Security for Cloud Computing: Essential Practices and Strategies
Security for cloud computing demands more than just basic controls. This post outlines common mistakes, essential tools like SIEM and XDR, and expert tips to help you secure your cloud environment and meet evolving compliance obligations.
Published June 2, 2025.
Securing cloud infrastructure is no longer optional. As your organization moves more workloads to the cloud, so does the potential exposure to risks ranging from misconfigurations to compliance gaps. These vulnerabilities can lead to serious data breaches, financial losses, and operational disruptions if not addressed properly. Maintaining a strong security posture means being intentional about how you manage access, detect threats, and respond to incidents.
In this blog, we’ll walk through essential practices and strategies to help you manage your security for cloud computing with more confidence and control. Whether you’re just starting your cloud journey or looking to strengthen existing defenses, these insights aim to guide you toward a safer cloud environment.
» New to cloud security? Contact our experts for a customized and rigorous compliance audit
What Is Security in Cloud Computing?
Security in cloud computing refers to the set of technologies, policies, and procedures used to protect data, applications, and infrastructure associated with cloud services.
» Learn more about mastering cloud security and the best practices to implement
5 Reasons Why Cloud Security Is Important
- Protects against data breaches: Securing access and encrypting data prevent unauthorized breaches that could cause severe financial and reputational damage.
- Compliance with regulations: Implementing proper security measures ensures your organization meets industry laws, helping avoid costly fines and legal issues.
- Guards against cyber threats: Advanced protections detect and block ransomware, DDoS, and other cyberattacks before they disrupt your cloud services.
- Preserve business continuity: Robust cloud security reduces the risk of outages and interruptions, keeping your operations running without costly downtime.
- Enhances customer trust: Demonstrating strong security practices reassures customers their sensitive data is safe, boosting confidence and long-term loyalty.
» Make sure you know how to deal with ransomware
Protect Your Cloud, Protect Your Business
Ensure your cloud workloads are secure and compliant with comprehensive security assessments and monitoring.
On-Premises Security vs. Cloud Security
| Aspect | On-Premises Security | Cloud Security |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Organizations maintain full control over infrastructure, configurations, and access points. | Control is shared between the cloud provider and the client, requiring clear boundaries and understanding. |
| Responsibility | The company is solely responsible for all aspects of security, from physical access to software updates. | Security responsibilities are split under a shared responsibility model, which can lead to confusion or gaps if not clearly defined. |
| Visibility | Full internal visibility is possible, allowing direct oversight of systems and data. | Visibility can be limited by provider infrastructure, making it harder to monitor everything directly. |
| The Complexity of Threats | Threats are more localized and often limited to internal environments. | Cloud environments face broader, more dynamic threats, including insecure APIs, misconfigurations, and insider access. |
| Scalability and Updates | Scaling requires hardware investment and careful planning, but updates can be slower and manual. | Cloud platforms offer rapid scalability, but frequent updates and changes increase the need for constant security vigilance. |
| Target for Attackers | Less visible to external attackers unless poorly configured. | Cloud providers are high-profile targets, making breaches more attractive to cybercriminals. |
| Proactive Measures | Relies on internal monitoring and security teams to identify and respond to threats. | Requires continuous monitoring, real-time alerts, and advanced detection tools to stay ahead of threats in real-time. |
3 Security Threats in Cloud Environments
The following three security threats dominate cloud environments while showing distinct characteristics between public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments.
1. Misconfigured Cloud Services
Misconfigured cloud applications pose a major security risk, often requiring little technical skill to exploit. Many breaches result from simple human error rather than targeted attacks.
In one notable case, a misconfigured Amazon S3 bucket belonging to a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles County exposed 3.5 million sensitive records, including credentials, email addresses, and Social Security numbers—making them publicly accessible without authentication.
Such data can fuel social engineering or further intrusions. Misconfigurations can also impact containers and APIs, allowing attackers to manipulate or delete applications, potentially disrupting business operations and causing significant harm to organizations.
» Did you know? The cloud might not be safe anymore
2. Insecure APIs
APIs play a key role in cloud automation, but it can create serious security vulnerabilities if not properly secured. Public cloud environments typically expose a higher number of APIs, which increases the risk of attacks such as credential theft and DDoS. Private and hybrid clouds expose fewer APIs, but they are still at risk due to inconsistent management practices.
Common API threats include:
- Injection attacks
- Broken authentication
- Insecure communication
- Compromised API keys
- Lack of input validation
- Poor access controls
- Insufficient monitoring
To reduce these risks, organizations need to implement strong authentication, encryption, access controls, and continuous testing across all environments.
» Choose the best encryption method for your data: Asymmetric vs. symmetric encryption
3. Account Hijacking
Cloud account hijacking remains a major threat, often caused by phishing, credential stuffing, or weak authentication methods.
