests, and churn out deployable software packages.
Lastly, the AWS CloudWatch is a service allowing startups to monitor their product’s performance regularly. It can provide data and analytics, making the behind-the-scenes picture visible and demonstrating the performance. In this, you can also set alarms and reminders to respond to the arising issues effectively.

With all these pre-installed components and access to templates, businesses can progress with ease. As they use the available services, it becomes easier to build and deploy user-friendly products.

AWS does not limit its services to startups and founders. To help freshers with learning, a wide range of resources are available, including webinars, blogs, technical content, and presentations.

Even though AWS makes development and deployment easier, there is a learning curve. Furthermore, the founders will find a step-by-step guide on the website, sharing details of every step and process along the way.

In essence, Amazon Web Services has made cloud-based application development, testing, and deployment accessible to everyone. Going one step ahead, founders can also integrate Machine Learning systems in their products with AWS. It helps them go serverless and also use containerization for development and deployment.

Conclusion

Making a robust business from a startup is easier said than done. In an era when 90% of startups fail, AWS is giving these new businesses a ray of hope for taking their venture to the next stage. From helping them create products quickly to making changes, improving their outcomes, and monitoring their performance, AWS is built to make a startup’s journey smooth, cost-efficient, and quick.

7 Top mistakes startups make on AWS which are avoidable

Posted on January 27, 2023April 19, 2023 by Abhijeet Chinchole

Cloud technologies have been enabling startups the ease of business focus. Startups can focus on product development, while AWS deals with resource management. However, without the right strategy, even AWS can lose its edge!

According to Forrester, 94% of companies in the US use at least one cloud deployment service. So, there is no denying that cloud services are a major contributor to the digital transformation landscape. Most businesses, whether they are a startup or an enterprise, leverage cloud services for their development requirements.

Cloud services are not just an infrastructure management platform but provide a wide range of features and tools for companies. Startups have been leveraging cloud services to deliver more value to users.

It helps them with flexibility, scalability, and resource management. However, if they don’t use it right, cloud services can become a massive challenge for startups. So here are some of the top mistakes to avoid while using cloud services like AWS.

Getting the resource management wrong!

AWS is one of the significant cloud service providers, and it offers many features to businesses, including resource management. Managing resources manually can increase challenges, especially those related to scaling resources and data replication.

Startups need to have proper documentation to scale resources on demand. The amount of effort required for this is massive. So focusing on the business activities will become a challenge when you manage resources manually.

The best way to avoid the hassle of manual resource management and scaling needs is to leverage autoscaling features in AWS. Some of the features that AWS offers for auto-scaling resources are,

Amazon EC2- You can launch or terminate instances on demand
Amazon EC2 Spot Fleets- You can launch or terminate or replace EC2 instances automatically using the Spot Fleets
Amazon ECS- You can modify the ECS service and handle load variations
Amazon DynamoDB- You can use the DynamoDB table to extend provisioned capacity
Amazon Aurora- You will have the facility of dynamically adjusting data replication without any hassle.

Further, AWS provides automatic resource discovery, predefined optimization strategies, and predictive scaling. So, if you are a startup looking to optimize resource management, you can use the auto-scaling capabilities of AWS.

Going overboard with instances

AWS provides instances on-demand and the capability to terminate them when not needed. However, many startups falter at monitoring and terminating EC2 instances. Due to the pay-per-use model of AWS, if instances are not terminated when not in use, startups may end up paying more.

So, it becomes crucial for startups to monitor EC2 instances and terminate unused resources. Here, startups can use tagging of instances to identify ideal resources. Further, tagging can help monitor and stop idle resources like databases, instances, lambda functions, etc.

Lack of monitoring key metrics

Cloud resource metrics are important for startups to track resource usage, system stability, data transmissions, load times, bandwidth, etc. AWS, by default, comes with a monitoring and logging tool called CloudWatch.

Startups need to define key metrics to track, and then choose the tools to track and analyze data. Cloudwatch is not the only tracking tool, you also can use Cloudtrail and Datadog. But first, you need to define metrics like:

System availability
Mean Time Between Failure
Mean Time To Repair
Bandwidth
Cloud Security
Response time

Choosing the wrong cloud service

Selecting the right cloud service is important. Especially if you are looking to leverage AWS for your startup, there are many services that you can choose from, like,

Amazon EC2
DynamoDB
AWS Lambda
Amazon ECS
Amazon EKS
Fargate
RDS
CloudFront

Let’s take the example of Amazon EC2. It offers many options. You can use spot instances for non-critical tasks and on-demand instances as per requirements. Similarly, you can use fully-managed AWS services to enable resource management.

