If you work in the IT security department, you certainly know the answer to this question. You may be thinking that Cloud Security Posture Management is only needed for businesses with servers or applications running in the cloud.
There are a lot of reasons for a business to use it, regardless of whether your organization’s data and infrastructure are hosted on-premises or not. The truth is there are different types of cloud security solutions out there, and you can’t treat them all the same way.
So, what is a CSPM, and why do businesses need it?
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What is Cloud Security Posture Management?
Whether your company works with on-premises servers or in the cloud, IT professionals should consider a solution that does more than just identifying and mitigating cloud security risks.
They also need to think about the impact on the business if a cloud security incident were to occur. That’s where Cloud Security Posture Management comes in. Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) is a term used to describe the management and monitoring of an organization’s cloud security posture. CSPM solutions help organizations identify and manage the risks associated with using cloud services.
Businesses of all sizes can use these solutions, and they are not just for companies with servers or applications running in the cloud. Many businesses use CSPM to assess and manage the security of their on-premises infrastructure.
Why is Cloud Security Posture Management Needed?
Now that you understand the answer to, “what is a CSPM?”, you can learn more about its benefits.
For organizations to function today, they need access to secure cloud services. Whether the organization’s data is running in the cloud or not, its employees use cloud services like Office 365 and Salesforce every day.
According to a new report, the US Federal Government invested around $5 billion in deploying cloud solutions and cloud migration and support services. From email to collaboration tools, if your employees don’t have access to the cloud services they need, your business can suffer as a result. For this reason alone, IT security professionals should consider CSPM solutions.
Here are some other reasons to implement these solutions.
Mitigate the Risks of Data Breaches
A data breach can be a costly event for any business. It could realistically cost businesses millions or even billions of dollars. CSPM solutions can help organizations reduce their risk of a data breach by identifying and monitoring the cloud services used in the organization. It includes both public and private cloud services.
Comply with Regulations
Organizations that store data in the cloud must comply with a variety of regulations, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
CSPM solutions can help organizations automate the compliance process and ensure that they meet all of the regulatory requirements.
Protect Against Threats
Cloud security threats are growing, and businesses need to take steps to protect themselves from these threats. CSPM solutions can help organizations identify and mitigate these threats before they cause damage to the business.
Reduce Costs
CSPM solutions can help organizations reduce their IT costs by identifying public cloud services that are no longer needed. If these cloud security risks are not identified and managed, businesses could accidentally purchase more resources than they need, which is a waste of money.
Hackers are Now Targeting the Cloud
Like always, when hackers find a new way to exploit an organization, they will go after it. And that’s what’s happening with cloud services. CSPM solutions can help organizations protect themselves from these attacks by identifying and monitoring the cloud services used.
How Does Cloud Security Posture Management Work?
There are five stages involved in CSPM.
Adopt Cloud Services
The first stage of CSPM, adopting cloud services, typically involves an assessment of the organization’s IT security posture. It can be done by either conducting a self-assessment or working with an expert to conduct the assessment for them.
Classify Cloud Services
The next stage, classifying cloud services, involves identifying the different types of cloud services used in the organization. It includes both public and private cloud services.
Review Security Risks
Once the services have been classified, the next step is to review the security risks associated with each type of service. It includes identifying the potential risks and vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
Create a Security Profile
The fourth stage, creating a security profile, is where the organization creates a profile for each type of cloud service. The security profile will include the security controls that need to be in place for each type of service.
Implement Security Controls
The final stage, implementing security controls, is where the organization puts the security controls identified in the previous stages.
It typically involves configuring the cloud service and deploying security tools to protect it.
Final Thoughts
CSPM is a process that helps organizations identify and manage the security risks associated with using cloud services. CSPM solutions can automate the compliance process, help protect against threats, and reduce costs. If you’re not using a CSPM solution, now is the time to consider implementing one.
