IT Security as a Key Factor for Smooth Cloud Operations
Measures and best practices for IT security in the cloud
1. Executive summary
Organizations are increasingly relying on the cloud to store, process and access their mission-critical data and applications. While the cloud offers many benefits such as scalability, flexibility and cost efficiency, it also presents a number of information security challenges.
Comprehensive security policies and measures are essential to minimize these risks and ensure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data in the cloud. After all, despite all precautions, a successful ransomware attack can never be completely ruled out. In such cases, the ability to restore data from uncompromised backups provides a valuable safety net. It also ensures business continuity.
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2. Defense against attacks
Cyber criminals are constantly looking for new vulnerabilities to access sensitive data or compromise services. A proactive defense against attacks includes physical security measures, such as protecting data centers from unauthorized access, and technical measures, such as firewalls, virus scanners and strict segregation of data. In addition, internal processes and employee training play a key role in minimizing human error and negligent behavior.
Physical measures
The first step in defending against attacks is the physical security of the data centers where cloud infrastructures are hosted. Cloud providers invest heavily in the security of their data centers to prevent unauthorized access. This includes:
- Biometric access control: Biometric identification methods such as fingerprint and retina scans ensure that only authorized individuals have access to the data centers.
- Video surveillance: Cameras monitor the data center perimeter around the clock to detect and record suspicious activity.
- Access restrictions: Only selected personnel have physical access to the data centers, which is strictly monitored. The various areas of the data center are often further restricted and secured with special access restrictions within the data center.
These physical security measures ensure that the hardware and infrastructure required for the cloud are protected from unauthorized access.
Firewalls
Firewalls monitor traffic between the Internet and cloud resources and decide which traffic to allow or block. Types of firewalls include:
- Network firewalls: These filter traffic at the network level, allowing you to control access to specific ports and protocols.
- Host firewalls: These are installed on each virtual machine or server in the cloud to provide an additional layer of protection.
- Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs): Unlike traditional firewalls, which rely primarily on port and protocol inspection, NGFWs provide additional security capabilities such as intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS), deep packet inspection, application control and user identification. These features allow NGFWs to analyze traffic at a much more granular level and proactively detect and block potentially malicious activity before it can cause damage.
Firewalls should be configured to allow only necessary traffic and block all unneeded ports and protocols.
Reverse Proxy
A reverse proxy is a type of proxy server that redirects traffic from an external network, such as the internet, to internal servers. Unlike a traditional proxy, which mediates traffic from internal users to external servers, the reverse proxy acts as an intermediary between external users and internal servers. It ensures that the identity and details of the internal infrastructure remain hidden from external requests. This type of proxy plays a critical role in securing web applications and services. It blocks potentially harmful requests and attacks before they reach the internal network.
DMZ
The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a network segment located between an organization's internal and external networks. It serves as a buffer zone to protect sensitive internal resources from direct external access. Publicly accessible services such as web servers, mail servers or DNS servers, which are required by external users, are typically placed in the DMZ. This arrangement makes it possible to control and monitor traffic to and from these services, while restricting access to internal systems. By deploying firewalls and other security mechanisms in the DMZ, organizations can ensure that only authorized traffic can reach internal networks. This ensures the security of your critical assets.
Access control
Because cloud data centers house a large amount of sensitive data and critical infrastructure, it is essential to limit physical access to authorized personnel. Measures such as biometrics, surveillance cameras and access control systems ensure that only authorized personnel have access to server rooms. Access should be minimal and tightly controlled. A log should be kept of who enters and leaves which areas. In addition, the identity of authorized personnel should be verified on a regular basis.
Data segregation
Segregation refers to the separation of data into isolated areas to control access to sensitive information and minimize potential security risks. By clearly separating different data sets or applications, compromising one part of the system does not automatically grant access to more sensitive data. This improves attack resistance and protects against data leakage. Data segregation mechanisms include virtual networks, access control lists and encrypted databases.