Risks by cloud type
- Public clouds are more vulnerable because of their wide range of access points.
- Private clouds offer more control but still face risks from poor password practices.
- Hybrid clouds introduce further complexity through federated identities—meaning a single compromised account can affect multiple connected systems.
Hijacking incidents can lead to data exposure, reputational harm, compliance violations, and financial damage.
Preventive steps include enforcing IP restrictions, enabling multi-factor authentication, and regularly checking both provider security measures and access controls for personnel.
» Protect yourself from internet vulnerabilities by understanding phishing attacks
Security Strategies for a Secure Cloud Migration
Conduct a Risk and Compliance Assessment
Before migrating to the cloud, assess the security and compliance landscape of your current infrastructure to identify risks and ensure the cloud provider meets relevant industry standards (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR).
» Here are the things you should know before hiring a risk assessment provider
Implement Strong Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Establish a robust IAM framework with role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce the principle of least privilege. Use multi-factor authentication to secure admin accounts and configure IAM for both on-premise and cloud environments during migration.
» Curious about securing your cloud strategy? Learn how to stay compliant with DoD cloud security requirements
Third-Party Tools for Enforcing Security Posture
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- SIEM platforms collect and analyze security event data from hybrid and multi-cloud environments to provide centralized visibility.
- They use AI to correlate log events both in real-time and historically, helping detect threats and support compliance reporting.
- Automation and visual analytics speed up incident response, reducing detection and remediation times.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
- XDR platforms unify threat detection by collecting data from endpoints, networks, servers, and cloud workloads into a single system.
- AI links multiple security events to reveal attack chains, improving detection accuracy and enabling better threat prioritization.
- Automated responses, like isolating affected devices or blocking malicious IPs, help contain threats quickly and minimize damage.
» Learn more about AI's role in the future of cybersecurity
Mistakes and Solutions When Securing Cloud Environments
| Mistake | Consequences | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Misconfigurations: Organizations often misconfigure cloud resources by leaving storage buckets or databases publicly accessible. | These misconfigurations increase the risk of data leakage and exploitation by attackers. | Regularly audit your cloud environment, restrict public access to sensitive data, and correctly configure security groups and network access controls. |
| Inadequate IAM: Poorly implemented IAM exposes cloud environments to unauthorized access. | This can result in data breaches, compliance violations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), financial losses, and business interruptions. | Implement strong access controls, enforce MFA, manage privileged accounts carefully, and maintain thorough logging and auditing to secure your cloud environment. |
Take Note: A cloud-specific incident response plan must align with the shared responsibility model, clearly outlining roles, escalation paths, and procedures for cloud-native threats like API abuse or credential leaks. It should include detailed steps for evidence collection, containment, remediation, and internal/external communication.
» Worried about your startup's security? Here are some cyber tips for your startup plan
Best Practices for Managing Compliance and Legal Obligations in Your Cloud Environment
- Implement data classification policies: Your organization should categorize data based on sensitivity — public, internal, confidential, or regulated. This helps apply the right security controls like encryption and access restrictions to protect sensitive information effectively.
- Apply access management controls: Use IAM to enforce role-based access and the least privilege principle. This limits who can access sensitive data and reduces the risk of insider threats or breaches.
- Maintain a compliance registry: Keep an up-to-date registry of all legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations relevant to your cloud setup, including GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Assign responsibility for compliance oversight to ensure nothing is missed.
- Monitor regulatory changes continuously: Regularly track global updates to laws and regulations. Update your internal policies and cloud configurations accordingly to stay compliant as requirements evolve.
- Foster collaboration between teams: Encourage ongoing communication between your legal and IT departments. This partnership ensures practical and proactive management of compliance obligations.
Remember: Compliance is not just a legal necessity. By meeting regulatory standards, your organization demonstrates ethical practices, strengthens stakeholder confidence, and supports broader goals like environmental and social governance
» Futureproof your data privacy by combining ISO 27001 and ISO 27701
Secure Your Cloud
GRSee supports your compliance efforts with customized strategies to ensure your systems meet evolving legal and regulatory requirements.
How GRSee Supports Security for Cloud Computing
When it comes to security for cloud computing, GRSee Consulting is your trusted partner. We collaborate with your organization to secure cloud environments through customized cloud security assessments, strong access controls, and real-time threat detection that swiftly identifies and addresses risks. Our approach aligns with compliance frameworks such as GDPR and ISO 27001, helping you reduce risk and stay audit-ready.
As an AWS Qualified Security Assessor with extensive penetration testing skills, we provide clear guidance and structured solutions to strengthen your security program. From incident response planning to ongoing monitoring and proactive threat management, we at GRSee are committed to supporting your journey toward a safer, more compliant cloud infrastructure. Whether you're migrating to the cloud or optimizing an existing environment, we're here to help you build with confidence.
» Start taking control of your cloud security—contact GRSee today
