How Can Enterprises Secure the Cloud as the Pandemic Dust Settles?
The shift to cloud computing raises concerns about security due to increased cyber threats and existing labor shortages in the industry. Companies are responsible for securing their application's layers, as cloud providers only ensure network security. Best practices and professional security measures are emphasized to combat vulnerabilities.
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Key takeaways
Cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google secure the network but not the application layer, leaving companies responsible for their application security.
Labor shortages in the cloud industry contribute to increased vulnerabilities and security incidents.
It's essential for companies to follow cybersecurity best practices and employ dedicated security professionals to mitigate attack risks on cloud infrastructure.
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The way we communicate, share data and use technology to act on those insights is changing – and it’s all leading to the cloud.
On In the Cloud, every week new experts will engage in a fire side chat and will bring their extensive experience in software, IT and mobile solutions straight to you, offering a glimpse into the future of cloud connectivity around.
Cloud security is a hot topic, as day after day another cybersecurity incident makes the headlines. So, what can enterprises do to ensure the best safeguards for their data and applications? Taking on this subject, In the Cloud host, Daniel Litwin spoke with Mike O’Malley, SVP, SenecaGlobal, an IT outsourcing and advisory firm.
First, Litwin and O’Malley spoke about the causation of more attacks and labor shortages. “There is a labor shortage across the industry. For the cloud, there’s a misconception that the provider—AWS, Azure, Google—protect your applications. They only protect the network,” O’Malley said.
“There are eventually two types of companies: those that know they’ve been hacked and those not yet aware of it.” – Mike O’Malley
That means that companies are responsible for the application layer, and that’s where a shortage of professionals can lead to more vulnerabilities.
Ultimately the onus of security is on several shoulders. “For end-users, it’s following best practices—using authentication, not click on emails from unknown sources, keeping malware up to date,” O’Malley added.
While the cloud offers so many benefits, it also has cons. “When you move things to the cloud, it increases the surface area for attacks. You have to be ready for this. That’s where security professionals become urgently important.”
O’Malley noted that shifting to the cloud is necessary for many companies, but it’s hard to prevent an attack with such complex infrastructure. “With the SolarWinds hack, it took place in minutes, but they weren’t aware for months. It comes down to two different companies—those that know they’ve been hacked and those not yet aware of it.”
What O’Malley sees right now in the industry is something he described as the “cycle of worry.” He continued, “Security executives raise issues, which concerns others. They ask them to fix it; then they find further issues. It’s more complex and causes more worry. We need security professionals to break that cycle.”
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About the author
Daniel Litwin is a journalist of multiple disciplines focused on finding and telling engaging stories for B2B communities. He has interviewed executives from Fortune 500 companies including Honeywell, Microsoft, John Deere, and Chipotle, and leads editorial direction at MarketScale. Litwin hosts weekly shows and podcasts while helping develop new content approaches across the MarketScale platform. He holds a B.J. in Radio/Television Reporting/Anchoring and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
