As many forward-thinking organizations embrace the transformational potential of innovative cloud architectures- new dimensions of risk are emerging, centered around data privacy, compliance, and the protection of sensitive data. This shift has catapulted cloud data security to the top of the Chief Information Security Officer's (CISO) agenda.
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At the Gartner Security and Risk Management summit, Gartner cited some of the pressing priorities for CISOs as safeguarding data across its various forms, adopting a simplified approach, optimizing resource utilization, and achieving low-risk, high-value outcomes. While these may seem like a tall order, they provide a clear roadmap for the future of cloud security.
In light of these priorities, Gartner also highlighted the pivotal trend of integrated security systems. Imagine a holistic ecosystem where proactive and predictive controls harmonize with preventative measures and detection mechanisms. Such an environment empowers security professionals to continuously monitor, assess, detect, and respond to multifaceted risks. This integrated approach catalyzes the move from reaction to anticipation and resolution to prevention.
In this transformative ecosystem, we at Sentra believe that data is the gravitational center of connected cloud security systems and an essential element of the risk equation. Let's unpack this some more.
It's All About the Data.
Given the undeniable impact of major data breaches that have shaken organizations like Discord, Northern Ireland Police, and Docker Hub, we all know that often the most potent risks lead to sensitive data.
Security teams have many cloud security tools at their disposal, from Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) to Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB). These are all valuable tools for identifying and prioritizing risks and threats in the cloud infrastructure, network, and applications, but what really matters is the data.
Let's look at an example of a configuration issue detected in an S3 bucket. The next logical question will be what kind of data resides inside that datastore, how sensitive the data is, and how much of a risk it poses to the organization when aligned with specific security policies that have been set up. These are the critical factors that determine the real risk. Can you imagine assessing risk without understanding the data? Such an assessment would inevitably fall short, lacking the contextual depth necessary to gauge the true extent of risk.
Why is this important? Because sensitive data will raise the severity of the alert. By factoring data sensitivity into risk assessments, prioritizing data-related risks becomes more accurate. This is where Sentra's innovative technology comes into play. By automatically assigning risk scores to the most vital data risks within an organization, Sentra empowers security teams and executives with a comprehensive view of sensitive data at risk. This overview extends the option to delve deep into the root causes of vulnerabilities, even down to the code level.
Prioritized Data Risk Scoring: The Sentra Advantage
Sentra's automated risk scoring is built from a rich data security context. This context originates from a thorough understanding of various layers:
- Data Access: Who has access to the data, and how is it governed?
- User Activity: What are the users doing with the data?
- Data Movement: How does data move within a complex multi-cloud environment?
- Data Sensitivity: How sensitive is the data?
- Misconfigurations: Are there any errors that could expose data?
This creates a holistic picture of data risk, laying a firm and comprehensive foundation for Sentra's unique approach to data risk assessment and prioritized risk scoring.
Contextualizing Data Risk
Context is everything when it comes to accurate risk prioritization and scoring. Adding the layer of data sensitivity – with its nuanced scoring – further enriches this context, providing a more detailed perspective of the risk landscape. This is the essence of an integrated security system designed to empower security leaders with a clear view of their exposure while offering actionable steps for risk reduction.
The value of this approach becomes evident when security professionals are empowered to manage and monitor risk proactively. The CISO is armed with insights into the organization's vulnerabilities and the means to address them. Data security platforms, such as Sentra's, should seamlessly integrate with the workflows of risk owners. This facilitates timely action, eliminating the need for bottlenecks and unnecessary back-and-forth with security teams.
Moving Forward
The connection between cloud security and data is profound, shaping the future of cybersecurity practices. A data-centric approach to cloud security will empower organizations to harness the full potential of the cloud while safeguarding the most valuable asset: their data.
