The NSA and CISA have released a set of five cybersecurity bulletins to help make cloud environments safer. These bulletins share important tips for keeping cloud systems secure, which are used a lot by businesses.
Cloud services are popular because they let companies use servers, storage, and apps without having to worry about managing all the complicated tech stuff themselves. This has made life easier for businesses big and small, allowing them to focus on what they do best while relying on the reliability and flexibility of cloud platforms.
What is cool is that many companies now offer both regular software you install on your own computers and cloud versions that they manage for you. This means businesses have choices and do not have to deal with all the headaches of managing software themselves.
The partnership between NSA and CISA shows how important it is to keep cloud systems safe, especially now that more and more businesses are using them for remote work and digital upgrades. These bulletins give organizations practical advice on how to stay safe from online threats and keep their data secure.
By sharing these joint tips, NSA and CISA want to make sure that businesses have the right tools and knowledge to protect themselves against cyber attacks as they use cloud services. It is like giving them a guidebook to navigate the sometimes tricky world of cybersecurity.
CSI/NSA Joint Best Practices for Cloud Security
1. Use Secure Cloud Identity and Access Management Practices
To keep your cloud systems safe, it's crucial to manage who can access them and how they do it. Follow these tips:
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Make it harder for unauthorized users to get in by requiring more than just a password.
Securely Store Credentials: Keep your login information safe and away from prying eyes.
Partition Privileges: Limit what each person can do in the cloud to minimize the risk of someone doing something they shouldn't.
2. Use Secure Cloud Key Management Practices
When it comes to managing encryption keys in the cloud, it's important to do it right. Here's how:
Understand Shared Security Responsibilities: Know who is responsible for what when it comes to keeping encryption keys safe.
Configure Key Management Solutions (KMS) Securely: Set up your encryption key systems in a way that is safe and secure.
3. Implement Network Segmentation and Encryption in Cloud Environments
To protect your data as it moves around in the cloud, follow these steps:
Encrypt Data in Transit: Keep your data safe as it travels between different parts of the cloud.
Segment Your Cloud Services: Keep different parts of your cloud separate from each other to stop them from talking when they should not.
4. Secure Data in the Cloud
When storing data in the cloud, make sure it stays safe with these practices:
Encrypt Data at Rest: Keep your data safe even when it is sitting around doing nothing.
Control Access to Data: Only let the right people get to your data,and keep everyone else out.
Backup and Recovery Plans: Have a plan in place to get your data back if something goes wrong.
5. Mitigate Risks from Managed Service Providers in Cloud Environments
When working with outside companies to manage your cloud, take these steps to stay safe:
Secure Corporate Accounts Used by MSPs: Make sure the accounts used by managed service providers are as secure as your own.
Audit MSP Activities: Keep an eye on what the managed service providers are doing in your cloud to catch any suspicious activity.
Negotiate Agreements Carefully: When working with MSPs, make sure your agreements include provisions for keeping your data safe.
By following these joint best practices from CSI and NSA, you can better protect your cloud systems and keep your data safe from cyber threats.