Engineer reliability

Many startups falter by going overboard with the engineering aspects. Especially during the initial stages, it is important to focus on product development and leverage minimum viable solutions. Optimization at the early stages of product development and deployments can burden the resources.

Cloud services do provide capabilities to scale on demand. So, prioritizing scale does not make sense early. Rather startups need to focus on creating a reliable product for enhanced user experience.

Neglecting cloud security

Security is one of the most critical aspects of any business. Moving to the cloud does not mean you can relax on the security front. If you think that migrating to the cloud is enough, think again! It can be one of the worst security oversights!

Negligence is not the only mistake startups can make when it comes to security. Here are some more;

Using admin or root accounts proper Identification and Access Management(IAM) policy
Lack of multi-factor authentication for data access and logins
No public access policy for key information
Providing public access to EC2 instances on ports 22 and 3389

One of the most significant security mistakes that startups make is providing access privileges to third-party vendors. Startups integrate third-party services for enhanced functionalities. If the privileges to data access are not mapped according to roles, it can lead to data breaches.

Many startups suffer from permission errors on AWS, which leads to privileges passed on to users for an enhanced experience. On the security front, this can lead to an attack on the system through exposed user credentials.

Lack of automation

Automation should be a part of your production strategy right from the beginning. However, most startups adopt automation only when they are cash-trapped, and revenues start dipping, as there are many manual tasks to handle.

The best way to avoid such a mistake is to leverage CI/CD with AWS. You can use automation with AWS tools like Lambda and Cloud formation. First, prioritize high-level tasks and gradually add more tasks later.

Conclusion

Repeating mistakes is not an option in a competitive market. So, the best approach is to rectify mistakes and improve your AWS usage. Here we have discussed key mistakes that startups make with AWS. Keep an eye on some of these mistakes and leverage AWS services for optimized user experience. Cloudlytics helps you with key monitoring tools like event analysis, cloud compliance, and asset monitoring to avoid such mistakes. So, start tracking your mistakes and rectifying them for higher ROI.

A Look into the Regulatory Checklist for Financial and Fintech Companies

Posted on January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 by Abhijeet Chinchole

Technology has been disrupting the financial sector for some time now. In recent years, we have seen the rise of fintech companies shaking up traditional financial institutions and changing how we interact with our finances. The fintech space was worth approximately $179 million in 2022. As fintech continues to grow and evolve, companies must keep up with the latest compliance and regulatory best practices. This can be a challenge, as the landscape is constantly changing, and new rules are being introduced continuously.

Today, in this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the regulatory checklist that financial and fintech companies must consider when operating in different countries.

What is Fintech Regulatory Compliance?

Fintech regulatory compliance is the adherence to laws and regulations governing the financial technology industry. This includes ensuring that fintech companies comply with consumer protection laws, anti-money laundering laws, and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. Fintech companies must take steps to ensure that they comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Failure to do so can result in significant penalties, including fines, suspension of operations, and even jail time for company executives.

The first step in compliance is understanding which laws and regulations are applicable to your company. There are several federal and state laws that regulate the financial industry, as well as specific regulations governing fintech companies. You should consult with an attorney or other professional experienced in fintech regulatory compliance to fully understand your obligations.

Once you know which laws and regulations are applicable to your company, you must put policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance. These should be designed to prevent violations from occurring in the first place and should include measures such as training employees on compliance issues, conducting regular audits, and having a process for reporting potential violations.

The Importance of Compliance for Fintech and Financial Companies

Compliance is critical for fintech and financial companies due to the following reasons:

Financial regulations are constantly evolving, and failure to comply can result in hefty fines, legal action, and reputational damage. A compliance program helps ensure that a company meets all relevant regulations and helps avoid penalties.
Fintech companies are subject to the same regulations as traditional financial institutions. In addition, they may also be subject to regulations specific to the technology they use. For example, companies that use artificial intelligence in their products may be subject to additional data privacy and security rules.
Technology changes rapidly, and fintech companies must keep up with the latest compliance requirements. They should work with experienced compliance professionals to ensure that their products and services meet all applicable regulations.
Financial institutions must protect consumers from fraud and abuse. They must also comply with anti-money laundering laws and know-your-customer requirements. Failing to comply with these laws can result in severe penalties, including jail time for senior executives.

Compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Companies should regularly review their fintech regulatory compliance programs to ensure they are keeping up with changing regulations. They should also update their programs as new technologies emerge or business practices change.

Fintech Compliance and Regulations Checklist

As a fintech company, it is important to be aware of the compliance and regulatory requirements that apply to your business. This fintech regulatory compliance checklist summarizes the key compliance and regulatory considerations for fintech companies operating in the United States.

1. Know Your Customer (KYC) Requirements

Under federal law, financial institutions must verify their customers’ identities before opening an account or engaging in certain transactions. This process, known as “know your customer” (KYC), helps financial institutions prevent fraud and theft. As a fintech company, you must develop a KYC program that meets these requirements.

2. Consumer Protection Regulations

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act imposes several regulations on financial institutions, including fintech companies, that are designed to protect consumers from abusive practices. These regulations include restrictions on unfair or deceptive practices, such as predatory lending, and requirements for disclosures about products and services.

3. Data Security Regulations

Financial institutions are subject to various data security regulations, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). These regulations impose strict requirements on how companies safeguard customers’ personal information. As a fintech company, you must implement appropriate security measures to protect customer data and ensure compliance with these regulations.

4. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Regulations

The Bank Secrecy Act and other federal laws require financial institutions to take steps to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. In 2020 alone, global banks were fined $10.4 billion for money laundering violations. Thus, as a fintech company, you will need to develop an effective anti-money laundering program to comply with the Fintech compliance regulations.

5. State Licensing Requirements

Depending on the type of services you offer, you may be subject to state licensing requirements. These can vary from state to state, so it’s important to research the applicable requirements where you plan to operate.

6. Tax Requirements

Fintech companies must comply with federal and state tax laws, including income tax, payroll taxes, and sales taxes. It’s important to understand your obligations in this area and ensure that you properly file returns and pay all required taxes on time.

Fintech compliance and regulatory best practices

There are a few key things to keep in mind regarding fintech compliance and regulatory best practices. First and foremost, financial and fintech companies need to be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Registration with the FCA is necessary for all financial and fintech firms operating in the UK. The FCA regulates these types of businesses and ensures that they comply with financial rules and regulations. This includes making sure that these companies have adequate AML measures in place.

In addition to being registered with the FCA, financial and fintech companies must also have appropriate AML policies and procedures in place. These should be designed to prevent the misuse of funds by criminals and terrorists. The requirements will vary depending on the size and type of business, but all firms should have risk-based AML policies that are regularly reviewed and updated. Cyber security is another important consideration for these businesses, as they hold large amounts of sensitive customer data. Robust cyber security measures should be implemented to protect this data from theft or online attacks.

Regulatory Challenges for Fintech Companies & Ways to Address Them

Compliance with these regulations can be challenging for fintech companies, who may not have the same resources or knowledge as traditional financial institutions. However, there are a few steps that fintech companies can take to ensure they comply with all relevant fintech requirements.

1. Know which regulatory agencies apply to your business. Several federal and state agencies regulate the financial industry. Depending on your products and services, you may need to obtain licenses or registrations from multiple agencies.

2. Understand the regulations that apply to your business. Each regulatory agency has its own specific rules and regulations. You must understand all the requirements that apply to your company to ensure compliance.

3. Keep up-to-date on changes in the regulatory landscape. The financial industry is constantly changing, and new regulations are often enacted in response to these changes. Keep up-to-date on all developments in the regulatory landscape so that you can make sure your company is compliant with any new rules.

4. Work with experienced professionals. Compliance with financial regulations can be complex. Working with experienced professionals, such as attorneys or accountants, can help ensure that your company complies with all applicable laws.

Conclusion: The Future of Fintech Regulation

The regulatory landscape for financial and fintech companies is constantly evolving. As the industry grows, so do the rules and regulations. Financial and fintech companies must stay up-to-date with the latest changes to remain protected from fintech risk and compliance. The future of fintech regulatory compliance is uncertain. However, it is clear that regulators will continue to scrutinize the industry closely. Financial and fintech companies must be prepared for more stringent regulations in the future.

