15 cloud security best practices for your business

For businesses operating in the cloud, implementing proper security measures is critical to protect sensitive data, ensure compliance, and maintain customer trust. However, the unique characteristics of cloud environments also introduce new security challenges that must be carefully navigated.

In this article, we'll explore what cloud security entails, why it's important, and most importantly—actionable best practices you can implement to keep your cloud-based assets and operations secure. Let's dive in.

What is cloud security?

Cloud security refers to the policies, procedures, and technologies used to secure data, applications, and infrastructure associated with cloud computing. It's a broad discipline that aims to protect cloud systems from unauthorized access, data breaches, misuse of resources, and other cybersecurity threats.

Cloud security applies to all types of cloud environments:

• Public clouds managed by third-party vendors or cloud service providers 
• Private clouds operated solely for a single organization
• And hybrid clouds that combine both. 

The specific security measures differ based on the cloud deployment model, but the fundamental goal remains the same—ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems in the cloud.

The importance of cloud security

Investing in robust cloud security delivers tangible benefits for businesses. As organizations increasingly adopt hybrid or multi-cloud environments, they face growing complexity in their infrastructure. This complexity, combined with accelerated developer velocity, creates ideal conditions for threat actors. 

Cloud-based attacks continue to escalate, making it crucial for organizations to stay vigilant and prioritize cloud security. Implementing cloud security allows you to:

1. Prevent costly data breaches

Perhaps the most compelling reason to prioritize cloud security is to safeguard against devastating data breaches. The average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, with breaches involving data stored solely in public clouds being the most expensive, costing $5.17 million on average. Implementing stringent cloud security controls helps plug potential vulnerabilities and keeps sensitive information out of the wrong hands.

2. Ensure regulatory compliance

Most industries have specific data security and privacy regulations that extend to the cloud, such as HIPAA in healthcare, PCI DSS in retail, and GDPR in the EU. These requirements can vary based on geographical regions and the specific nature of the data being processed. Non-compliance can trigger steep fines, legal action, and lasting reputational harm. Following cloud security best practices is vital for meeting these complex regulatory requirements.

3. Maintain customer trust

In today's privacy-conscious world, customers expect businesses to go the extra mile when protecting their personal data. Just one security misstep in the cloud can shatter hard-earned customer trust overnight. On the flip side, demonstrating a strong commitment to cloud security can serve as a competitive differentiator and help attract security-savvy customers.

Common cloud security challenges

While the cloud offers unmatched flexibility and scalability, it also expands an organization's potential attack surface. Some of the most common cloud security risks include:

Cloud misconfiguration

Misconfigurations are a leading cause of cloud data breaches. These often stem from granting overly broad permissions, using default settings, or simple human errors during setup of cloud infrastructure. Regular configuration audits are crucial to identify and remediate misconfigurations before attackers exploit them.

Insecure APIs

Cloud services rely heavily on APIs for management, orchestration, and data transfer. Weak API authentication, lack of encryption, and flawed access control can expose sensitive data to unauthorized parties. Implementing secure API design principles, such as requiring strong authentication tokens and rate limiting, helps mitigate these risks.

Shadow IT

The ease of spinning up new cloud instances has led to an explosion of unauthorized "shadow IT" outside the purview of central IT management. This rogue usage introduces security blind spots and inconsistencies. Combating shadow IT requires a combination of user education, strict cloud usage policies, and tools for discovering unmanaged cloud instances.

How to improve cloud security: 15 best practices and tips

Now that we've covered the why of cloud security, let's turn our attention to the how. Follow these proven best practices to strengthen your cloud security posture:

1. Clearly define security responsibilities

Security in the cloud follows a shared responsibility model between your organization and the cloud service provider. But the exact division of duties varies based on the service model—IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS. Have a clear understanding of which specific security tasks fall under your domain vs. the provider's to avoid dangerous assumptions and gaps in coverage.

2. Provide cloud security training

Your employees are the first line of defense against cloud threats. Equip them with proper training on secure cloud usage, spotting phishing attempts, creating strong passwords, and promptly reporting suspicious activity. Regularly refreshed training turns your workforce into an extended cloud security team.

3. Establish comprehensive cloud policies

Develop well-defined policies that spell out acceptable use of cloud services, security configurations, data handling procedures, and incident response protocols. Communicate these to all stakeholders and enforce them consistently to bake security into the fabric of your cloud environment.

4. Perform regular configuration audits

As your cloud environment grows, it's all too easy for misconfigurations to slip through the cracks. Schedule periodic audits to verify security settings, access controls, encryption, and network configurations against your defined policies and industry best practices. Detecting and fixing misconfigurations early is important for preventing breaches.

5. Implement least privilege access

Grant users and processes only the minimum permissions required to perform their intended functions. For example, a user who only needs to read data from a specific S3 bucket shouldn't have write or delete capabilities. Least privilege limits the blast radius of credential theft or misuse.

6. Centrally monitor security posture

Use cloud security posture management (CSPM) tools to automatically assess your cloud environments for misconfigurations, compliance gaps, and risk factors. CSPM provides a centralized view of your security posture with actionable recommendations, making it faster and easier to identify weaknesses before they're exploited.

