Mitigate your risks

Today we’re taking a look at the impact of cloud security and how to mitigate your risks with the changes that have come in how to assess vulnerabilities in networks.

Within the last 18 months companies have moved to a remote and hybrid workforce, which brings security without walls due to the change from an office network environment to a primarily cloud and remote network environment.

Without walls, the risks of companies have increased exponentially, which also changes everything for how to assess network vulnerabilities.

When you take a look at the cloud, it is going to be very different to assess the risks compared to the office network.  In fact, there are tools that you use to continuously collect data to uncover vulnerabilities of the cloud environment.  This is very different from a security assessment tool that monitors the traffic of the network.  This alone, requires companies to have eyes on the traffic of the network and the cloud environment. 

Next, you need to assess the software and applications you use to conduct business via remote and hybrid teams.  Those applications and software require continuous eyes for patching and immediate replacement or shutdown if something becomes dangerous to keep online. 

Some apps and software instruments might need to be changed, not to mention the computers that are used and the number of devices of the office, as well as remote work environment devices.

This overview of new security assessment touch points reveals to you how important cloud security has become, why new tools are monitoring new aspects in the digital world, and why the ability to adopt cyber readiness is aimed at security with no walls.

It is clear that mitigating risks for a security without walls approach affects companies, large and small, and it involves ensuring that you have a focus on:

• Strengthening cloud security 24/7.
• Having eyes on all entry points – all devices, software, applications
• Monitoring the actual network for your communication points.

This doesn’t mean that you stop investing in the other areas of cybersecurity of course.

What does this mean?

• It means that a company must still ensure compliance regulations for the cloud and the hybrid work environment.
• It means that your policies and procedures need to integrate the new entry points and without walls security risks.
• It means that you must prepare incident response and business continuity plans to integrate these new components.
• It means that you still want to invest in cybersecurity training to help the human element become a strong link and not a weak one that cyber criminals can easily leverage to get inside your network.

Essentially, security without walls means more responsibility for the CIO, IT security team, and the entire organization, but with a proactive mindset and all-inclusive cybersecurity posture the possibilities are endless.

Let’s talk if you need help with cloud security and mitigating your risks. 

Schedule your free consultation.

Photo courtesy of Maksim Kabakou