Today, we recognize the value of cloud security. As more and more of our daily lives, business processes, and critical infrastructure are mediated by the cloud, ensuring ironclad cloud security takes on critical importance. From email and data storage to application hosting and DevOps, cloud infrastructure is the backbone of modern IT frameworks. At the same time, enterprise needs are always adapting as they migrate, modernize, customize, and economize, and consequently, cloud environments are constantly evolving. Most organizations choose a hybrid cloud deployment, which introduces additional complexity as security teams address inconsistencies across different cloud providers. In an environment with so much built-in complexity, and which is constantly changing at the same time, how can security professionals ensure that customers, partners, and the essential data and services mediated by the cloud remain secure from advanced cyber threats?

Modern cloud security relies on maintaining control across a distributed and complex infrastructure. A Zero Trust framework is essential for this. In a Zero Trust framework, every component of an organization’s security architecture is designed to minimize risks and prevent unauthorized access, regardless of the environment.

Foundation of User Identity

Ensuring that only authorized users can access resources is a fundamental part of Zero Trust. Effective frameworks continuously authenticate and verify user identities, making sure that every access request is thoroughly checked before granting permission. Authentication methods like MFA add additional layers of protection to traditional layers like a password. This goes hand-in-hand with a least privilege access (LPA) policy, which ensures that users are granted the minimal level of access necessary for their specific tasks. This limits the potential for lateral spread in the event that any individual’s account is compromised, as well as accidental misuse. With an effective Zero Trust framework, access privileges can be adjusted based on real-time factors so users are able to get the information they need without compromising the security of the larger network.

Equally important is endpoint protection. The traditional security perimeter is no longer relevant, as large segments of the workforce connect remotely or in a hybrid arrangement. Security rules must be applied to every endpoint and connected device, including laptops, mobile devices, tablets, and IoT devices. Ensuring that all of these devices meet specific security requirements before they’re granted access to corporate resources is essential – this can mean up-to-date antivirus protection, up-to-date or specific operating system patches, or updated encryption standards, for example.

AI-Powered Threat Prevention

Zero Trust is more than user and device verification – it’s a comprehensive framework that requires constant monitoring and risk assessment of user behavior, network traffic, and device health. In modern networks, this is only possible with AI-powered solutions that can quickly detect anomalous or suspicious activity (like an attempted login from an unfamiliar location) and automatically enforce additional secure measures before any damage is done. The time it takes to identify a breach can have a major impact on the corresponding damage, so leveraging AI to reduce time-to-detection is especially important. IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report found that when security AI and automation were deployed across prevention workflows, organizations incurred $2.2 million less in breach costs on average, compared to organizations that don’t deploy these technologies across relevant workflows.

Prevention First

As we recognize Cloud Security Day today, it’s important to remember just how critical security is in the hybrid cloud. Understanding hybrid cloud’s benefits and limitations is crucial. And choosing the right security solution is one of the most important decisions IT leaders make. Zero Trust is a key to success for organizations as they navigate constantly changing threats, compliance requirements, and business needs, all across different cloud environments.

Learn more about hybrid cloud security with Check Point here.

 

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