{"id":1511,"date":"2024-04-25T09:45:06","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T08:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clouddirect.net\/learning-hub\/?p=1511"},"modified":"2025-04-14T10:04:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T09:04:19","slug":"six-ways-to-stay-secure-in-the-cloud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clouddirect.net\/learning-hub\/six-ways-to-stay-secure-in-the-cloud\/","title":{"rendered":"Six ways to stay secure in the cloud"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you\u2019ve just moved to Azure, or have been operating in the cloud for a few years, staying secure is a top priority. According to a recent Cloud Security Report<\/a> by Cybersecurity Insiders, \u201995 per cent of organisations are moderately to extremely concerned about cloud security, while another IBM report<\/a> states that the global average cost of a data breach was $4.45 million US dollars. It is, therefore, the perfect time to get on top of your security needs in the cloud.<\/p>\n\n

Microsoft Cloud is as vast as it is complex, so it can at first seem tricky to figure out what to do next to stay secure on your cloud journey. If you\u2019re reading this, then that probably means you\u2019ve already decided to start the next chapter of your cloud journey. Learning from experts in the field is a great next step, so you\u2019re in the right place \u2013 we hold five of the six Azure and M365 Microsoft Solutions Partner certifications, as well as being an Azure Expert Managed Service Provider. So, without further ado, here\u2019s our advice our advice on staying secure.<\/p>\n\n\n

Zero Trust<\/h2>\n\n\n

Adopting a Zero Trust policy is a fantastic first step when looking to become secure in the cloud. A Zero Trust policy treats all devices as a threat until they are verified, regardless of connection, ownership, or previous access permissions. Nothing is getting access to your network unless you allow it to. This is often used to buffer more traditional security practices, such as using strong and unique passwords, and is even more effective when combined with multi-factor authentication.<\/p>\n\n

Implementing a Zero Trust policy requires a bit more than just adopting new technologies. It means changing your culture and training your employees as well. According to the World Economic Forum<\/a>, 95 per cent of all cybersecurity issues can be traced to human error, and adopting a Zero Trust policy that combines the factors above means that someone accidentally revealing a password or leaving a device behind is no longer as much of a major threat.<\/p>\n\n

Zero Trust comes with three guiding principles. There is the previously mentioned verify explicitly<\/strong>, the practice of always authenticating and authorising data points. There\u2019s least privileged access<\/strong>, which is a system where you set the boundaries so that everyone gets access to exactly what they need to complete their job function and nothing more than that. Finally, assume breach<\/strong>, which is the foundation of Zero Trust and assumes that all devices and anomalies are a threat and treats them as such until verified as otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n

Microsoft Sentinel<\/h2>\n\n\n

Sentinel is a cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution, that monitors signals and data from all applications, services, infrastructure, networks, and users within your estate, regardless of whether it is hosted on-premise, in Azure, or with another cloud service. It provides a bird\u2019s eye view of everything.<\/p>\n\n

Because Sentinel is cloud-native it is fully scalable, which allows you to reduce cost during times of low activity and scale to meet demand during times of high traffic. It provides full flexibility for fluctuating workloads.<\/p>\n\n

Sentinel also uses advanced analytics and machine learning to proactively detect threats, and will even respond to them itself in real time. If someone\u2019s trying to access your network outside of your agreed region, Sentinel will automatically hold the device in quarantine and deny access until you allow the device in.<\/p>\n\n\n

Microsoft Defender suite<\/h2>\n\n\n

The Microsoft Defender suite is a collection of products that will really bolster your security standing.Defender blocks around 70 billion email and identity threats each year,<\/a> while Defender for Cloud reduced security breaches to cloud workloads by up to 25 per cent.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n