Achieving a Well-Architected SaaS Platform

Posted on January 17, 2023April 19, 2023 by Abhijeet Chinchole

The adoption of SaaS is at an all-time high and is expected to achieve new heights as we move forward. A lot of this growth can be attributed to the high costs involved in setting up and managing an on-premise software deployment solution. With SaaS business software at the fore, it enables people to connect remotely and allows businesses to outsource their software needs easily.

AWS (Amazon Web Services) understands the importance and the potential of SaaS and has come up with Solutions such as SaaS Enablement Framework and the AWS SaaS Factory Programme in a tryst to become the go-to cloud service provider. Given its importance, it is imperative to understand that resilience is one of the key needs for developing a successful SaaS application. It is why AWS Well-Architected Framework (WAF) plays a vital role in achieving a top-notch SaaS platform.

This article discusses the best practices for an efficient Well-Architected SaaS platform and some tips to build one for yourself.

AWS Development Categories

For those looking to build a SaaS platform on AWS Well-Architected Framework, here are several common categories to choose from –

Migrated applications – Applications built on other platforms or on-premise looking to be migrated on-cloud by leveraging the code through APIs.
Refactored applications – Solutions that use AWS Auto Scaling and self-healing architectures to achieve improved operational processes and automation.
Redesigned applications – Redesigned and re-architected applications for cloud operations using DevOps processes for improved management.

Some Best SaaS Practices for Efficient Design

Here are some of the best practices intended to guide where and how to implement the WAF for cloud-based SaaS applications –

Creating a scalable and evolving architecture capable of scaling with you.
Limit capacity usage to only include as much as your workload needs.
Test workloads at the testnet before deploying them to the mainnet.
Create a data-driven architecture.
Use automation wherever feasible during testing and execution.
Add redundant instances with Availability Zones to ensure optimum availability.
Work on optimizing MTTR (mean time to recovery)
Ensure real-time monitoring of workload components

How to build a Well-Architected SaaS Solution?

In the modern world, SaaS applications have a niche of their own. But to optimize their productivity, it is imperative to find a capable cloud solution and tools that automate and streamline the app-building process. Following are some of the best practices to consider for building a Well-Architected SaaS solution.

Codebase

You can use a VCS (Version Control System) to track the SaaS application codebase. It provides benefits such as code versioning and code tracking while making collaboration a seamless affair. The Twelve-Factor App states that each app should only have a single codebase, and this should not be shared across apps to ensure non-dependency.

Dependencies

As mentioned above, developers should not copy any dependencies and can use dependency management tools to derive the requisite ones from the server. The Twelve-factor App suggests using a dependency declaration manifest with a dependency isolation tool to ensure the codebase is free from any unwanted dependencies.

Config

Configurations are key to any SaaS application and help back service credentials with connection information, database connection properties, and more. So, developers need to separate it from the code. It is suggested to store variable properties in the config files and allocate the rest to the code itself.

Backing Services

These refer to any attached services consumed by the app over the network for its normal operations. While it is infeasible to code for every possible competing technology, creating a facade with backing services is suggested to allow developers to restore previous instances without disturbing the code.

Build, Release, Run

Build, Release, and Run are the three vital stages of the SDLC (software development life cycle). According to the Twelve-factor App, there should be a clear separation between building, releasing, and running the app in an execution environment which would help maintain the system’s integrity.

Processes

Multiple instances/processes of the SaaS application should be deployed upon the network. The SaaS business can use a load balancer for optimum request handling. Make sure you do not depend on data written in memory or the file system, as any failure can wipe it clean.

Port-binding

The SaaS app should be a standalone product and not dependent on any web server container for execution. It means that the Port used for connecting the application is to be kept in Config and not in the code.

Concurrency

The Twelve-factor App rule enables developers to create apps capable of handling diverse workloads using multiple process types for each work. It also suggests not relying too much on threads as vertical scaling can be limited and instead focusing on horizontal scaling.

Disposability

To ensure optimum SaaS security, the processes need to be capable of starting or stopping instantly. It not only helps in robust production deploys but also contributes to fast elastic scaling.

Dev/Prod Parity

The development environment should match the production scenario as much as possible. It would enable continuous deployment and helps avoid unforeseen issues after the software goes live while making the process more seamless and organized.

Logs

Developers can establish a system that treats log entries as event streams routed as a separate service. It would enable the execution environment to take care of storage, capture, and archival needs.

