[Google Cloud Security] Irene Mutile: Protect your business data and applications
You’ve probably heard a lot about the importance of securing your digital footprints, but in truth, security is crucial and firms need to prepare for what’s coming. Organizations are increasingly adopting cloud computing and moving critical assets and valuable data to the cloud. Securing digital assets is essential. Digital connection means that attacks can come from anywhere and data breaches put an organization’s reputation at risk, and in today’s fast-paced global economy, reputation is everything.
As Cloud technology continues to evolve, so do cyber threats. To mitigate these risks, customers can implement measures, processes and standards to protect their applications and data. Cloud security is a shared responsibility between the cloud provider and customer. The Cloud provider is responsible for security of the Cloud whereas the end user is responsible for security in the Cloud.
Challenges in Cloud security
- Widened attack surface
The public Cloud landscape has evolved into an alluring expanse for malicious actors who capitalise on poorly secured cloud infrastructures and data repositories.
- Limited visibility and tracking
Within the Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) paradigm, cloud providers have full control over the foundational framework, with customer-level access remaining concealed.
- Fluid and transforming workloads
Traditional security solutions struggle to enforce protective protocols within such a dynamically shifting environment.
- Devops, Devsecops, and automation imperatives
Organizations that have embraced the highly automated Devops culture must ensure that appropriate security controls are identified and embedded in code.
- Privilege elevation and key management
Frequently, Cloud user permissions are configured with laxity, inadvertently bestowing extensive authorizations beyond designated needs.
- Complex environments
Effectively maintaining security cohesiveness within the hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures increasingly favoured by enterprises today.
- Cloud compliance and governance
The compliance audit process becomes close to impossible unless tools are used to achieve continuous compliance checks and raise alerts about mis-communications.
Google Cloud is known for its high-performance and premium networking. Google Cloud is a secure-by-design platform that offers a wide range of security features. Google Cloud Security refers to the set of practices and technologies designed to protect applications, resources and data running on Google’s cloud infrastructure service from cyber attacks and cyber threats.
Google Cloud's security features are built on a foundation of security best practices, including:
- Data Encryption: Google Cloud encrypts your data at rest and in transit, using industry-standard encryption algorithms. This ensures that your data is protected even if it is compromised.
- Access Control: Google Cloud uses role-based access control (RBAC) to control who has access to your resources. RBAC allows you to fine-tune permissions so that only authorized users can access your data and applications.
- Logging and Monitoring: Google Cloud provides detailed logs and monitoring capabilities to help you detect and respond to security threats. This information can be used to identify suspicious activity and take corrective action before a security incident occurs.
- Security Incident Response: Google Cloud has a team of security experts who are available 24/7 to help you respond to security incidents. This team can help you investigate the incident, contain the damage, and recover your data.
In addition to these security features, Google Cloud also offers a number of security solutions that can help you protect your data and applications. These solutions include:
- Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IAM is a comprehensive identity and access management system that helps you control who has access to your Google Cloud resources. IAM can help you implement least privilege access, which ensures that users only have access to the resources they need to do their jobs.
- Cloud Key Management Service (KMS)
KMS is a cloud-based key management service that helps you store and manage your encryption keys. KMS can help you ensure that your encryption keys are secure and that only authorized users can access them.
- Cloud Security Command Center (SCC)
SCC is a centralized console that provides visibility into your security posture and helps you identify and mitigate security risks. SCC can help you track security threats, identify vulnerabilities, and enforce security policies.
- Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
DLP is a service that helps you identify and protect sensitive data in your Google Cloud resources. DLP can help you detect and prevent data leaks, as well as comply with data privacy regulations.
Google Cloud is committed to providing a secure platform for your data and applications. With its secure-by-design foundation and comprehensive set of security features and solutions, Google Cloud can help you protect your business from security threats.
Here are some additional details about Google Cloud security:
- Google Cloud is SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS compliant. This means that Google Cloud has been audited and certified by independent third parties to meet the highest security standards.
- Google Cloud has a team of security experts who are available 24/7 to help you. If you experience a security incident, Google Cloud can help you investigate the incident, contain the damage, and recover your data.
- Google Cloud is constantly investing in new security features and solutions. Google Cloud is always looking for ways to improve its security posture and protect its customers from security threats.
Best practices for Cloud security
- Prepare your team on how best they can manage data breaches by maintaining operational readiness
- Encrypt your data. Google Cloud encrypts customers’ data in-transit and at rest
- Use strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication and security keys
- IT teams must understand and establish who accesses what data
- Conduct regular risk assessments
- Regularly update your software and devices in the organization
- Establish clear security policies and procedures
- Backup your data to a secure location
- Use logging and monitoring to gain visibility into who accesses what data and when
If you are looking for a secure platform for your data and applications, Google Cloud is a great option. With its secure-by-design foundation and comprehensive set of security features and solutions, Google Cloud can help you protect your business from security threats.
Google advises Google Cloud users to regularly audit their domains and IPs for potential threats and malicious activity to safeguard online reputation and maintain unhindered online functionality.
Irene Mutile is a Cloud Consultant, Google Cloud at Incentro
With over 10 years of proven expertise in technical consultation and related services, Incentro, the only Google Premier Partner in East, West and Central Africa has become the go-to partner for successful business transformation in the continent.
From Enterprise Collaboration, Cloud Migration and Smart Application Development, we serve over 26 countries in Africa and are growing. Whatever your ambition is, we’ll aim for maximum impact. We dive deep into your organization, challenge your plans, build solutions swiftly and make sure they work.
Matthew Munyiri is the Online Marketeer at Incentro Africa. He is an ambassador for Cloud and Consumer Technology and how it pertains to increased efficiency and productivity in the workplace. Want to know more? Get in contact with Matthew - matthew.munyiri@incentro.com.