7. Secure endpoints and devices

With cloud services accessible from any internet-enabled device, locking down endpoint security is crucial. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor end-user devices for malicious activity, remotely wipe lost or stolen devices, and enforce security policies like disk encryption and VPN usage when off the corporate network.

8. Encrypt data everywhere

Any data stored or transmitted via the cloud should be encrypted both at rest and in transit. Enable provider-managed encryption options for data stored in cloud databases, file storage, and backups. Use secure protocols like TLS for encrypting data exchanged between cloud services and users. Encryption acts as a last line of defense, rendering exfiltrated data useless without the decryption keys.

9. Embrace zero trust

Replace implicit trust with continuously verified access based on user identity, device health, and behavioral attributes. Zero trust network access (ZTNA) solutions enforce granular access policies, allowing users to access only the specific cloud resources they need, and only after passing strict verification checks.

10. Map out compliance requirements

If your industry has specific cloud security regulations, bake those requirements into every facet of your cloud strategy from day one. This includes encrypting regulated data, logging user activity, setting appropriate data retention policies, and generating audit trails. Many cloud providers offer compliance-focused services and guidance to help you meet requirements for HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and more.

11. Have an incident response plan

No cloud security strategy is complete without a robust incident response plan. Document step-by-step procedures for detecting, containing, investigating, and recovering from different types of security incidents—data breaches, malware infections, DDoS attacks, insider threats, etc. Define roles and responsibilities, escalation paths, and communication protocols. 

12. Utilize cloud-native logging

Most cloud platforms provide built-in logging and monitoring capabilities. Be sure to enable these for all critical resources and feed the log data into a SIEM solution for centralized collection, analysis, and alerting. Cloud activity logs serve as an essential audit trail for incident investigations and post-mortem analysis. Additionally, organizations should implement secure log storage practices and establish a log retention policy that aligns with relevant regulations. This ensures that log data remains protected and available for compliance purposes.

13. Conduct third-party penetration tests

Bring in external security experts to perform in-depth penetration testing of your cloud environment. Skilled ethical hackers can uncover complex attack vectors that automated scans miss. Penetration testing helps identify and remediate exploitable vulnerabilities before malicious actors find them.

14. Stay on top of cloud updates

Cloud providers continuously roll out updates and security patches to their platforms. Some are automatically applied, while others require manual intervention. Assign clear ownership for monitoring cloud update notifications and prioritizing rollouts. Falling behind on critical patches leaves dangerous holes in your security posture.

15. Implement automated security monitoring and remediation 

Leverage cloud-native security tools that provide continuous monitoring, threat detection, and automated remediation capabilities. Configure these tools to identify and respond to security events in real-time, such as unusual login attempts, data exfiltration, or suspicious network traffic. While automation is important, remember that human oversight remains necessary for complex incidents and nuanced decision-making.

Enhanced cloud security with Rippling

Implementing the best practices covered above may seem daunting, especially for lean IT teams already stretched thin. Fortunately, Rippling offers a comprehensive cloud security solution that consolidates key capabilities into a unified platform, with benefits including:

• Seamless integration between core IT functions like device management, identity & access control, and software deployment
• Automatic user provisioning and de-provisioning based on HR data
• Centralized device monitoring and endpoint protection across macOS and Windows
• Granular role-based access control and real-time visibility into permissions
• Support for hybrid environments with tight Active Directory integration
• Easy deployment of patches and updates across all managed devices
• Robust encryption for data at rest and in transit, ensuring sensitive information remains protected

Rippling combines enterprise-grade security with an intuitive interface, empowering your team to secure every corner of your cloud environment without the management headaches. 

Frequently asked questions

What are the best practices for managing access to cloud resources?

To effectively manage access to cloud resources, enforce least privilege, granting only the minimum permissions required for users to perform their tasks. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to define and assign permissions based on job roles, and require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all user accounts. Regularly review and adjust permissions, especially when roles change, and promptly de-provision ex-employee accounts to prevent unauthorized access.

What should be included in a cloud security strategy to ensure compliance with industry regulations?

A compliant cloud security strategy should include data encryption, detailed access logging and monitoring, documented security policies and procedures, regular risk assessments and audits, and defined data retention and disposal workflows. Work with compliance experts to translate regulatory mandates into actionable policies tailored to your organization's needs.

How can I ensure my cloud provider follows strong security practices?

Verify that your cloud provider complies with established security standards such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, and CSA STAR, and offers detailed documentation of their security controls, data handling practices, and compliance certifications. Ensure they support essential security features like encryption, MFA, and granular identity and access management (IAM), and have relevant certifications for specific regulations your organization is subject to. Pay attention to their communication regarding security incidents and updates, and ensure they are willing to sign business associate agreements or SLAs that clearly define their security responsibilities.

How do I handle data backup and recovery in the cloud?

Implement a robust cloud backup strategy by regularly backing up your data to a secure cloud storage service. Set up automated backups on a schedule that aligns with your data change frequency and retention needs. Ensure you periodically test your recovery process to verify that your backups are complete and can be successfully restored when needed.

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of October 9, 2024.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.