Admin Processes

The aim should be to run management/admin tasks as one-off processes to ensure database migration becomes a periodic task that can be automated. You can use the built-in tool available in the execution environment to run scripts on the production server.

Wrap up

Modern SaaS applications have come a long way in providing continuous utility to businesses. But for them to be effective, it is vital to have a robust application development process. Unfortunately, organizations often struggle to get the development recipe right and create a SaaS solution that matters. If this is your story, consider getting in touch with Cloudlytics. We handle everything cloud and specialize in SaaS app development and security.

Data Protection Strategies for AWS Cloud in 2023

Posted on January 11, 2023April 19, 2023 by Abhijeet Chinchole

Data is the new currency, and pandemics had a massive impact on its extrapolation. According to an IDC survey, in 2020, 64.2 Zettabytes of the data was stored or replicated worldwide. Managing high volumes of the data and keeping it safe is a challenge for many organizations. In addition, with the growing data regulations and compliance requirements, enterprises need reliable data protection strategies.

Another key reason why data protection has been on the top of the security checklist for enterprises is increasing data theft. According to the ITRC report, there had been a 23 percent rise in data compromises in 2021. So, there is no denying that data theft has increased. A critical aspect is the push for cloud migrations. Unfortunately, many organizations are moving to the cloud without proper safeguards. Fortunately, cloud service providers like AWS come with pre-built tools to protect data.

Companies need to have the correct data protection strategy to optimize these tools and maximize security. So, here we are with the best strategies that help in optimizing data protection for the AWS cloud.

Data Types and Patterns

Data classification becomes key for organizations that need to address multiple information security concerns. For example, storing users’ sensitive personal information on the cloud requires enhanced strategies and security policies. It allows organizations to better comply with data regulation guidelines. Similarly, some data types are the intellectual property of organizations. So, data classification enables businesses with policy decisions and standard security definitions.

AWS does provide a service called Amazon Macie that uses machine learning to discover, classify and protect sensitive data automatically. It detects data usage patterns and access logs to sound an alert if there are any anomalies. Further, organizations can use Amazon Cloudwatch to enable automation workflows. Another critical aspect is that data classification helps control it for better security.

Data Protection and Control

There are many different types of information control that businesses can use to improve their data security. Information controls are among the most critical data protection strategies, from data encryptions to access control.

Data Encryptions

Encryption is one of the most fundamental security strategies. Cryptographic encryptions protect data from cyber attackers by converting information into an unreadable format that is further readable to users after decryptions. A simple example is an SSL certificate. It is a digital certificate that allows the validation of websites and systems and data security through encryption. Implementing data encryptions on the AWS cloud becomes easy with the certificate manager service. In addition, it provides free SSL certification.

Organizations can even add SSL certificates from an external certificate authority(CA) to the AWS cloud through certificate manager services. It will help you improve your data security through encryption-based strategies.

Data-at-rest vs. data-in-motion

Securing data-in-motion is different from data-at-rest. Data-in-motion is the one you transfer or provide for the user request. On the other hand, data-at-rest is stored on a storage device. Understanding the difference is essential as both have different challenges for security. For example, data-in-motion are prone to Man-in-the-middle(MITM) attacks. At the same time, data-at-rest can be subjective to cyberattacks as they are confined to an organization’s internal networks.

So, if there is a single code injection in the data-at-rest, it can affect the entire network. So, it’s essential to control the data storage and secure them through the right security strategy. One solution that businesses can use is Data Loss Prevention(DLP) solutions. Especially for data at rest, a DLP can apply specific policies to control the transfer and storage of sensitive information. Cloud data protection is not just about securing the transfer or storage. There are many different types of risks that you need to consider. So, it’s vital to assess the data risks.

Risk Assessment Framework

Risk assessment is key to your data protection policies. It allows you to reduce the risk of data loss and improve security on the cloud. However, businesses need a risk assessment framework to deal with risks associated with SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS services.

One way to ensure data protection is to use a cloud access security broker(CASB). Organizations can develop CASB inside the cloud infrastructure to help developers deal with security risks. CASBs are different from conventional firewall protocols. It offers additional features like,

Risk assessments
Governance of cloud infrastructure
Data encryptions
Configuration management
Malware detection
User and Entity Behavior Analytics(UEBA)
Data access control
Security key management

CASB improves visibility through analytics and provides vital details on app usage. It also allows organizations to improve compliance across data regulations like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Data protection strategies are incomplete without a data recovery strategy.

