The Best Practices for Managing Cloud Applications

The nature of corporate operations has changed as a result of the digital revolution. Amazon was the pioneer of cloud computing in the mid-2000s. Other major titans, such as Microsoft and Google, have embraced a similar technique. These days, managed cloud services may be readily procured for your specific company requirements. However giant these corporations are though, concerns about cloud security are cited as a reason for some company owners’ skepticism about cloud computing. 

Using cloud computing requires a high degree of technical expertise. There are several benefits to working with a cloud computing provider. The main benefit is the ability to access your cloud-based application development from any device, regardless of where you are in the world. 

Other benefits include helping organizations collaborate more easily and more effectively, and cutting costs. In any case, when it comes to managing cloud-based application services, it is important to have experience doing so. 

Sure, traditional cybersecurity procedures are outclassed by cloud security solutions. But if you’re managing cloud apps, here are some recommended practices:

1. Have a Cloud-Applications Backup and Recovery Strategy

There’s no excuse for not having a backup plan in place, not even with the greatest service providers. If your primary service provider fails, a backup will ensure that your organization does not face long-term service interruptions. As a result, plan out how you’ll create, retrieve, and test backups. Data management and storage are made easier with regular testing of your backups. On the other hand, relying on data that hasn’t been tested might backfire, especially if it isn’t usable in the midst of a crisis.

As a result, it’s critical that your company foster an environment where workers are taught the importance of data backup and recovery as a routine aspect of their jobs.

2. Decrease the Frequency with Which You Migrate Your Applications to the Cloud

Using a cloud-based application to move your company’s apps might be an exciting prospect. But you should begin by using just a few programs at first, no matter how much fun it is to use. To guarantee that each app is thoroughly tested and debugged, this technique should be used. 

As a result, downtime possibilities of business processes are dramatically minimized. Before moving any more of your business apps to the cloud, you should check that the initial batch is functioning correctly. You may save money by implementing phased cloud adoption of your apps. 

Start with cloud-based application development that should be hosted in the cloud initially taking into account your budget. Furthermore, keep in mind that not all applications need cloud hosting. By doing so, you may save money by not hosting cloud apps that may not have a negative impact on your organization if they were not hosted.

3. A Multi-Cloud Approach Is Highly Recommended

A multi-cloud approach allows your company to work with a number of different cloud providers. This approach is critical, as you will select service providers based on their qualifications. Cloud service providers focus on a certain area of expertise. For this approach, you need to find out exactly what your company requires in terms of service providers if you want to get the best outcomes.

Even though one cloud provider can host all of your different apps, it’s not a good idea to host all of them with the same service provider. This is a pro recommendation for you. To avoid a complete shutdown of your firm in the event of a crisis at your service providers station, you should stay away from this option.

If one of your service providers has a network outage, your business processes will not be fully disrupted. Additionally, service providers may fail and go out of business. That’s why it’s a good idea to have many providers host your apps. This means that you’ll just have to move a handful of your apps, rather than the entire collection, should one of them go down.

4. Go for Cloud-Based Application Infrastructure That Is Up to Date With Modern Technology

You should look for a cloud service provider with up-to-date infrastructure while making your selection. Because of the rapid pace of technological change, you should avoid systems that lack the ability to adapt and change. In addition, you anticipate that your firm will expand in the future. Because of this, a scalable technological infrastructure would be the ideal option for you.

It is also possible to migrate between service providers without rewriting any code using portable solutions. Then there’s the fact that you’ll need an architecture that allows you to switch between different applications. In the end, modern infrastructure is a safe way to allow for future changes to be made without a hitch.

5. Enhance Security Measures for Access

Zero Trust or least privilege models should be used to guarantee staff are given just the cloud apps they need to do their duties. In order to limit the risk of credentials being compromised, utilize multi-factor authentication, which verifies an end user’s identity by using additional end-user credentials, including those that must be physically with the user.

6. Network Traffic Encryption

If you want to keep your cloud data safe from unauthorized access, use only cloud apps that support the HTTPS standard, which encrypts network communication. Keep track of and verify the legitimacy of unprotected HTTP requests and transmissions that breach the secure socket layer (SSL).

7. Gain Insight Into the Use of Cloud-Based Applications

Keep track of both failed and successful access requests, as well as when and from where users visited specific cloud applications, in order to better understand the online traffic inside your company. Deep packet inspection may also be used to look at data uploads and downloads.

8. Proactively Hunt Down Threats

In your cloud environment, utilize machine learning (ML) to detect and analyze unusual activity patterns, the usage of dangerous IP addresses, and data sharing behaviors that may violate your data loss prevention policy. Ensure your cloud infrastructure is secure by doing regular penetration tests that look for any weaknesses. 

Additionally, enforce anti-malware measures. Use URL filtering to prevent your employees from being exposed to malware, phishing scams, credential theft, spyware, and spam campaigns via cloud apps.

9. Encrypt Data Stored in the Cloud

Encrypt or anonymize data stored in cloud systems to protect the privacy of consumers and assure the security of the cloud infrastructure itself. The encrypted data is worthless without the key in the hands of the would-be offenders. Before transporting data to the cloud, either encrypt the data or employ cloud services that enable data at rest cloud encryption.

Additionally,  CASB can be used to protect data in the cloud. Assisting in the examination of inbound and outgoing web traffic across authorized, unapproved, and shadow cloud services is a cloud access security broker (CASB). Implement and enforce DLP policies across several cloud apps using a centrally administered security service provider (CASB). Data leaks, thefts, and exposure may all be prevented with the use of CASB and DLP integration.

10. Eliminate or Limit the Usage of Unreliable or Poorly Controlled Electronic Equipment

The use of unmanaged devices has skyrocketed as a result of recent trends like Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Nearly 85 percent of enterprises have adopted BYOD trends, according to Bitglass’s 2018 BYOD security research. To administrate these unmanaged devices, adopt severe device management policies that limit the download of critical data to high-risk devices, and restrict access to particular cloud apps when accessed via unauthorized devices.

Conclusion

There is a lot of potential in moving your company’s applications to the cloud. Doing so has the potential to both reduce time and boost output. But remember, it needs to be done correctly to avoid loss(es).

URL filtering, data loss prevention, access control, anti-virus, and SSL scanning are all necessary components of a comprehensive cloud application security program. Ensure the safety of your cloud systems by testing and deploying them in stages. Reduce false positives and improve efficacy by fine-tuning your security policies, profiles, and rules, and realigning them with evolving business demands.