With the frequency of cyber thefts increasing, the challenge of security is magnified with any public cloud service. There are many benefits to using Azure cloud security, but some organizations might find it difficult to integrate their security infrastructure.
There are a few third-party security solutions that offer tools for securing Azure deployments. Hence, there is no shortage of choices for companies that want to take Azure without sacrificing security.
While this might be an excellent opportunity to jump in and explore how others are using third-party toolsets to secure their Azure deployments, it’s also worth taking some time to consider the key reasons why many organizations have been keen on adopting cloud security services.
Why Invest in Azure Security Systems?
It’s important to remember that securing any technology is a process, not an event.
Organizations should take the time to plan out what types of security policies they want in place for Azure deployments and how they will be enforced, whether it’s with third-party toolsets or custom-developed scripts.
There might be some apprehension about security when moving to the cloud, but it’s important not to forget that the cloud can be more secure than on-premises deployments.
Here are a few reasons why you might want to invest in Azure cloud security systems.
Scalability and Flexibility
With Azure, businesses can quickly scale their infrastructure up or down as needed. The flexibility is a crucial benefit of using the cloud, and it’s something that businesses can’t always replicate with their own data centers.
Cost-Effective
Azure is a very cost-effective way to deploy applications and services. Organizations only pay for what they use, so there’s no need to overprovision resources or worry about underutilization.
Optimized Performance
Since Azure is a cloud-based platform, it can easily be optimized for performance and reliability. It can ensure that applications run smoothly and don’t experience downtime even when there’s an issue with an underlying server or storage node.
Cloud Isolation
According to statistics, around 91 percent of software technology companies use cloud computing for data storage.
Two essential features of Azure are virtual network isolation and the ability to encrypt data in transit and rest.
Compliance
Many influential organizations require that any information they possess be encrypted at all times, which can be difficult to enforce with an on-premises solution. With Azure, this requirement is enforced automatically.
How Can You Secure Your Azure Deployment?
As mentioned previously, it’s essential to consider how you want to harden your Azure deployment before you take steps to secure it.
There are several ways that organizations can protect their cloud deployments with a third-party security platform:
Virtual Machine Security Groups
The feature allows administrators to control which VMs have access to which resources. You can use security groups to restrict access to specific VMs or networks, and they can also help ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data.
Role-Based Access Control
The feature allows administrators to assign specific roles and permissions to users or groups. It helps ensure that only authorized users have access to specific resources.
Network Security Groups
The feature is similar to virtual machine security groups, but it’s used to control access to subnets and network interfaces. It can restrict traffic by port, protocol, or source/destination IP address ranges, which helps ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data.
Backup and Restore
Having regular backups is an essential component of Azure security, and third-party toolsets can help automate this process. Moreover, since data might be stored in plaintext on storage nodes, it’s also a good idea to encrypt the data before it’s transferred over the wire.
Antivirus and Other Malware Protection
Cloud deployments might be vulnerable to viruses and other malware that might spread from one VM to another.
These infections can cause downtime and, in some cases, could allow unauthorized users in. Having antivirus and other security protection will help ensure that there’s no malicious code or malware on any of your VMs.
Azure AD Integration
Many third-party security platforms are integrated with Azure AD to ensure that users only access the data they need.
Secure Remote Access
Many third-party security platforms offer secure remote access, including multi-factor authentication, which will provide extra protection for your cloud deployment.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
As mentioned earlier, data loss is a significant concern for organizations. DLP solutions can help identify sensitive data and prevent it from being accidentally or maliciously deleted.
By using a third-party security platform, organizations can rest assured that their Azure deployments are secure and compliant. These platforms offer a wide range of features that can help to protect your organization from internal and external threats.