The Cloudflare Blog: Introducing Access for Infrastructure: SSH

Source URL: https://blog.cloudflare.com/intro-access-for-infrastructure-ssh
Source: The Cloudflare Blog
Title: Introducing Access for Infrastructure: SSH

Feedly Summary: Access for Infrastructure, BastionZero’s integration into Cloudflare One, will enable organizations to apply Zero Trust controls to their servers, databases, Kubernetes clusters, and more. Today we’re announcing short-lived SSH access as the first available feature of this integration.

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The text discusses Cloudflare’s integration of BastionZero, particularly focusing on the introduction of Access for Infrastructure as part of their SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) platform. This feature enhances Zero Trust controls for managing access to servers and other infrastructure components, addressing the challenges associated with traditional privileged access management (PAM) solutions.

Detailed Description:

– **Integration Announcement**:
– Cloudflare has integrated BastionZero to provide advanced security features within its SASE platform.
– This integration emphasizes Zero Trust principles, particularly in managing privileged access to critical infrastructure.

– **Access for Infrastructure Features**:
– Introduces short-lived SSH (Secure Shell) access initially with plans to support other infrastructure access methods like RDP and Kubernetes.
– Addresses common issues with existing access solutions by providing:
– **Security**: Reduces risks associated with long-lived credentials by introducing short-lived SSH certificates.
– **Usability**: Simplifies credential management with a unified experience that mirrors PAM solutions.

– **Zero Trust Application**:
– Promotes a comprehensive application of Zero Trust principles which include the following:
– **Access Control**: Connect users to infrastructure via a global network.
– **Authentication**: Offers alternatives like SSO (Single Sign-On) and MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) to replace traditional credential management.
– **Policy-Based Authorization**: Allows granular control over who can access what infrastructure and under what conditions.
– **Auditing**: Implements command logs and session recording for compliance and security monitoring.

– **Security Risks with SSH**:
– SSH is highlighted as a commonly used protocol for remote server management but poses significant security risks if not managed properly.
– Risks include the potential for credential compromise and unauthorized access due to poor tracking and management of SSH credentials.

– **SSH Certificate Authority (CA)**:
– Implements a Cloudflare-managed SSH CA to issue short-lived certificates, significantly mitigating the risks associated with static credentials.
– Provides a framework for managing user privileges based on defined policies in the Cloudflare dashboard.

– **Centrally Managed Policies**:
– Provides organizations with the ability to define strict policies on user access to infrastructure, significantly enhancing security by managing privileges centrally.

– **SSH Command Logs Capture**:
– Discusses how Cloudflare captures detailed logs of SSH commands through an innovative proxy that intercepts connections, allowing organizations to retain visibility over user actions.

– **Deployment**:
– The setup requires minimal effort for existing Cloudflare One customers, as it integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure.

– **Future Enhancements**:
– Cloudflare promises to continue integrating more features from BastionZero, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing security in its SASE offering.

This information emphasizes the significant strides Cloudflare is making towards securing infrastructure through Zero Trust and integrating advanced access management capabilities. Security and compliance professionals in the fields of AI, cloud, and infrastructure can leverage these developments to enhance their infrastructure security posture.