By Anoop Kodipurayil, Solution Architect, Cyient
The COVID-19 pandemic inadvertently sparked a surge in the cloud computing market, leading to increased cloud adoption, infrastructure development, and higher spending. According to a recent survey by Statista, a staggering 60% of corporate data is now stored in the cloud. With the global cloud storage market projected to grow from $83.41 billion in 2022 to a substantial $376.37 billion by 2029, boasting an annual growth rate of 24.0%, the imperative to secure virtual machines (VMs) within cloud computing environments has become undeniable.
As the popularity of cloud computing continues to soar, the utilisation of virtual machines has become increasingly prevalent. While virtual machines offer enhanced flexibility and cost-effectiveness, they also present a fresh set of security challenges. Given that sensitive data and applications now find their home in virtual machines, it is paramount to ensure their robust security. This necessitates a series of crucial steps, encompassing the selection of appropriate security measures and the implementation of best practices concerning user access and network security.
Best practices for securing virtual machines (VMs)
Ensuring the security of virtual machines in a cloud environment necessitates meticulous planning and the implementation of diverse security measures. The following are the fundamental steps in this endeavour:
Robust access controls: Implement stringent access controls for VMs, incorporating multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, and role-based access control (RBAC) to guarantee that only authorised users can access your VM.
Data Encryption: Employ encryption to safeguard data stored within the VM. This encompasses both data at rest and data in transit. For data in transit, leverage encryption protocols like HTTPS, SSL/TLS, and SSH. To enable encryption at rest, consider methods such as disk encryption, file-level encryption, and database-level encryption.
Identity and access management (IAM): Strengthen IAM policies by employing principles of least privilege, ensuring users have access only to necessary resources. Regularly audit and manage user permissions to prevent unauthorized access to VMs, leveraging centralised IAM solutions provided by cloud service providers for granular control.
Zero trust architecture: Implement a zero-trust model, verifying every access request regardless of the source, and ensuring continuous monitoring and authentication even within trusted networks. This approach minimises the attack surface and enhances security against internal and external threats.
Vulnerability management and patching: Regularly update software and operating systems with the latest security patches and updates using vulnerability management and patching techniques. This practice helps in addressing known vulnerabilities in the system.
Endpoint protection: Employ endpoint protection, encompassing antivirus/EDR and HIDS solutions, to shield the VM from malware and other security threats. Ensure that the endpoint security software remains up-to-date and is correctly configured.
Data loss prevention (DLP): Implement DLP solutions to prevent accidental or intentional data leaks from VMs. Apply policies to detect and restrict the movement of sensitive data, preventing unauthorized access or transmission beyond authorized boundaries.
Security monitoring: Utilise security monitoring regularly to identify unusual activities or vulnerabilities. Employ tools like intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) to monitor the VM and detect potential security incidents.
Data backups: Implement regular data backups to safeguard against data loss caused by security incidents or other disasters. Storing data in a separate location or device allows for data restoration if the original data is lost or compromised.
Security hardening and best practices: Adhere to security hardening practices and industry-specific security requirements and regulations. Organizations can rely on standards established by institutions such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Center for Internet Security (CIS) to guide them in system hardening best practices.
Training and awareness: Conduct regular security awareness training sessions for employees, emphasizing the significance of adhering to security policies, recognising phishing attempts, and maintaining vigilance to prevent security incidents related to VMs.
Machine learning and AI-based threat detection: Leverage machine learning and AI-driven solutions to bolster threat detection capabilities within virtual machines. These technologies can analyse patterns and anomalies in real-time, enabling proactive identification of potential security threats.
Benefits of virtualised security
Virtualised security, designed specifically for virtualised environments, offers numerous advantages over traditional security solutions. From heightened flexibility and scalability to improved threat detection and response, virtualized security equips organizations with the tools they need to better safeguard their virtualized infrastructure. In a landscape where cybersecurity remains a persistent concern, the stakes become even higher when virtual machines are involved.
In such scenarios, the security of a company’s data and other assets becomes precarious, emphasizing the need for a virtualised security infrastructure. Establishing dedicated security resources within a cloud framework and implementing customised firewall settings can mitigate the infiltration of malicious malware. Here are some key benefits that virtualised security provides to help businesses enhance the security of their data and improve their scalability and efficiency:
Protection of Sensitive Data: Virtual machines often house sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial data, and intellectual property. Inadequately secured virtual machines can become prime targets for cybercriminals who may exploit or steal this sensitive data.
Compliance requirements: Many industries are subject to compliance requirements mandating the protection of sensitive data. For instance, the healthcare sector must adhere to HIPAA regulations, while financial institutions are bound by PCI DSS standards. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in legal and financial penalties.
Business continuity: Virtual machines play pivotal roles in many organisations, and any downtime can disrupt business operations significantly. Securing virtual machines helps avert downtime due to security breaches or other incidents, thereby ensuring business continuity.
Reputation management: Security breaches and data theft can tarnish an organisation’s reputation and erode customer trust. By securing virtual machines, organisations can safeguard their reputation and demonstrate their unwavering commitment to data security.
Resource Optimisation and Cost-Efficiency:
Resource utilisation: Virtualised security optimises resource utilization by efficiently managing security processes within virtual machines, reducing unnecessary overhead and resource consumption.
Cost-effectiveness: Implementing these security measures offers cost-saving benefits by mitigating security risks and potential financial losses associated with security incidents or data breaches.
Securing virtual machines within a cloud computing environment is a critical facet of protecting sensitive data, complying with regulations, ensuring business continuity, maintaining a sterling reputation, and reducing costs. By diligently implementing proper security measures, configuring user access and permissions, and fortifying network security, organisations can substantially curtail the risk of security breaches and data theft. Regularly updating security patches and staying vigilant for potential security threats while opting for secure virtual machine images further solidifies the defences. Through the adoption of virtualised security solutions and best practices in virtual machine security, organisations can elevate their ability to safeguard their virtualised infrastructure, ensuring the protection of sensitive data and applications.