Data employment and workload deployment across public or private IT clouds can be a real challenge for any company. One technological solution that makes this seamless is the availability of hybrid cloud computing. This IT environment offers flexibility to enterprises when dealing with several types of data and making changes in their infrastructure.
This cloud computing environment is also helpful for the organization’s cost management as users can opt to run their workloads in low-maintenance environments. And if your enterprise is constantly struggling with deploying and scaling resources due to spikes in demand, a hybrid cloud environment would also be useful. Let’s explore more about this type of cloud computing environment and how your enterprise can create a stronger security strategy for it.
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Systemize your processes
First things first, your company should work on standardizing the various processes for your cloud environment. Doing so reduces the risk of potential security loopholes or manual errors caused by disparities. Don’t ignore the effectiveness of the best general practices. For instance, when it comes to public cloud environments, your administrators must follow the same level of security procedures and ensure that the cloud’s assets are highly secured.
Keep in mind that simple oversights like forgetting to change the credential settings when taking databases live in the environment can result in devastating data breaches. Avoid this and other cloud-based or on-premises issues by standardizing your processes.
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Work with a cybersecurity provider
With the growing sophistication of cyber attacks, an in-house IT team is usually not enough to monitor and control everything that happens in your hybrid cloud environment. Keep in mind that this cloud computing environment houses multiple workloads, making it more attractive to attackers. To strengthen your cloud’s security, it’s highly recommended to hire a reputable cybersecurity service provider.
These IT professionals can primarily protect your company from all kinds of cyber-attacks, from monitoring network activities to actively updating your defenses. They can identify vulnerabilities in your network infrastructure and detect cybersecurity issues. Some IT security companies can also provide cybersecurity training for the company’s employees, reducing human errors.
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Secure all the endpoints
In a hybrid cloud environment, the number of endpoints is obviously bigger than others. These refer to external-facing network devices such as web portals, routers, workstations, and smart devices. This means that the systems and data that these devices hold are also at a higher risk since the attack surface area is higher.
Now, what you need to ensure is that each of these endpoints is properly secure. You can implement and invest in various security solutions such as access controls, firewalls, and antivirus. On top of that, you can also consider using endpoint detection and response or EDR solutions to implement more in-depth management on all your endpoints by improving coverage for your company’s security requirements.
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Create a disaster recovery plan
Another vital thing you should work on your company’s disaster recovery plan. As cloud environments get more sophisticated, the attacks continue to do so as well. So, instead of being prepared to decrypt the attacked files or infrastructure or pay a ransom, it’s best to a recovery plan. Taking advantage of cloud backup and replication solutions is way more efficient and cost-effective if done right.
In creating your IT disaster recovery plan, you should first determine the critical operations. What data would put your customers or partners at risk? What aspects are so important that your enterprise won’t survive without? You’d also want to evaluate the different disaster scenarios and develop a communication plan. Other factors you should consider include your employees’ roles in the recovery, post-disaster follow-up, and the testing of the recovery plan.
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Perform extensive monitoring
Lastly, you should, of course, monitor your hybrid cloud more comprehensively. Operating on hybrid systems is more complex than others, which means users should keep a watchful and proactive eye on any movements, small or big. Don’t let your enterprise learn this the hard way like others. Keep in mind that no matter how good your cloud or security provider is, it is still your company’s responsibility to lead the management of your hybrid systems. For instance, your cloud provider can only deliver the tools, but it’s still your job to manage the day-to-day operations and compliance requirements.
It’s essential that your organization, as a user, isn’t only focused on the features and functionality that your IT environment can offer. You should also prioritize keeping it secure and every workload or data that it operates and stores. Don’t hesitate to call a professional network security company to ensure your IT environment is properly implemented and secured.
