In the tech world, there’s always a focus on how new hardware and software can help improve the user experience. It’s not always about just making things more productive or powerful, but rather ensuring that the people who use these devices and applications have the best overall experience. For those who work in the cybersecurity industry, that pressure to keep improving and innovating can sometimes lead to mistakes. Humans are imperfect by default and there are plenty of issues that occur within the cloud that come from experts simply making a mistake.
In these instances, it becomes crucial to have a plan in place to address these errors. When a cloud application misconfigures something, it’s likely because there’s an error that went unnoticed. Unfortunately, those simple errors can leave huge gaps in your code. Gaps can lead hackers right to the heart of your data. To prevent these sorts of disasters from occurring, cloud security posture management ensures the protection of your business’ information and operations through a security-focused process of checking for any and all errors. Let’s talk a bit more about why cloud security posture management is vital to your business.
What is Cloud Security Posture Management?
Sometimes abbreviated as CSPM, cloud security posture management is an automated tool that checks your cloud ecosystem for any irregularities or misconfigurations. A misconfiguration, in the simplest terms, is something that keeps the cloud’s code from doing exactly what it’s meant to do. Something as small as a single line that’s incorrect can lead to hiccups in the operation of the cloud. Because of our growing reliance on hosting and cloud security, that small hiccup can lead to big headaches if it isn’t corrected.
CSPM ensures the best possible cloud experience for your business. It’s not simply about efficiency, but rather an agreed-upon standard for how cloud computing should function. Some industries even require CSPM to be in place for the protection of user data. For example, the healthcare industry’s cloud compliance requirements call for CSPM to ensure HIPPA compliance. This is the promise that medical information is only known by the patient and their primary physician.
Why is Cloud Security Posture Management Important?
The cloud is never “off” so to speak. That means that on any given day, the cloud ecosystem that your business relies on can access cloud applications and servers hundreds of times. While this means you get a great experience that harnesses the power of the cloud, it also means a lot of coding needs to be correct for these connections to take place safely and securely. One wrong line of code and you could find that accessing the cloud server leaves your data open to cybercriminals.
Is this destined to happen to you if you don’t utilize cloud security posture management? Not necessarily, but cloud experts work along the lines of proactive measures rather than reactive ones. Plus, human error is often the cause of misconfigurations within the cloud. A well-rounded CSPM ensures that these issues are identified before they cause you or your business any harm.
Detecting issues before they become problems is the goal of any comprehensive cloud security posture management application. Run automatically during all hours of the day and monitored by a certified project manager, this defense can help protect you from a major disaster. With many businesses open to hacking via the cloud, a CSPM isn’t just a tool you can choose to use, it’s a must-have in the ever-growing digital landscape.
CSPM and the Two-Sided Defense Against Cloud Errors
The automated nature of cloud security posture management ensures you can catch those pesky human errors mentioned previously. Everyone makes mistakes. The fact of the matter is that a small typo in an email does a lot less damage to your company than a line of code that misconfigures and leaves your cloud computing vulnerable.
CSPM works a two-sided defense against cloud errors. First, it works to monitor for incorrect code that is simply a matter of a mistake by the developer. That’s not uncommon, and the CSPM knows to check for these errors, however small, and notify you to make the necessary changes. It’s like having an application that ensures you’re doing the best work possible, and for a business hiring a cloud services provider, that’s a great thing to have.
The second line of defense is through more stereotypical vulnerabilities that occur over the course of many users accessing different points of a cloud ecosystem. Rather than worry about each and every users’ threat of hacking, CSPM ensures that anyone accessing any element of the cloud can be notified the minute something seems to threaten the user data in their servers.
Alerts via cloud security posture management applications can even help manage the error messages that plague project managers. Many cloud security professionals monitor 5-10 software applications for misconfigurations. CSPM allows all errors to come from one place, easing the monitoring process and helping professionals stay diligent. These applications keep an eye out for compliance policy concerns as well. Industries working in the cloud that require these compliance standards can simply let the cloud security posture management software work its magic and ensure all user info is safe and secure.
A Safer Way to Ensure Cloud Productivity and Security
CSPM is required for some industries utilizing the cloud but not all. For that reason, some choose to not enlist the help of these applications to monitor cloud security and safety. Hopefully, with the knowledge of what CSPM can offer your business, you’ll enlist the help of this essential tool for cloud computing and take the necessary steps to ensure total protection for user data related to your customers and clients. Doing so could mean that your business is protected from the ever-present threat of a hacker or data leak. Take time to explore your cloud security posture management options today.
