Alexis Kestler
Migrating data to the cloud provides agility but also introduces new risks. As recent surveys show, data breaches due to cloud misconfigurations are on the rise.
According to a 2022 Netwrix study, 91% of IT professionals said their organizations suffered a cloud data breach due to employee mistakes like oversharing data or poor access controls.
The consequences of these breaches can be severe. A 2022 IBM report found that the average cost of a cloud data breach is $4.8 million!
So how can you secure your sensitive data across cloud platforms? A cloud data protection platform is a critical part of the answer.
In this article, I‘ll share insider guidance to help you evaluate and implement an effective cloud data protection strategy with the right platform for your needs.
The Growing Threat Landscape in Cloud Environments
Before diving into features and selection criteria, it‘s important to understand common risks to cloud data:
Data Breaches
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Misconfigurations – A study by DivvyCloud found that over 80% of breaches were caused by cloud misconfigurations. Simple mistakes like oversharing files or buckets can expose data.
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Compromised credentials – Cybercriminals target privileged credentials to gain access to cloud accounts and exfiltrate data.
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Insider threats – Employees or cloud admins may intentionally or accidentally leak data.
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Vulnerabilities – Flaws in cloud provider environments can enable attackers to access company data.
Ransomware
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Limited visibility – Lack of visibility into cloud account activities enables ransomware to encrypt data before detection.
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Lateral movement – Malware can spread quickly across connected cloud environment resources and services.
Regulatory Non-Compliance
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Data residency – Data stored in unauthorized regions can violate geographic restrictions.
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PII exposure – Personally identifiable information (PII) left unprotected breaks mandates like HIPAA and GDPR.
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Audit failures – Inability to monitor access, changes and permission management can hinder compliance audits.
Key Capabilities of Cloud Data Protection Platforms
Cloud data protection platforms address these risks through a suite of integrated capabilities:
Data security
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Encryption (in transit, at rest) safeguards data from unauthorized access
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Access controls restrict data access to least privilege
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Activity monitoring continuously audits read/write operations
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DLP prevents accidental data leaks and malicious exfiltration
Threat prevention
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Anomaly detection spots unusual account behavior and potential ransomware
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Threat intelligence feeds detect known attack patterns and security events
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Anti-malware and URL/spam filtering blocks trojans, viruses and phishing links
Backup and recovery
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On-demand + scheduled backups provide multiple restore points
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Data recovery rapidly restores after incidents like ransomware or data loss
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Disaster recovery maintains business continuity during cloud outages
Compliance
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Classification tools identify sensitive or regulated data like PII
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Policy engines automate data retention, legal hold enforcement
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Audit trails track user activity for forensics and reporting
Cloud platform support
- API integration secures leading platforms like AWS, Azure, GCP, Salesforce
Key Selection Criteria
With so many vendors now offering data protection platforms, distinguishing the best solutions for your environment comes down to a few key considerations:
Deployment Models
- SaaS – Fast time-to-value but less customization
- Cloud-native – Leverages native cloud provider services
- Hybrid – Integrates on-prem and multi-cloud resources
- Multi-cloud – Unified controls across cloud platforms
Evaluate which model best aligns to your existing infrastructure and strategy.
Platform Coverage
Prioritize support for all cloud platforms used in your environment like AWS, Office 365, Salesforce, Box, Slack etc. API integration is key for robust coverage.
Automation Capabilities
Look for highly automated tools that simplify cloud management like auto-discovery of data, policy recommendations, and one-click recovery workflows.
Security Integration
Opt for platforms that integrate with existing security tech like firewalls, SIEMs, access management to maximize your current investments.
User Experience
Well-designed interfaces and dashboards enable admins and users to quickly manage policies, respond to alerts and track activity.
Top Vendors To Consider
While many solutions exist, these top platforms stand out based on analyst reviews and customer ratings:
Microsoft Azure Data Protection
Microsoft‘s robust native platform seamlessly integrates data protection across Azure services with encryption, backup, compliance and disaster recovery tools.
Commvault Complete Data Protection
Commvault consolidates data security, compliance and management for on-prem and multi-cloud environments including AWS, Azure, GCP and SaaS apps.
Druva Phoenix
This SaaS platform from Druva unifies data protection via backup, disaster recovery and cybersecurity tools like insider threat detection – with over 4,000 global customers.
Veeam Backup and Replication
Used by over 400,000 businesses globally, Veeam protects virtual, physical and cloud workloads across VMware, Hyper-V, AWS, Azure and GCP.
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
This unique solution combines data protection with integrated cybersecurity tools including anti-malware, vulnerability scans and patch management.
Best Practices for Implementation
When rolling out your chosen platform, follow these tips:
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Start with a limited pilot to validate functionality before broad deployment
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Configure policies based on data criticality – more stringent controls for sensitive data
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Integrate platform alerts with existing SOC/NOC workflows for efficient response
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Provide user training on new data protection policies and procedures
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Perform regular disaster recovery drills to verify recoverability
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Continuously tune policies as cloud usage patterns evolve
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Leverage customer support and managed services if needed for specialized configurations
Go Beyond Just Technology to Fully Secure Cloud Data
While powerful, data protection platforms are only part of a complete cloud security strategy. You should also:
- Classify data by sensitivity to tailor protections
- Implement least privilege access and zero trust controls
- Continuously monitor configurations for compliance
- Provide employee education on cloud security best practices
- Perform risk assessments of cloud usage and data flows
A multi-layered strategy combining preventative tools, platform safeguards, and strong policies is key to avoid becoming the next cloud data breach statistic.
As your organization adopts the cloud, make data protection a priority. Finding the right platform tailored to your environment provides peace of mind that your data is safeguarded from both external and insider threats.
Reaching out to vendor specialists and other experts can provide guidance in product selection and implementation planning. With the right platform in place, you can realize the full benefits of the cloud for your business while keeping data secure.
