Request a Demo
Join a 30 minute demo with a Cloudian expert.
What Is Hybrid Cloud Security?
Hybrid cloud security refers to measures and strategies to protect data, applications, and resources in a hybrid cloud environment. A hybrid cloud combines on-premises infrastructure with private and public cloud services, creating a versatile and scalable ecosystem. Ensuring security in such an environment involves addressing complexities arising from integrating various cloud providers and on-premises systems.
In a hybrid cloud model, the security approach must be consistent across different platforms. This involves using encryption methods, authentication protocols, and continuous monitoring to detect and mitigate threats. The objective is to ensure data integrity, confidentiality, and availability while accommodating the diverse nature of hybrid cloud resources.
In this article:
- 3 Pillars of Hybrid Cloud Security
- Key Hybrid Cloud Security Challenges
- 5 Best Practices for Designing a Secure Hybrid Cloud Architecture
3 Pillars of Hybrid Cloud Security
Physical Controls
Physical controls are the tangible measures implemented to protect the hardware and infrastructure of a hybrid cloud system. These controls include securing data centers with access restrictions and surveillance systems. The aim is to prevent unauthorized physical access to the servers and other equipment critical to the hybrid cloud.
Additionally, physical controls involve regular maintenance and audits to ensure the hardware is functioning correctly and securely. This includes safeguarding against physical tampering, natural disasters, and power failures. Effective physical security is the foundation upon which other security measures are built.
Technical Controls
Technical controls are the technological measures implemented to protect the data and applications within the hybrid cloud environment. These include firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), encryption protocols, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). These controls help safeguard against cyber threats by ensuring that only authorized users can access the data and resources.
Moreover, technical controls involve implementing software and hardware solutions that monitor, detect, and respond to security incidents in real-time. Automated security tools can rapidly identify vulnerabilities and counteract threats, maintaining the integrity of the hybrid cloud system. Ensuring up-to-date software and patch management is also a critical aspect of technical controls.
Administrative Controls
Administrative controls encompass policies, procedures, and practices that govern security within a hybrid cloud framework. These controls involve the establishment of a security policy, conducting regular security training for staff, and incident response planning. The objective is to create a security-aware culture within the organization.
In addition, administrative controls include regular audits and compliance checks to ensure that security policies are enforced consistently. Keeping detailed logs and documentation helps in tracking security breaches and improving response strategies. Administrative measures are essential for maintaining a structured and organized approach to hybrid cloud security.
5 Expert Tips can help you enhance hybrid cloud security
Jon Toor, CMO
With over 20 years of storage industry experience in a variety of companies including Xsigo Systems and OnStor, and with an MBA in Mechanical Engineering, Jon Toor is an expert and innovator in the ever growing storage space.
Perform regular data classification: Regularly classify data based on its sensitivity and importance. This practice ensures that the most critical data receives the highest level of protection and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Segment your network: Use network segmentation to isolate critical systems and sensitive data from less secure areas. This minimizes the risk of lateral movement by attackers within your hybrid cloud environment.
Implement advanced threat detection: Employ advanced threat detection technologies such as AI and machine learning to identify and respond to anomalies and potential threats in real-time, enhancing your proactive security posture.
Conduct red team/blue team exercises: Regularly perform red team/blue team exercises to simulate attacks and defenses, helping to identify weaknesses in your hybrid cloud security and improve your response strategies.
Utilize cloud-native security tools: Leverage cloud-native security tools provided by your cloud service providers, which are specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with your cloud environment and offer enhanced security features.
Key Hybrid Cloud Security Challenges
Compliance and Governance
Compliance and governance are significant challenges in hybrid cloud security due to the complexities of adhering to various regulatory requirements across different platforms. Organizations must ensure that their data handling practices comply with regulations and standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and others. This often involves detailed documentation and regular audits to demonstrate compliance.
Effective governance also requires implementing policies that align with these regulations while facilitating operations across both on-premises and cloud environments. This balance is often difficult to achieve, requiring continuous monitoring and adjustments to security strategies to meet evolving legal and regulatory demands.
