Using Cloud Security Posture Management Solutions to Mitigate Misconfigurations

The rapid adoption of cloud technology by organizations has led to a shift towards both single and multi-cloud environments. Unfortunately, this shift has also resulted in cloud misconfigurations, which are one of the top risks associated in the cloud. Cloud misconfiguration refers to any errors or gaps in the security measures of a cloud environment. We will begin by discussing the root causes of cloud misconfigurations. We will then review case studies of organizations that have suffered data breaches due to cloud misconfigurations, such as Capital One in 2019, eBay in 2014, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2017. Finally, we will then walk through built-in tools provided by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, that cyber professionals can leverage to mitigate security risks in the cloud. These tools are also known as Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools. Cloud Security Posture Management tools are automated solutions designed to identify misconfiguration issues and compliance risks in the cloud so that they can be remediated, reducing the risk of successful breaches. We will explore AWS Security Hub, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and Google Security Command Center, and review how each tool can be used to gain visibility into the current security posture of each respective cloud. Furthermore, we will emphasize how these tools can be applied to determine alignment with relevant regulatory compliance standards and industry-standard benchmarks, as well as identify threats and potential security weaknesses. The key takeaways from this session are: - Most cloud breaches are due to misconfigurations or human errors. - Do not rely on your cloud service provider to secure your data (understand the shared responsibility model). - You cannot protect what you do not have visibility into (CSPM solutions can help). - Cloud security should begin with implementation of cloud governance.