The increasing trend of remote working owing to workplaces adopting flexible working arrangements and increased cloud adoption, tradition perimeter-based security models as firewalls, VPNs etc. are becoming obsolete. However, as businesses continue to shift to multi-cloud models such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud or others, sector data security becomes even more crucial.
More and more companies start to implement solutions which help to fight data leaks and one of the most popular in recent years is Zero Trust Security. Zero Trust (ZT) is built on the principle “Never trust, always verify”. Instead of defending a network and its assets, ZT assumes that all networks are already compromised, and that every subsequent access to it is a target for an attack. Did you know that Gartner estimates that 80% of organizations will adopt SASE/SSE by the year of 2025?
The ZT concept is especially relevant in multi-cloud environments because the traditional idea of a “network perimeter” becomes unlikely when your data is spread across multiple platforms. The bigger challenge, however, is how to implement ZT in a multi-cloud environment and ensure that all security measures work in union as a single robust structure. To answer this let us put into consideration some of the impediments for implementation.
The Difficulties of Implementing Zero Trust Within a Multi-Cloud Architecture
Zero Trust is undoubtedly a robust foundation to work from, but in multi-cloud environments, this adds various layers of complexities which can make its execution a bit complicated. Here’s why:
1. Different Clouds, Different Security Models
For any organization to overcome this hurdle, there is often a stepwise process for tightening up cloud security while observing Zero Trust principles and this includes adapting to new technologies. In addition to that, proper implementation of ZT requires efficient coordination and integration of various components within the hybrid network. The problem is that different multi-cloud environments like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure can each have their own management consoles, security tools, and access control mechanisms. Although there are advanced security protocols, it seems impossible to use one security strategy with global scope, because certain security measures are effective for a particular platform.
2. Identity Management
Proper provisioning of authorization to users (currently used resources on demand) in and across the clouds is a considerable problem, managing different IAM systems for instance. Although every single cloud provider may be different with respect to their IAM solutions, making sure that permissions remain the same is an ongoing struggle.
3. Visibility Issues
With data and workloads spread across multiple clouds, and each cloud provider having unique security protocols, data governance models & logging capabilities, gaining full visibility always is a great challenge. This disintegration and opacity make it impossible to provide an uniform picture of the whole ecosystem, and generates gaps whereby breach in the enforcement of Zero Trust stance can happen.
4. Data Compliance and Governance
Finally, achieving the security of data and meeting the requirements of specific regulations is challenging for organizations in a hybrid environment. Security measures even require placing high availability principles on all users, devices, and data interactions which hamper companies from properly overseeing and protecting their data across different cloud platforms.
In addition, every cloud service provider may have different legislation concerning data location, privacy and protection making it even costlier to adhere to data protection laws such as GDPR, HIPAA or CCPA. But to make the situation even worse, which seems almost impossible due to virtual regulations that cannot be structured, the construction of narratively substantivized data in multi-cloud distribution appears to have potential governance blind spots.
Strategies for Maintaining a Unified Security Posture
Now, the question that remains is, how do you address the issues posed and implement Zero Trust in the cloud? Let’s turn to some solutions.
1. Centralized Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The step number one in making sure that there is coherence in the security model is to concentrate on identity management. Instead of managing separate IAM solutions for each cloud, some interfaces and tools integrate so that the administration and maintaining consistent access control policies across platforms is achievable.
This method reduces complications and helps to avert access management turmoil in the future. It also allows for least-privilege access policies to be adopted more easily which is very important in the Zero Trust approach.
2. Security Tools That are Cloud-Agnostic
A perfect example of cloud-agnostic security tools providing a clear and unified strategy in zero-trust multi-cloud approaches is that they allow for the systematic application of security policies, management of identities, and monitoring of threats across multiple clouds. To this effect solutions like unified IAM, central encryption, and SIEM help organizations in ensuring that they stay strategically relevant in the changing business environment on both compliance and breach detection problems across many hybrid and multi-cloud settings to avoid vendor lock-in.
This model also causes a decrease of the hindrances posed by security in different environments since easy interaction with all the systems needed helps to ensure the protection of key resources at a constant level in a timely manner.
3. Micro-Segmentation
Micro-segmentation is a defensive strategy which conforms perfectly to the characteristics of a multi-cloud environment, which calls for sophisticated, flexible, scalable, and adaptive security measures. Since security is enhanced by subdividing a network into more distributed smaller sections, it’s true that micro-segmentation gives the capability of controlling traffic of workloads, across applications and services more effectively. Not only can each such segment enforce its own policies, minimizing the scope of impact and limiting lateral movements in case of a compromise, but also changes the perimeter defensive methodologies. In a cloud computing paradigm where no rings of trust and degrees of trust exists, it is further made certain that the enforcement of security policy treaties prevails across any surrounding independent of its placement in the cloud structures.
4. Unified Monitoring and Threat Detection
For Zero Trust to be effective, it is imperative to ensure continuous visibility of all layers of the network, applications, and data flows always as well as all traffic (both internal and external). Here, the idea of ‘one stop shop’ in the aspect of monitoring and threat detection is applied. In a unified approach, the use of different monitoring tools and integrating threat detection on different clouds helps to eliminate gaps ensuring prompt detection of unauthorized activity, policy breaches or probable attacks. Such an initiative improves the response time to incidents, enhances detection of anomalies and enforcement of security measures.
It also prospers as appropriate centralized control and automated steps, which facilitate the appropriate management and safety aspects of varying multi-cloud settings.
5. Automate Security Policies and Compliance
Another important strategy to consider for unified security in zero-trust multi-cloud environments is automation of security policies and compliance. The ‘free’ architecture where workloads are hosted can be very messy as manual policy enforcement is ineffective, inefficient, and probably error prone. Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) makes it easier to think of security as a process rather than a product. It allows for implementation of best practices for security across clouds and minimizing the chances of people making mistakes in configuring security as infrastructure grows. This strategy not only helps in enhancing security and compliance, but it also reduces the operational costs as well!
Conclusion
With the deeper penetration of users into multi cloud environments, the era of ZT security is definitely here. The increasing of Global Zero Trust Security Market, valued at over USD $78.7 billion by the year 2029 – registering an incredibly high yearly growth estimation of 16.6%.
If done correctly, implementing a Zero Trust framework across all your cloud platforms is an asset that will enhance your organization’s security to its fullest. Understanding and implementing the techniques discussed above, a compliant organization can reach a desired security position to protect its assets in the highly distributed cloud environment. Keep in mind, it’s not the question of adding more layers of complexity, but rather of simplifying and securing cloud environments to help you stay ahead of the threat.
To learn about how to set-up a Zero Trust security environment for your organisation, contact us.