Virus scanner
Virus scanners and other security software are essential for detecting and removing malware before it can cause damage. In a cloud environment, virus scanners are used to monitor files and data streams in real time and identify potentially harmful content. Regular scans and constant updates to virus definitions can detect and block emerging threats. By integrating virus scanners into your cloud security infrastructure, you can proactively prevent malware infections and ensure the integrity of stored data. This software should be regularly updated to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) protects endpoints such as computers, laptops, servers and mobile devices from advanced threats. Unlike traditional antivirus programs that focus on detecting known malware, EDR focuses on monitoring and responding to suspicious behavior on endpoints in real time. By continuously capturing and analyzing endpoint activity, EDR solutions are able to identify unknown or novel attacks. With integrated incident investigation, forensic analysis and automated response capabilities, security incidents can be detected faster and the impact of attacks minimized.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is an evolution of EDR that provides a more holistic view of an organization's security. In addition to monitoring and responding to endpoints, XDR integrates data from multiple security controls and data sources, including endpoints, networks, cloud services and applications. By correlating and analyzing comprehensive security data, XDR can better identify correlations and attack vectors across different parts of the IT infrastructure.
Internal processes and rules
Internal processes and policies define clear guidelines for the secure use of data and resources. This includes defining access rights and controls, enforcing security policies and reporting suspicious activity or incidents. Internal processes should also ensure that authentication and authorization mechanisms are properly configured to prevent unauthorized access. Regular training and awareness programs inform employees about current threats and promote security-conscious behavior. Adherence to compliance regulations and regular reviews of internal security measures ensure a robust cloud security strategy.
Employee training
The human factor has a significant impact on security. Employees should be trained to be aware when handling sensitive data and cloud resources. Training must include topics such as strong password practices, recognizing phishing attacks, proper use of access privileges and the use of encrypted communications. Training on current threats and cloud security best practices should be regularly updated to keep pace with the threat landscape.
Defending against attacks in the cloud is a complex process that involves technical, physical and organizational measures. Only by taking a holistic approach can organizations ensure that their data and applications in the cloud are protected from the ever-growing threat landscape.
3. Intruder detection
Despite all precautions, it is almost impossible to prevent all attacks in advance. Continuous monitoring of traffic and system activity is essential for detecting and responding to suspicious activity.
This chapter focuses on two key aspects of intrusion detection: Traffic Analysis and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).
Traffic analysis
Traffic analysis involves the continuous monitoring of data traffic between different network components and the analysis of network protocols in order to detect anomalies and suspicious patterns.
Protocol analysis
Analyzing network protocols such as TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, and others enables the detection of unusual activity and anomalies. Abnormal packet sizes, unusual port usage or suspicious data transfer patterns can indicate attacks or security breaches. In this way, protocol analysis helps to identify security incidents early and take appropriate countermeasures.
Anomaly detection
Anomaly detection is based on comparing current network activity with normal behavioral patterns to identify potentially harmful or anomalous processes. In the cloud, anomaly detection enables a proactive response to security threats before they can cause serious damage. By continuously monitoring and analyzing network behavior, vulnerabilities can be identified and security measures can be optimized.
Real-time monitoring
By continuously monitoring network activity, traffic and system status in real time, you can immediately detect and respond to deviations from normal patterns or suspicious activity. This requires powerful tools and alerting mechanisms that enable immediate responses to suspicious activity. Cloud integration services for API, for example, make this possible.
Analysis of traffic patterns
Traffic pattern analysis provides insight into the normal behavior of traffic flows. By closely examining these traffic patterns within a network, it is possible to identify anomalous activity that may indicate potential security risks. Analysis includes the evaluation of data flows, communication protocols, and transmission patterns to detect suspicious or anomalous activity. This can help identify not only known attack patterns, but also new, previously unknown threats.
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Intrusion Detection Systems
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) continuously monitor network traffic and activity in real time to identify unusual or suspicious patterns that may indicate potential security breaches. IDS can also flag previously unknown threats through their ability to detect anomalies in traffic. By integrating IDS into the cloud security architecture, organizations can respond early to potential security incidents, take countermeasures and maintain the integrity and availability of their cloud infrastructure.
Signatures and heuristics
Signatures are predefined patterns or characteristics that represent known attack signatures, while heuristics are based on behavioral analysis to identify unknown or novel threats. Signatures serve as a reference point for known attack patterns and enable accurate detection of such patterns in network traffic. Heuristics, on the other hand, analyze the behavior of activities and identify anomalies that indicate potential threats.
Network sensors
are equipped with network sensors that monitor all traffic on the network by analyzing data packets and checking for potential anomalies or threats. These sensors act as sentinels, detecting specific patterns or suspicious activity. This allows IDS to not only respond to specific attack signatures, but also use behavioral analysis to identify previously unknown threats.