Data Recovery Strategy

The first part of the data recovery strategy is to define Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). RTO is the maximum delay between downtime and restoration of services. Similarly, RPO is the acceptable full-time since the last data recovery point.

Once data recovery metrics are ready, organizations can leverage AWS Resilience Hub. It allows continuous monitoring and validation of RTO and RPO targets. So, businesses can have better data recovery and improved protection against the loss of information on the AWS cloud.

Scaling Data Security Strategies

Lastly, organizations need to have a strategy for scaling data security across AWS cloud infrastructure. Here one of the most significant aspects is governance and access policies. As businesses scale their data security strategies in the cloud, they need,

Enhanced Identity and Access Management(IAM)
Security policies specific to data buckets
Access control for different security groups and data buckets
Monitoring and analytical tools for access logs
Data authentication policies to ensure access protection

Conclusion

Data is increasing, and there is no end to the number of information businesses will need for their digital offerings. However, cloud service providers like AWS are not just empowering organizations with excellent infrastructure but tools to secure data. As a result, companies need to have reliable data protection strategies to leverage these tools. Further, they also need cloud intelligence and security solutions that enable reduced risks.

Cloud Security Trends to Look Out for in 2023

Posted on January 6, 2023June 16, 2023 by Abhijeet Chinchole

Cloud adoption is rising rapidly, with companies choosing a cloud-first approach for their database infrastructure and app-development projects. Unfortunately, increased adoption means more organizations move data to the cloud, leading to security challenges. A few significant cloud security challenges that companies may face in 2023 include network monitoring, data protection, identity, and access management. Fortunately, several innovations and shifts in cloud security culture among organizations in 2022 will further fortify data protection in 2023.

Cloud security challenges still make organizations vulnerable to several cyberattacks. According to Forbes, 39% of respondents indicated that identifying workloads not compliant with data protection and industry-standard policies is a significant challenge. One possible solution to this problem can be observability. We will discuss many solutions and issues as well as latest cloud security trends in 2023.

Zero trust policy

Zero trust breaks down the barriers between computers and users allowing users to share data easily. This methodology removes users’ need to consent before sharing information, as everything is assumed to be okay unless proven otherwise. Such a secure experience has pushed companies to adopt zero-trust architecture and policies. This is why the market for zero trust security is set to rise to $59.69 billion by 2027, making it an important trend to watch out for in 2023.

It allows users to share data without worrying about the security of that information. As long as everything is properly authenticated, there are no worries about malicious actors trying to get their hands-on confidential information. This reduces the need for complex security measures and makes computer use more efficient by removing barriers between people and technology.

Benefits of zero trust policy

Zero trust policy increases efficiency by reducing the need for complex security measures.
It removes barriers between people and technology, allowing users to share information easily without worrying about potential threats.
It reduces anxiety around data security. As long as all data is authenticated, users need not worry about malicious actors trying to steal confidential information.

Cloud Security-as-a-Service

Cloud security as a service (saas) is where security services are provided from anywhere in the world, unlike the conventional local approach. In other words, it is a platform that helps companies protect their data in the cloud. Using CSaaS, businesses can deploy security mechanisms to encrypt data, monitor access, and use policies to govern how users access information. It will be a key trend in 2023 with increasing cloud adoption and more traction towards CSaaS.

Key benefits of choosing a CSaaS

Increased security: CSaaS can help businesses protect their data in the cloud from cyberattacks.
Improved UX: With policies in place, users can access information more effectively and safely.
Reduced costs: It allows businesses to outsource some security functionality, saving them money.
Faster deployment: Businesses can get their security measures up and running faster than if they were to implement them independently.
More flexibility: Businesses can choose the security solution best suits their needs

Cloud security requires a collaborative effort as multiple data access points, interaction gateways, and services run. It is the sole reason why over the years, DevSecOps has seen massive adoption among organizations.

DevSecOps Adoption

DevSecOps is a set of practices that helps businesses integrate security practices into software development and delivery. It aims to ensure that security is considered at every stage of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) through collaboration between development, safety, and operation teams. This approach helps to reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities and breaches, enabling organizations to build secure software more efficiently. It also leverages continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) practices to streamline the delivery process.

