Automation has improved a host of workflows in business operations. But should you integrate automation with cloud security? Learn how AWS helps you automate security tasks and increase protection.
Security is an ongoing issue for many companies that transition to the cloud. Brands are tasked with providing transparency to their audiences while ensuring that no sensitive information is at risk within these systems, whether company or customer data. Compliance requirements can also be challenging for businesses to manage when using the cloud.
Automation is changing the way businesses operate, and so are cloud services. Gartner predicts that, by 2022, public cloud services will be essential for almost all business innovation (90%), and by 2023, AI-enabled automation related to data management will reduce the need for IT specialists by 20%.
With both the cloud and automation becoming increasingly important in today’s climate, it’s necessary to ask: How does automation impact cloud security?
Unique security challenges in the cloud
There are a few key security challenges that are unique to cloud environments:
- Maintaining control over the network
- Human configuration errors due to lack of cloud-computing training.
- Integrating the cloud with other business systems.
Protecting the privacy of the business, employees, and customers is an ongoing battle. Further, compliance issues can be hard to manage, since the cloud brings new sets of measures that companies need to put in place and continuously maintain.
All of these moving parts make it increasingly difficult to prevent cloud security breaches, loss or damage of data, unauthorized changes and access, and consistent compliance techniques.
How automation benefits your cloud security
Just as automation improves business processes, it also brings many advantages to the cloud security space. Key security benefits include the following:
- Greater accuracy: One of automation’s biggest benefits is accuracy. Because processes and response systems are automated, the human error component is removed.
- 24/7 monitoring: Automation allows for continuous monitoring and testing to ensure there are no threats to security and that no access privileges or permissions have been compromised.
- Data analysis: Automation allows teams to not only track and detect threats but evaluate all of that incoming information, allowing your businesses to make better decisions and take the right actions at the right time.
- More control over the network: You need control over the network to protect your sensitive information against breaches and threats. Preset permissions and notification systems will put policies in place to respond to changes or discoveries of intruders.
- Scalability: Automation can help companies scale up and alter their strategy based on changing environments and the information being gathered and analyzed.
- Compliance monitoring: Compliance issues can be a big challenge on the cloud. It becomes confusing fast whether a company or a cloud service provider is responsible for maintaining these policies. Automation helps you ensure that compliance regulations and rules are always being followed.
- More visibility: Automation allows you to see what’s happening with security and compliance at all times. Operations are thus easier and simpler, and you have more information to help you control your security rules when it’s all done automatically.
AWS cloud security automation
AWS integrates automation techniques into your cloud security strategy. One technique is security response automation, which allows you to plan and program-specific actions that will be taken when a security event occurs.
Three important features within AWS contribute to continuous monitoring and recording of cloud activity: AWS CloudTrail, AWS Config, and Amazon EventBridge. These automation tools help you monitor for security threats, detect when they happen, and respond automatically with preset controls and protocols in place. These actions will depend upon each company’s specific security environment, preferences, and compliance requirements.
Another solution within the AWS Management Console is Amazon GuardDuty, which protects your AWS accounts with intelligent, continuous monitoring and detection solutions. This simple tool can erase the time-consuming tasks required to ensure your cloud environments are always secure. Automated responses are available to take instant action when an event is detected.
When you need to focus more on growing and improving your business, AWS automates important security tasks to help free up your time and ensure your business’s cloud computing systems are always protected. Human error is reduced, and you can customize the security solutions based on your needs and budget. Your compliance strategy will also benefit from AWS, since the platform validates global compliance requirements.
AWS provides cloud security services, but it’s up to you to do your part in the shared security model. CloudHesive’s Managed Security Solutions will help you build a comprehensive security strategy that implements automation and other cutting-edge tech capabilities to ensure the security of your business and customer data.
Contact CloudHesive to learn more.
