Source URL: https://www.tenable.com/blog/cisa-and-nsa-cloud-security-best-practices-deep-dive
Source: CSA
Title: Cloud Security Best Practices from CISA & NSA
Feedly Summary:
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: Recent guidance on cloud security from CISA and NSA outlines five key best practices designed to enhance security in cloud environments, including identity and access management, key management practices, network segmentation, data security, and managing risks from third-party providers. These practices align with CIS benchmarks and emphasize strategies such as least privilege and minimizing attack surface area.
Detailed Description: The text discusses recent cloud security guidance provided by CISA and NSA, highlighting best practices essential for organizations operating in cloud-first, multi-cloud, or hybrid environments. The content focuses on reducing risks associated with critical attack vectors impacting cloud computing services. Below are the major points elaborated:
– **Best Practices Overview**: The guidance encompasses five cybersecurity information sheets (CSIs) that specify cloud security measures to adopt:
– **Use Secure Cloud Identity and Access Management Practices**:
– Importance of access controls, particularly in public cloud environments.
– Emphasizes MITRE tactics used by attackers to gain access through phishing and inadequate MFA.
– Promotes least privilege and separation of duties.
– **Use Secure Cloud Key Management Practices**:
– Discusses encryption methodologies and secure maintenance of keys.
– Highlights necessary ties between Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategies and Key Management Services (KMS).
– Provides recommendations for managing keys effectively and securely across different cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).
– **Implement Network Segmentation and Encryption in Cloud Environments**:
– Advocates for robust network segmentation and a “deny by default” firewall strategy.
– Discusses the importance of encryption-in-transit to protect sensitive data across networks.
– Differentiates between micro-segmentation and macro-segmentation as key practices for workload isolation and security.
– **Secure Data in the Cloud**:
– Outlines types of cloud storage (file, object, block) and emphasizes encryption both in-transit and at-rest.
– Stresses the importance of data access controls, recommending data loss prevention (DLP) systems for sensitive data environments.
– **Mitigate Risks from Managed Service Providers in Cloud Environments**:
– Addresses risks associated with external contractors and managed service providers.
– Encourages strong auditing, access controls, and the use of MFA to safeguard cloud environments managed by third parties.
Overall, the text emphasizes the necessity for organizations to adopt a strong security posture in their cloud operations, underscoring key practices that align with industry benchmarks such as those provided by CIS. It serves as a significant resource for professionals in AI, cloud, and security infrastructures looking to strengthen their cloud security measures and comply with regulatory expectations.