Cloud computing is a part of everyday life, but we only really hear about it when things go wrong. A high-profile data breach. A security leak. User error. No-one’s writing breaking news articles with headlines like ‘The Vast Majority of Cloud-Based Services Seem to Be Doing Great. Carry On’.
It’s usually a misunderstanding of where the provider’s job ends and your job begins. The truth’s that cloud service providers invest massive amounts into making their platforms airtight.
In this guide, we’ll dive into the reality of cloud security and debunk some of the biggest myths.
Myth vs Reality: The inherent security of cloud services
If cloud-based services weren’t secure, they wouldn’t make any money. No one would use them for enterprise-level activity, which is where the real commercial value lies. While challenges exist, most platforms use an overlapping web of security protocols to keep data safe.
Modern encryption and authorization standards
These include things like Secure Sockets Layer or Transport Layer Security (protocols that encrypt communication between a web server and the client’s browser), OAuth, or Open Authorization (an authorization framework that enables third-party services to securely access resources without sharing credentials) and Security Assertion Markup Language (an XML-based standard for exchanging authentication data between identity providers and service providers).
These layers ensure that your cloud print management environment remains protected from unauthorized access.
Understanding the ‘Shared Responsibility Model’
Like nearly everything else online, many cloud breaches come down to simple user error. This brings us to something called the ‘Shared Responsibility Model’, a concept used to delineate the responsibilities of your cloud service provider (CSP) and the end user.
After all, any digital system is only as secure as the person actually using it.
Provider vs Customer duties
The provider is responsible for the underlying physical data centers and networking. They manage security for storage and databases. Customers are responsible for securing their data within that environment, and this includes configuring access controls and authentication.
Advanced threat protection
Cloud providers use a variety of threat protection features to keep your data safe – these aren’t just static tools. Providers constantly refine their solutions to counter emerging vulnerabilities and ensures your print infrastructure remains resilient.
Intrusion detection and Endpoint Response
Systems monitor network traffic for signs of malicious activity in real time. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions monitor servers and desktops for malware. This gives admins visibility over infected devices so they can quarantine them.
Data encryption: At rest and in transit
There’s a big difference between protecting stored data, and data being moved between clients and servers. That’s why you’ll often hear this distinction between data ‘at rest’ (sitting snug in a server bank) or ‘in-transit’ (moving over a network). Cloud service providers use a bunch of different encryption techniques to protect both these sets of data.
For data at rest, CSPs generally rely on things like encryption algorithms and keys, to make sure that, even if unauthorized people gain access to the physical storage, they can’t access the data without a decryption key. There are also robust key management systems to generate, store and protect encryption keys.
For data in transit, you need security protocols like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or – even better – Transport Layer Security (TLS). These protocols are what protect your data when it’s moving from the server to the client, or vice versa.
CSPs also use things like mutual authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of both the client and the server during the SSL/TLS handshake.
The impact of regulatory compliance
One reason modern cloud systems are so secure, and rely on redundant, overlapping forms of security, is that they’re legally obliged to be that way.
The law differs depending on the location of the cloud provider, but legislation like the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) have literally changed the game on cloud security.
These days, many governments around the world have introduced or updated their cyber legislation, enhancing consumer protections and enshrining cloud-security protocols in law.
Cloud service providers vs on-premise security
There’s no way to say whether cloud security or on-premise security is ‘better’. It’s like comparing a combination lock to a padlock: both perform the same job, just in slightly different ways.
Cloud security does come with certain advantages, like specialized expertise, dedicated security teams, scalability and cost-effective disaster recovery. It’s generally seen as a more flexible, scalable, and affordable security framework.
On the other hand, on-premise security and private servers give you maximum control over your security environment. This includes direct physical control, i.e. literally locking your servers behind a closed door. It’s a good way for organizations to maintain total data sovereignty.
Of course, it does tend to be much more expensive and lacks the flexibility of the cloud environment. In other words, if you want more storage, you have to physically store it.
The role of AI and predictive analysis
AI is playing an increasingly important role in cloud security. AI-powered threat detection systems use machine learning to crunch huge sets of behavioral data. They quickly identify deviations or anomalies in real time to prevent breaches.
Amazon’s GuardDuty is a great example. It uses machine learning to crunch huge sets of behavioral data, quickly identifying deviations or anomalies in real time. AI can also analyze historical data and trends to predict future security threats, and this is sort of the brave new frontier of cybersecurity: predictive analysis. Identifying threats before they even emerge.
Regular audits and compliance checks
Cloud service providers undergo rigorous audits and compliance checks to make sure they’re sticking to legislative and industry standards. This has been the case for a while.
Some of the most common checks include SOC 2 Type II (Service Organization Control 2), which is a widely used auditing standard, especially in the US. SOC 2 checks the effectiveness of your cloud provider’s control methods, their security, process integrity, confidentiality, and data privacy measures.
Other standards include ISO 27001 (the international standard for information security management) and HIPAA (the legal requirements for cloud providers that handle sensitive health data).
As we mentioned above, audits and compliance aren’t just something CSPs get to do when they feel like it: it’s usually mandated by legislation or industry regulations.
A strategic shift for your infrastructure
Choosing between cloud and on-premise isn’t about which is inherently better. It’s about your tolerance for risk and your need for agility. By investing in a secure cloud system, you’re building a network that supports long-term growth.
Ready to secure your cloud print network?
Speak with our sales team to see how PaperCut can help you bridge the gap between legacy hardware and a secure cloud-native future.