Reaction mechanisms
Response mechanisms in IDS ensure an immediate and appropriate response to detected security incidents. When a threat is identified, the IDS can trigger automated responses, such as blocking suspicious IP addresses, isolating affected systems, or sending alerts to security personnel. This integration of response mechanisms enables rapid containment of attacks, minimizes potential damage and supports recovery of the cloud infrastructure.
Logging and reporting
Logging refers to the recording of all relevant activity, including detected attacks, suspicious patterns and IDS responses. Reporting uses this logged information to generate detailed analysis, trend reports and alerts. This systematic approach helps to track security incidents while enabling continuous improvement of security measures by identifying patterns and vulnerabilities.
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a technology that collects, centralizes and analyzes log data from multiple sources to detect and respond to potential security incidents. SIEM platforms provide capabilities such as event correlation, alerting, forensic investigation, and compliance reporting. By integrating SIEM with endpoint detection and response (EDR, see virus scanner) and other security solutions, organizations can build a comprehensive security monitoring and response capability.
By combining network sensors, signatures, heuristics and response mechanisms, IDS enables proactive detection and effective defense against security threats. The integration of logging and reporting enhances these capabilities.
4. Proof of effectiveness
Cloud security is not just about implementing security measures, it is also about being able to monitor, prove and continuously improve the effectiveness of those measures. Certifications such as ISO 27001, ISAE 3402 and TISAX, as well as external vulnerability testing, give organizations and their partners and customers confidence in the effectiveness of their cloud security measures.
Certifications
Certification plays an important role in cloud security, particularly as a means of validating the effectiveness of security measures. By obtaining industry-specific security certifications, such as ISO 27001 for Information Security Management Systems, organizations can demonstrate that they meet high security standards. These certifications demonstrate that the cloud infrastructure is adequately protected against security threats and meets industry-specific requirements. As a result, they not only provide external validation of the security measures in place, but also increase customer and partner confidence in the company's security practices. SEEBURGER has regularly received the following certifications confirmed by an independent third-party. The individual security measures taken by SEEBURGER are described in detail in a Statement of Applicability:
ISO 27001
ISO 27001 certification is an important demonstration of the effectiveness of an information security management system (ISMS). This international standard sets out clear requirements and best practices for managing information security. ISO 27001 certification for cloud service providers demonstrates that an organization has implemented robust security controls and processes to adequately protect information. This includes aspects such as risk management, physical and logical security, access control and continuous improvement of security practices. Companies that achieve ISO 27001 certification demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the highest standards of security in the cloud.
ISAE 3402 (International Standard on Assurance Engagements 3402)
ISAE 3402 is an international standard for the examination of service organizations. This certification confirms that the security controls and processes of service organizations that manage critical business processes or data are effective. With ISAE 3402 certification, a cloud service provider signals to its customers and stakeholders that it provides a transparent and trusted environment for sensitive data and business processes.
TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange)
TISAX is an industry-specific assessment scheme for information security in the automotive sector. This certification is particularly relevant for companies that offer cloud services for the automotive industry. TISAX covers specific requirements for security and data protection in the cloud and is recognized by automotive manufacturers and suppliers.
Security Scorecard
A security scorecard provides a visual representation of the security posture and evaluates various aspects such as network security, privacy practices, identity management and compliance with security standards. With regular updates, organizations can continuously monitor and improve their security performance. These scorecards not only serve as an internal tool for the security team, but can also provide transparency to customers and partners about the security measures in place. The Security Scorecard demonstrates that SEEBURGER is protected against cyber crime and has implemented appropriate measures.
External vulnerability testing
External vulnerability testing is performed by independent security experts or organizations to identify and proactively close potential vulnerabilities in the cloud infrastructure. These tests not only provide detailed insight into existing security risks, but also serve as an important indicator of the effectiveness of the protections in place.
Penetration testing
Penetration tests, also known as pen tests, are simulated attacks in which ethical hackers attempt to exploit security vulnerabilities to penetrate the cloud infrastructure. By identifying vulnerabilities and potential security gaps, penetration testing enables an accurate assessment of attack resilience. This provides a clear picture of potential security risks and can also serve as a valuable basis for improving and adapting security measures.
