Introduction
Data security has become a top priority for organizations utilizing cloud services in 2024. As more sensitive data is stored in the cloud, evaluating and selecting cloud service providers (CSPs) based on their data security capabilities is crucial. There are several key factors to consider when determining how well a CSP protects your data.
Compliance with Regulations and Standards
CSPs should comply with relevant data protection laws and industry standards. Adherence signals a baseline level of security.
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GDPR – CSPs operating in the EU must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation requirements around data processing, breach notifications, and subject rights.
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ISO 27001 – This information security standard indicates a CSP has comprehensive policies, procedures, and controls in place. Certification is ideally validated by third-party auditors.
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CIS Benchmarks – Published by the Center for Internet Security, these benchmarks provide prescriptive guidance on securing cloud platforms. CSPs should meet or exceed recommendations.
I will evaluate a CSP’s level of compliance with major regulations and standards as a crucial part of my vendor selection process in 2024. Non-compliance poses a red flag.
Encryption and Key Management
CSPs should implement robust encryption, key management, and access controls to protect data at rest and in transit.
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Encryption algorithms – AES 256-bit encryption or higher should be used for encrypting stored data and communications.
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Key management – Keys should be securely generated, stored, and rotated based on sound cryptographic practices.
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Access controls – Strict access controls must govern who can view decrypted data. CSP personnel should not have default access.
When evaluating CSPs, I will require details on their encryption, key management, and access control mechanisms. Insufficient safeguards in these areas will disqualify a vendor.
Network Security and Monitoring
CSPs must have defense-in-depth network security protections and continuous monitoring in place.
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Firewalls – Next-gen, web application, and host-based firewalls should all be implemented.
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IPS/IDS – Intrusion prevention and detection systems provide real-time monitoring for threats.
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SIEM – Security information and event management tools aggregate and analyze logs from all systems.
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Vulnerability scanning – Networks and applications should be continuously scanned for vulnerabilities using SAST, DAST, and SCA tools.
I will validate that CSPs implement modern network security controls like firewalls, IPS/IDS, SIEM, and vulnerability scanning. Lax protections create risks.
Incident Response and Business Continuity
Mature incident response and business continuity capabilities minimize data loss and downtime.
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IR plans – CSPs should have documented incident response plans that are regularly tested.
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Data backups – Backups should facilitate quick restoration of data in the event of corruption or deletion.
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DR plans – Detailed disaster recovery plans should enable failover to redundant sites if needed.
During evaluation, I will confirm that CSPs have robust incident response and business continuity plans for dealing with cyberattacks, outages, and data loss. Immature capabilities will be dealbreakers.
Third-Party Risk Management
CSPs must vet and monitor third-parties like vendors and subprocessors that handle your data.
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Due diligence – CSPs should screen third-parties before engagement and reassess periodically.
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Contract terms – Data protection responsibilities for third-parties should be defined in contracts.
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Oversight – CSPs need to regularly audit third-parties for compliance with security policies.
I will investigate a CSP’s third-party risk management program, including due diligence, contract terms, and oversight activities. Insufficient controls over data access by third-parties raises risks.
Conclusion
Evaluating the data security maturity of CSPs will be critical for my organization in 2024. I will thoroughly vet CSP capabilities in compliance, encryption, network security, incident response, business continuity, and third-party risk management before selecting a vendor to handle our sensitive data. CSPs unable to meet my requirements will be disqualified.
