As multicloud architectures become increasingly prevalent, maintaining strong security has grown more challenging than ever. This article outlines eight key strategies for businesses looking to protect their cloud systems. Learn how to streamline security governance, minimize blind spots, and secure your environment across diverse cloud platforms for a unified and secure multicloud setup.

Establish centralized security leadership

A single team should handle your overall security strategy, coordinate policies, assess risks, and facilitate compliance across all cloud environments. By assigning clear leadership in this area, you can avoid fragmented security efforts and streamline your approach to risk management.

Create a unified governance model

To minimize complexity and prevent security gaps, implement a unified multicloud security governance framework that includes centralized identity management, visibility tools, and automated policy enforcement. Standardizing security controls across your cloud providers guarantees that security measures are applied uniformly, reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening overall defenses.

Broaden your security strategy beyond native tools

Each cloud provider offers its own suite of security tools, but relying solely on these app-specific offerings can leave gaps in your defense. A multicloud setup needs a broad, unbiased security approach that covers all data across platforms and applications. Adopting cross-cloud security tools and practices helps you avoid inconsistencies and cover all potential risks.

Focus on trust boundaries

Instead of viewing each cloud as a standalone entity, integrate all your environments — including on-premises infrastructure — into a single, unified trust boundary. A trust boundary is a point where a system differentiates trusted from untrusted areas, safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring overall security. With this approach, you can concentrate on securing critical elements such as user identities, data, and system behaviors across all platforms. 

Implement collaborative security management

Adopt a multidisciplinary approach where cloud specialists, security engineers, and IT administrators work hand in hand to properly align and effectively implement security policies to meet organizational objectives. For example, IT administrators can work with cloud specialists to monitor and identify vulnerabilities in the system. Security engineers can then work with both teams to implement necessary fixes and updates. 

Develop a cross-platform detection and response plan

Threats in multicloud environments are easy to miss because of the multitude of logs and tools on different platforms. To protect your systems, adopt a unified detection and response strategy that brings together alerts and activity from all your cloud platforms. Automated systems can help you quickly spot real threats, respond efficiently, and reduce the risk of overwhelming alert fatigue.

Minimize possible points of attack with strict access controls

Reduce the risk of unauthorized access by establishing robust access controls across your multicloud environments. Use short-lived sessions for cloud access, incorporate session recording, and apply additional security measures such as data loss prevention. Restricting access to sensitive resources and isolating sessions can further prevent malicious actors from infiltrating your systems.

While managing security across multiple cloud platforms can be challenging, these tips can guide you in creating a strong, unified defense strategy. For more cloud and technology tips, contact our team today.