Vulnerability scans
Vulnerability scanning checks the network, applications, and systems for known security issues and identifies potential vulnerabilities and security gaps in the cloud infrastructure. This enables early detection of potential attack vectors, allowing security teams to take proactive measures to address vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability scans can help identify existing risks as well as help to ensure that the security measures in place are appropriate for the current threat landscape.
Ethical hacking
Ethical hacking takes pen testing a step further by allowing authorized security professionals to specifically look for vulnerabilities in the cloud infrastructure. The difference between ethical hacking and criminal hacking is that ethical hacking is performed by experts who work with the organization to uncover potential attack vectors. This hands-on approach allows organizations to isolate and proactively address existing vulnerabilities.
Continuous improvement
In the face of a volatile threat landscape and ever-changing attack methods, organizations must continually review and optimize their security practices. This includes regularly evaluating security policies, training employees, updating security patches and adapting security measures to new findings from security analysis.
Updating security guidelines
Periodic review of security policies and processes is essential to staying ahead of emerging threats. This process ensures that security policies keep pace with the volatile threat landscape and the demands of evolving cloud technologies, while meeting regulatory requirements for data protection and compliance.
Training and Awareness
Through targeted training, employees can be made aware of current security risks and trained in good security practices. This includes topics such as recognizing phishing attacks, strong password practices, handling sensitive data and using secure communication channels. Ongoing training ensures that employees are aware of the latest security policies and procedures, and creates a company-wide awareness of the importance of security at all levels of the organization.
Incident response planning
An effective incident response plan enables organizations to respond quickly and efficiently to security incidents. Regularly reviewing and updating the incident response plan ensures that it meets changing threats and requirements. This includes identifying weaknesses in the plan by simulating security incidents, updating contact information and responsibilities, and incorporating new lessons learned and best practices. Special teams, described in more detail in chapters 6 and 7, are responsible for preparing for emergencies.
Proving the effectiveness of cloud security measures does not end with a single implementation. It is an ongoing, living process that adapts to the changing security landscape and relies on certifications, vulnerability testing and continuous improvement to address emerging threats.
5. Analysis of (new) hazards
Attack methods and security risks are constantly changing, and cyber criminals are always looking for new loopholes to exploit. Organizations need to continually review and adapt their security measures to remain effective. This chapter focuses on analyzing (new) threats to ensure cloud security.
Ongoing review of measures
The continuous review of the measures taken ensures that the cloud infrastructure is always up to date in terms of security. Important aspects of this process include
Vulnerability management
Vulnerability management involves regularly assessing and updating security policies and scanning systems for known and potential new vulnerabilities. This proactive approach aims to close any security gaps before they can be exploited by attackers.
Incident response exercises
In addition to the incident response planning mentioned above, regular incident response exercises should be conducted. This ensures that the team is well prepared for security incidents and can respond effectively. The goal of these simulated security incidents is to test the team's ability to respond, refine processes, and incorporate lessons learned into the incident response plan. These hands-on exercises not only prepare organizations for emergencies, but also ensure that response mechanisms are continually improved to proactively address emerging threats.
Adjusting the measures
Technologies and attack methods are constantly evolving. As a result, organizations must continuously identify and assess new threats. This enables security teams to use the knowledge gained to dynamically adapt security measures to new threats.
Threat intelligence
Threat intelligence is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of information about current and emerging threats. It enables the proactive identification of new attack patterns, vulnerabilities, and criminal tactics so that security professionals can respond to evolving threats, optimize defenses, and strengthen the resilience of the cloud infrastructure.
Security policies and guidelines
Security policies and processes should be flexible and responsive to current threats, while providing clear and actionable guidance for maintaining security standards. As new risks are identified, appropriate policies should be developed or updated.
Technological adaptations
The selection and implementation of security technologies should be agile to respond to emerging threats. This includes integrating advanced security technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and behavioral analytics to detect emerging threats early. Threat analysis also requires an agile approach to deploying security patches, regularly training security personnel and adapting policies to changing requirements.
It’s a dynamic process that responds to an ever-changing threat landscape. Only through a continuous process of monitoring, adaptation and improvement can organizations ensure that their cloud infrastructure is armed against emerging risks and attacks. Modern security technologies and approaches help organizations identify and address new threats early on.
