Cloud computing platforms like Azure offer many performance and security advantages over on-premises computing systems. According to experts like https://sonraisecurity.com/solutions/azure-and-sonrai-dig/, most clients don’t understand the importance of cloud configuration and its role in the security of the platforms. The result is misconfiguration of cloud accounts that make them an easy target for hackers.
Here are mistakes you should avoid when implementing azure cloud security protocols.
Mistake #1 – Give Every User Administrator Privileges
Large enterprises have larger teams. It is a common practice followed by many organizations to add multiple members as Co-administrators. There are many drawbacks to this practice. In many scenarios, team members with higher privileges haphazardly delete or remove Azure components that destabilize the Azure cloud environment.
There are many instances where team members provision cloud resources for evaluation and research purposes and ruin the stability of the Azure cloud environment. The Role-based-access control provides an effective way to map resources as per job roles.
Mistake #2 – Take “Security” for Granted
Many enterprises think the service provider is entirely responsible for cloud security which is not valid. The cloud service provider is responsible for the overall security of the cloud platform. The responsibility of security of your applications, database, and processes lies with clients.
The Azure client must pay attention to password policies and configuring “Network Security Groups” properly. The cloud admins need to ensure users set strong passwords for their identities to ensure authorized users are allowed access to cloud components and services.
Mistake #3 – WrongDecisions on Choosing SaaS
Microsoft Azure allows its clients to implement PaaS (Platform as a Service, IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a service) to strengthen the security of the Azure platform.
For example, suppose your cloud account has a MySQL database and MySQL user accounts. In that case, you need to look for a SaaS that offers you granular access control over MySQL account and the authentication procedures. If you choose the wrong service provider, you might face security risks due to inadequate security offerings.
Mistake #4 – Selecting Inappropriate Database or Datastore
Data is a primary component for every business. No business system can exist without data. Many enterprises choose the wrong type of database due to a lack of clarity on the data type generated by systems. Azure cloud platform supports relational and non-relational data types
If the data created by the system needs to be stored in tables, you need to create SQL server instances to store data. If the data is simple, you can store it in the database without creating SQL server instances.
Tips for Selecting the Right SaaS
While avoiding the mistakes is the first step towards improving security, integrating the right SaaS can be your best line of defense against cyber threats. Here are different ways in which an integrated 3rd party solution can help in improving overall security.
Focus on Identity Security
Identity is a crucial component of the cloud infrastructure. Identity and Identity Access Management (IAM) are closely related in a cloud environment. Identity tells who the user is and what the user is allowed to do. IAM is like a bouncer in the door of a nightclub. IAM decides which identities are allowed to access which cloud resources and which ones have special privileges.
The cloud security principle of Azure is based on role-based access control (RBAC). The identity security tools map every RBAC assignment at a subscription level to each identity operating in a cloud environment. The mapping gives admins insights into all permission an identity has, which includes inherited permissions. The identity security tools also check access to storage and checks whether any person outside IAM protocol has access to cloud storage.
The identity security feature gives clear views of the permissions each identity has. Admins can act on insights and implement the principle of limited privileges for every identity that reduces the attack area.
Governance Automation
The azure environment is complex and challenging to manage. Governance automation can make things easy and ensure all cloud security configurations are done in the right way. The integrated security solution can keep track of every identity, permissions it has, and what data it can access.
The security tools map every relationship between cloud objects, trust relationships, permissions, identities, and policies for accessing resources. The security automation feature can also discover any identity risks like toxic combinations, separation of duty violations, and privilege escalation.
To sum up, the cloud risks increase with misconfigurations. You need to be careful and avoid configuration mistakes that will provide hackers easy access to cloud resources. Organizations need to also consider implementing 3rd party security solutions to strengthen the overall security of the Azure cloud environment.