Data Leakage
Data leakage is a critical concern in a hybrid cloud environment due to the increased risk of sensitive information being exposed during data transfer between on-premises and cloud systems. Ensuring encryption during data transit and at rest is vital to protect against unauthorized access or breaches.
Organizations must employ stringent access controls and data classification policies to minimize the risk of data leakage. Regular security assessments and vulnerability tests can help identify potential weaknesses in the system, allowing for proactive measures to prevent data breaches and ensure data integrity.
Visibility and Control
Maintaining visibility and control over the hybrid cloud infrastructure is challenging because of the diverse nature of the environment. Organizations often struggle with monitoring and managing resources spread across different platforms and ensuring consistent security policies are applied.
Using centralized security management tools can help organizations maintain visibility and control, providing a unified view of the security posture. This approach allows for more effective monitoring, quicker detection of anomalies, and streamlined enforcement of security policies across the entire hybrid cloud ecosystem.
5 Best Practices for Designing a Secure Hybrid Cloud Architecture
1. Use Encryption
Encryption is a fundamental practice for securing data in a hybrid cloud environment. Implementing strong encryption algorithms for data at rest and in transit ensures that sensitive information remains protected from unauthorized access. Encryption helps maintain data confidentiality and integrity, even if attackers breach other security layers.
Organizations should regularly review and update their encryption protocols to align with industry standards and counter emerging threats. Utilizing encryption solutions provided by cloud service providers can further enhance security and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
2. Use Least Privilege
The principle of least privilege involves granting users the minimum access necessary to perform their job functions. This practice reduces the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and critical systems in a hybrid cloud environment. Implementing strict access controls and regularly reviewing user permissions are essential steps in applying this principle.
Automating the process of assigning and revoking privileges can help maintain a secure environment while reducing administrative overhead. Least privilege policies must be consistently enforced across all cloud and on-premises systems to be effective, requiring continuous monitoring and auditing for compliance.
3. Use Zero-Trust Policies
Zero-trust policies operate on the principle that no entity, whether inside or outside the network, should be trusted by default. In a hybrid cloud environment, implementing zero-trust involves verifying the identity and integrity of users and devices before granting access to resources. This approach reduces the likelihood of breaches by ensuring stringent access controls.
Continuously monitoring network activity and employing advanced authentication mechanisms like multi-factor authentication (MFA) are crucial aspects of a zero-trust strategy. Zero-trust policies should be integrated with existing security measures to create a robust and resilient security posture.
4. Use Unified Security Management
Unified security management involves using centralized tools and platforms to manage security across the hybrid cloud. This approach enables organizations to maintain a cohesive security strategy, ensuring consistent application of policies and quick response to threats. Centralized management simplifies monitoring, reporting, and compliance efforts.
Deploying unified security solutions helps streamline security operations by providing comprehensive visibility and control over the hybrid cloud infrastructure. It allows for more efficient incident response and better coordination between different security teams.
5. Implement Data Backups
Data backups are critical for ensuring data availability and recovery in the event of a security breach or system failure. Regularly scheduled backups should be a core component of any hybrid cloud security strategy, with data stored in both on-premises and cloud environments to ensure redundancy.
Automating backup processes and regularly testing recovery procedures ensure that data can be swiftly restored with minimal disruption. Effective data backup strategies also involve encrypting backup data and securely managing access to backup systems to prevent unauthorized access and manipulation.
Learn more in our detailed guide to hybrid cloud architecture
Set Up Hybrid Cloud Storage with Cloudian
Adopting a hybrid cloud infrastructure allows you to take advantage of the scale and flexibility of the public cloud, while maintaining the security and control of a private cloud or data center. It also allows you to pursue a tiered storage strategy for maximum cost-efficiency.
You can simplify the process of setting up and maintaining a hybrid cloud with Cloudian, which offers an on-prem object storage platform called HyperStore. Cloudian’s solution is infinitely scalable and can be integrated with various cloud services and on-premise environments. For example, it is S3 API compliant and supports intelligent search and analytic functions.
HyperStore has the added benefit of offering a cloud-like structure and searchability, with the use of metadata. It is easy to manage, allowing you to create policies for replication scheduling, lifecycle time, erasure coding and more.
