Cloud Application Security Checklist And Best Practices

Application security is a critical component of any cloud ecosystem. It enables enterprises to become more agile while eliminating security risks. Rishabh Software helps global organizations by adopting the cloud application security best practices, paired with the right kind of technology that helps minimize the vulnerability gap with visibility and control.

Organizations today manage an isolated virtual private environment over a public cloud infrastructure. While it is a business decision whether to manage cloud infrastructure offered by public cloud providers or to maintain it with an in-house IT Team or have a hybrid one, securing the application delivery is always of primary concern. That is where the cloud application security comes into play. It helps protect cloud-based apps, data, and infrastructure with the right combination of well-defined models, processes, controls, and policies.

Read on, as, through this article, we share some of cloud application security best practices and associated checklists that can help keep your cloud environment secure. Also, how Rishabh Software engages in the development of scalable cloud security solutions to help organizations work in a multi-cloud environment without affecting application stability & performance.

Despite a myriad of benefits of moving enterprise applications to the cloud, lift and shift are not enough as it has its own set of challenges & complexities.

Many of the above cloud application security issues are similar to what companies face in traditional on-premise environments. However, security issues in cloud applications must be managed differently to maintain consistency and productivity.

The model provided by the IT partner must have proper segregation of the various responsibilities- for the vendor and customer.

Refer the below chart, which broadly classifies the various accountability parameters of cloud computing services: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) as well as an on-premise model.

Before selecting the cloud vendor, you must consider the cloud computing application security policies to ensure you understand the responsibility model well. It would help prevent any security incidents that occur because of the specific security requirement falling through the cracks.

As your business scales and solutions are bound to become complicated, and therefore the app architecture must undergo necessary technology updates.

It is also critical for information security teams to perform due diligence across the application lifecycle phases, including

• Planning
• Development & deployment
• Operations
• Decommissioning

3. Perform Penetration Testing and Automate Tests

Validate the cloud-based application security against threats and malware attacks. Ensure it follows all the specifications outlined in the requirement document. An experienced cloud service partner can help automate routine tests to ensure consistent deployment of your cloud-based apps faster.

4. Manage Access Control

Role-based permissions & access offer seamless management of the users accessing the cloud environment that helps reduce the risks of unauthorized access to vital information stored in the cloud.

5. Consider Regulations and Compliance Needs

Businesses, especially in domains such as health care, financial services, and retail, must follow strict industry regulations to ensure customer data privacy and security. While it is tough to modify the compliance policies once implemented, you should make sure that the service provider meets the data security requirements before moving to the cloud.

6. Train Your Users

Human errors are one of the most common reasons for the failure of cloud security initiatives. You must train the staff and customers on appropriate adherence to security policies. Further, the IT department must train the in-house users about the potential risk of “Shadow IT” and its repercussions.

7. Monitor and Optimize

Consistently audit the systems and applications deployed on the cloud. Depending on the size and complexity of the solution, the schedule may vary on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. Doing the security audit will help you optimize rules and policies as well as improve security over time.

You can rely on the cloud service provider’s monitoring service as your first defense against unauthorized access and behavior in the cloud environment. They can help you set up and run audit reports frequently to check for any vulnerabilities that might have opened up.

Here is a top 10-point checklist to deploy zero trust security and mitigate issues for your cloud applications.

Working with an experienced consulting firm, like Rishabh Software, can help you curate a custom cloud application security checklist that suits your organization’s security requirements.

Our cloud experts leverage their expertise in utilizing modern technology stack to increase the security of your cloud application, from start to finish.

It is with

• Assessment – Evaluating the application architecture and security controls to identify potential risks
• Planning – Mapping your cloud app security road-map, including strategies, capabilities, and activities
• Implementation – Building & deploying custom cloud applications with baseline security controls
• Awareness – Enabling teams to identify security risks with evolving solution & regulatory requirements through a shared responsibility model

Whether your enterprise uses a cloud environment to deploy applications or to store data, it all depends on a sound strategy and its implementation when it comes to cloud-based application security.

With a vast experience of developing and integrating secure SaaS applications for global organizations, Rishabh Software ensures that you confidently innovate and move forward with our cloud application security solutions. We help you simplify mobility, remote access, and IT management while ensuring cost efficiency and business continuity across all spheres of your business ecosystem.