6. Availability of security experts at SEEBURGER
Cloud security is a complex topic, especially in light of the changing threat landscape. This makes access to qualified security experts particularly important, because only experts are able to properly assess security risks, develop security strategies and react accordingly in an emergency. SEEBURGER has defined management level roles that are responsible for the security measures of SEEBURGER Cloud Services. The following SEEBURGER security experts ensure that the data and integration provided via the SEEBURGER BIS Platform in the cloud are always secure:
Corporate Information Security Officer (CISO)
The CISO is the key person for information security in an organization and has the primary responsibility for all information security issues and incidents: • Recruitment and Qualification: The CISO is responsible for recruiting qualified security professionals and ensuring that they have the necessary qualifications and experience. • Security Strategy: The CISO develops and implements a comprehensive security strategy that ensures sufficient resources are available for the availability of security professionals. • Budgeting: The CISO works closely with senior management to establish the information security budget and ensure that sufficient funds are available to hire and maintain security professionals. The CISO is the key person for information security in an organization and has the primary responsibility for all information security issues and incidents:
- Recruitment and Qualification: The CISO is responsible for recruiting qualified security professionals and ensuring that they have the necessary qualifications and experience.
- Security Strategy: The CISO develops and implements a comprehensive security strategy that ensures sufficient resources are available for the availability of security professionals.
- Budgeting: The CISO works closely with senior management to establish the information security budget and ensure that sufficient funds are available to hire and maintain security professionals.
Data Protection Officer (DPO)
The DPO is responsible for all data security issues and incidents:
- Monitoring privacy requirements: The DPO ensures that privacy requirements are met and that sufficient privacy professionals are available to meet the requirements.
- Ensure compliance: The DPO works closely with the CISO to ensure that all security measures comply with applicable privacy regulations.
- Incident Response: The DPO plays a key role in the identification and management of data privacy incidents and ensures that qualified experts are available to respond to such incidents.
Change Advisory Board (CAB)
The CAB is responsible for approving changes to the services:
- Security Assessment of Changes: The CAB should ensure that all proposed changes to the services undergo an appropriate security assessment and that security experts are available to perform these assessments.
- Emergency Change Resources: The CAB should ensure that, in the event of emergency changes, qualified security experts are readily available to review the security of the changes.
Security Officer (IT Sec)
The IT Security Officer is specifically responsible for all IT security issues and incidents:
- Security Monitoring: The IT Security Officer is responsible for the continuous monitoring of IT security and ensures that qualified security experts follow up on alerts and incidents.
- IT Security Incident Management: The IT Security Officer coordinates and oversees IT incident management and ensures that IT incident response teams are adequately trained and available.
- Budgeting: The IT Security Officer works closely with business and IT management to establish the IT security budget and ensure that sufficient funds are available for IT security measures and IT security professionals.
Emergency Change Advisory Board (ECAB)
The ECAB is responsible for approving changes in the event of an emergency:
- Emergency Response: The ECAB ensures that qualified safety experts are available to evaluate and ensure the safety of emergency changes in the event of an emergency.
Service Operation Center (SOC)
The Service Operation Center (SOC) is a central facility in an organization's security infrastructure responsible for continuously monitoring, analyzing and improving security processes and systems. The SOC plays a critical role in ensuring the security of an organization's data and resources by detecting and responding to potential threats. The key functions of the SOC include:
- Monitoring and improvement: The SOC continuously monitors security processes and systems and identifies areas where additional security experts or resources may be required.
- Early warning and response: The SOC proactively responds to security incidents by generating alerts, investigating security incidents and taking appropriate countermeasures.
- Continuous Improvement: The SOC continually evaluates the effectiveness of the organization's security controls and processes and makes recommendations for improvement.
7. Four security layers for security within SEEBURGER Cloud Services
We ensure the security of SEEBURGER Cloud Services at both the management level and in day-to-day operations through dedicated teams.
Data center operator
The data center operator is responsible for ensuring physical, network and server security.
Service operations and monitoring
The service operations and monitoring team ensures that systems and applications delivered through the cloud can be identified and corrected.
Release management and support
The release management and support team ensures that security patches and updates are implemented in a timely manner to address potential security vulnerabilities.
BIS QA & development
The BIS development team is responsible for the secure development of SEEBURGER's own software and compliance with security standards.
