On-Premises or Cloud? Unraveling the Nuances of Cybersecurity Deployment

The Complexities of Managing Cybersecurity in On-Premises and Cloud Environments

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of technology, managing cybersecurity has become a crucial aspect of any organization’s operations. The rapid adoption of cloud computing has introduced new complexities and challenges for cybersecurity professionals. While the goals of reducing risk, protecting confidential data, and meeting compliance requirements remain the same, the cloud‘s architecture and the differences between various cloud platforms make securing cloud environments more intricate than traditional on-premises systems.

Understanding Cloud Environments

When it comes to managing cybersecurity in the cloud, organizations often use multiple cloud vendors simultaneously, either to meet specific operational needs, optimize performance and cost, or access specialized capabilities. This practice, known as multicloud deployment, adds another layer of complexity for cybersecurity teams. Additionally, organizations typically combine cloud environments with their on-premises infrastructure, creating hybrid cloud configurations.

Each cloud platform, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), offers unique features and performance advantages, making them popular choices for specific use cases. For example, organizations running Windows-based applications may find Azure to be the natural choice. On the other hand, AWS is often favored for large-scale web applications, while GCP is known for its analytics capabilities.

Security Expertise for Each Cloud

To effectively protect every cloud environment, the cybersecurity teams must become experts in the security features and controls of each cloud platform. However, there is often a disconnect between the perceived workload of managing multiple clouds and the actual effort required. Each cloud has its own distinctive attack surface, meaning that splitting workloads across clouds significantly increases the knowledge and effort necessary compared to running everything on a single cloud platform.

Differences in DMZ Protection

Another important difference between on-premises and cloud environments lies in the concept of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). In a physical data center, the DMZ is a well-defined area that protects external-facing services, often with multiple security controls and monitoring measures in place. The pathways into and out of the data center that an attacker would need to traverse are clearly defined.

In the cloud, the DMZ is more of a logical construct, and the organization’s mental model may not align with its actual implementation. Vulnerabilities in the DMZ can expose organizational data outside the cloud environment, potentially leading to unauthorized access. Managing the cloud DMZ requires specialized expertise that security architects focused on on-premises networks may not possess.

Hidden Risks in Cloud Services

Cloud service providers offer various multitenant services that allow communication within and outside of the cloud environment. Attackers can exploit these services to bypass the tenant’s network and establish unauthorized connections. This poses a challenge for cybersecurity teams as they may not be able to observe these activities on the tenant’s network, making such attacks virtually invisible. In contrast, if the same exfiltration occurred in an on-premises network, security teams would likely detect it and be notified.

Each cloud service has its own set of controls and features, and some may enable hidden external communication, making it crucial for cybersecurity teams to identify and monitor all services, even those not initially intended for use. This requires a comprehensive understanding of each cloud platform’s capabilities and controls.

Challenges with Cloud Service Updates

Cloud providers regularly update their services, introducing new features, improving existing capabilities, or changing default settings. These updates can unintentionally expose organizations to security risks. Attackers who have compromised the environment can take advantage of these changes or exploit misconfigurations to establish external communications.

In contrast, on-premises data centers provide more control over software updates. Organizations typically avoid installing software they do not intend to use, as it would increase the attack surface and workload. However, on-premises data centers often struggle with patching known vulnerabilities in a timely manner. Balancing the criticality of software patches to reduce the attack surface becomes a significant concern.

Protecting Your Cloud Environment

Understanding the structural and operational differences between on-premises and cloud environments is essential for effective cybersecurity management. Allowing each business unit to choose its preferred cloud platform may seem business-friendly, but it introduces substantial additional work to secure each cloud environment properly. Ignoring these risks, including the necessary training and staffing priorities, only leaves organizations vulnerable to advanced attackers targeting their cloud footprint.

Today’s innovative cloud attacks are tomorrow’s common breaches. Organizations must prioritize cybersecurity measures and allocate resources to ensure the protection of their cloud environments. This includes comprehensive training for cybersecurity teams to understand the intricacies of each cloud platform, identification and monitoring of all services in use, and a proactive approach to managing updates and potential vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

As organizations increasingly embrace cloud computing, managing cybersecurity in these environments becomes more complex. The unique architecture, differences between cloud platforms, and the challenges of securing multiple clouds simultaneously require a different mindset and skill set from cybersecurity professionals. Organizations must invest in the necessary expertise, resources, and proactive measures to protect their valuable and sensitive data in the ever-evolving landscape of cloud computing.