Collaborative efforts of security experts, developers, and designers allow organizations to identify and address security issues early in the development process. Unlike the conventional approach of waiting until after the software is released, DevSecOps employs a fail-fast mindset. In other words, companies design their builds for failure and ensure the identification of vulnerabilities faster.

Benefits of DevSecOps to watch out for in 2023

DevSecOps helps to reduce the cost and impact of security breaches.
It also allows organizations to respond quickly to new threats and vulnerabilities.
DevSecOps implementations become easy through integrations of code scanners, vulnerability scanners, and penetration testing tools.
Organizations can adopt security-focused agile development methodologies with DevSecOps for enhanced capabilities.
Companies can improve the security of their software and better protect their customers, users, and data.

DevSecOps is not a tool or development approach but a culture that companies must embrace for better cloud security. It benefits not just the security aspects but also the development and operations.

Observability Matters!

2023 will be when observability adoption is maximum due to the increased need for higher availability. Observability is a term used to describe how easy it is for someone to monitor the behavior of a system. This can be done in various ways, such as by logging data, monitoring system performance, or collecting error reports.

Observability is essential for two reasons. First, it enables system administrators to track the performance of their systems and identify problems early. Second, if observability problems are identified early on, they can be addressed before they cause significant damage or data loss.

Many different factors can affect observability. Some of these include the system architecture, the tools and technology used to monitor the system, and how those tools are configured. Additionally, it is essential to consider how system changes or components will impact observability.

Benefits of observability

Increased transparency and visibility: It provides increased transparency and visibility within an organization, leading to a better understanding of how systems work and improved problem-solving.
Improved communication: Observability facilitates effective communication between different parts of an organization, allowing for faster resolution of issues.
Enhanced safety: By monitoring system performance indicators regularly, organizations can identify potential safety hazards early on and take appropriate measures to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Improved efficiency: It also helps to improve overall organizational efficiency, as it can ensure that all relevant information is quickly and easily accessible.
Enhanced accountability: Observability helps improve organizational accountability, making it easier for individuals and teams to be held accountable for their actions.

Cloud Security Intelligence is Worth It!

Cloud security intelligence is a subset of the broader term “security intelligence” that refers to activities and processes aimed at detecting, understanding, and mitigating threats posed by malicious actors to cloud-based applications and services. It encompasses everything from creating visibility into attack vectors in public clouds to developing proactive measures for defending against insider threats.

Benefits of cloud security intelligence

Increased vigilance and awareness of potential threats: Cloud security intelligence systems help organizations keep tabs on their network activity, identify suspicious behavior, and take appropriate action promptly.
Reduced reliance on manual processes: Automated detection of abnormal events through cloud security intelligence can free up administrative time for more important tasks, improving productivity overall.
Enhanced data protection: Monitoring access permissions and logs throughout the organization’s infrastructure can provide data security.
Reduced vulnerability rates: Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before they become significant problems, cloud security intelligence can help organizations reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks.
Increased compliance with regulations: Cloud security intelligence systems can provide accurate information on company data practices to meet regulatory requirements.

Focus on Network Security

Cloud adoption can improve network security in several ways. Organizations can reduce their dependence on centralized servers and data stores by moving critical applications to the cloud. This reduces the potential for malicious actors to gain access to sensitive information or launch cyberattacks against systems located on corporate networks.

Additionally, by using cloud-based authentication mechanisms such as remote user management (RUM) and two-factor authentication (2FA), companies can help ensure that only authorized users can access system resources. Finally, by regularly monitoring network traffic and logging activity, administrators can detect signs of malicious activity before it causes significant damage. By taking these steps, companies can help protect their systems and data from unauthorized access and cyberattack.

Benefits of cloud-based network security

With a cloud-based security solution, you can quickly set up an efficient, secure network with minimal effort.
A cloud-based security solution lets you know that your data is always protected against threats in real-time.
Many cloud-based network security solutions are affordable and require minimal setup time or investment.
Cloud-based security solutions allow administrators to manage their networks remotely with minimal effort or training required.

Conclusion

Increased cloud adoption means more data and the need for enhanced safety. However, your business can avoid the wrath of cyberattacks by monitoring data assets and cloud security intelligence. So, plan your cloud security for 2023 to reduce risks and improve user experience. One of the best ways is to invest in a cloud intelligence engine that offers key insights into system security, data risks, and vulnerabilities. So, start securing your cloud data now.

Month: January 2023

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