Securenet Communication Solutions

Cloud computing is revolutionising the way organisations store, process, and manage sensitive business data. With the change in the way organisations carry out their various business functions, the need for more resilient, dynamic, and cost-effective IT solutions has become more pronounced than ever. It has also led to an increase in the number of businesses opting for a blend of public and private Cloud services and on-premises infrastructure. Hybrid Cloud architecture is gradually becoming the preferred Cloud solution as it enables easy coordination and management of the workload across all the connected environments and allows organisations to enjoy greater control over their Cloud environments, IT systems, and resources. Like everything else, the hybrid Cloud architecture comes with its own set of security challenges. Below we discuss some of the top security challenges associated with hybrid Cloud architecture and how to overcome them.

Control & Visibility

Hybrid Cloud environments are much more complex and expansive to allow efficient management of the system. In the absence of adequate security and control measures, organisations can lose visibility of their IT systems and become more prone to human errors and data breaches. Reduced visibility may also cause mismanagement at the development and deployment stages, leading to inefficiency. One of the best ways of improving the security of the hybrid Cloud architecture and increasing its visibility is to opt for Cloud automation. 

Data Protection

Data protection is a sensitive issue in Cloud. And with hybrid Cloud architecture, the complexity and security risks become even more challenging. Data is at an increased risk of being breached or lost across multiple Cloud environments, both, in transit and when stored. Sadly, there is no single solution that can provide robust data protection in hybrid Cloud environments. Organisations must employ multiple security measures such as full-disk or partition encryption, hardware encryption, and Network Bound Disk Encryption for stored data. Similarly, they must also invest in multiple security solutions such as Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) to counter threats like alteration and interception of data in transit.  

Compliance & Regulations

All businesses have to comply with data protection laws or GDPR in the EU and the UK. Having a hybrid Cloud architecture and limited visibility and control over systems can lead to violation of one or more compliances and regulations. This can give a huge financial blow to the company and affect its reputation. To avoid such a situation, organisations must invest in professional Cloud security providers who can keep an eye on any compliance-related issues and notify them if the organisation is breaching them. They must also invest in Cloud automation to ensure better control and visibility of their systems, to avoid missing any compliance and regulation problem. 

Insecure Access

In the era of remote working, insecure access is a common challenge in all Cloud environments. When employees working away from the office use insecure public Wi-Fi to gain access to your system, they may inadvertently give access to your systems to a stranger who may be operating that access point. This can be avoided by using a Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication on all accounts so that employees can securely access your system without raising any security concerns.

Many other hybrid cloud security challenges may affect businesses and lead to inefficiency, poor performance, and heavy costs. However, companies can take certain steps to avoid any security lapses and ensure their hybrid Cloud environments function optimally and securely. 

• Implement Cloud automation
• Leverage Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with cloud vendors
• Avoid vendor lock-ins
• Encrypt sensitive data
• Manage and update security configurations regularly
• Limit user access
• Train your workforce
• Hire a security specialist

The SecureNet Communications team includes qualified and experienced security engineers who can design and implement the best security solutions for your organisation. Get in touch with us on 1442 927002 to learn how we can help.