Every business has a responsibility to protect clients’ data and ensure their service is reliable. However, that responsibility isn’t just moral but legal and cloud security compliance is the result of that. As cloud storage and processing became commonplace, the law has caught up, resulting in new regulations for the industry.
It’s obviously not an option to ignore them or run a business without meeting all relevant cloud security standards. Doing so would run the risk of major fines or having your company shut down. On the flip side, compliance can be genuinely difficult, as you have to tick all the boxes for a variety of regulations, some of which you might not even know about.
This is why today’s guide from JetBase will expand on the concept of cloud computing security compliance and teach you how to meet those regulations. We’ll discuss the necessary tools, the relevant standards, and how to guarantee your company is compliant. This will give you the insight to navigate the legal framework and serve your clients successfully. Let’s get started.
What Is Cloud Security Compliance?
So, before we head too deep into the topic, what is cloud security compliance? Simply put, it’s all the processes you initiate in your company to follow data regulations. They range from researching the relevant laws to implementing encryption to posting data processing disclaimers.
Each company has its own needs here, depending on their location and the services they provide. Сompliance in the cloud varies greatly due to countries having their own specific regulations. The end goal, though, is always the same. When a company implements cloud security standards, it’s looking to:
If you think that all of this seems a bit complicated, it is. However, the standard governing bodies for cloud data compliance do try to make things a bit easier. The International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission both do work in this field.
Thanks to these two organizations, many standards have somewhat obscure names, such as ISO/IEC 27017:2015. Thankfully, behind a non-descriptive name is usually a very clear and detailed instruction on what the standard entails and how a company can follow it.
The good thing about these standards is that they apply to everyone. Even giants like Amazon have to follow them. Any company offering SaaS, IaaS, or PaaS is subject to these regulations, which level the playing field for everyone.
But why do companies do so much for cloud security compliance, and how does one achieve a high enough level of compliance? Read on to find out as we talk about the consequences of not following regulations.
Responsibility for Neglecting Cloud Security and Compliance
New standards for cloud security compliance are being made regularly, improving on existing frameworks and ensuring that cloud providers are “playing fairly.” What’s the reason that pushes companies to follow these guidelines strictly, and what do they actually need to do? Let’s explore this.
Well, one big reason is that having your ISO certifications attracts business, as few clients will want to work with a company that isn’t verified by legal authorities. With the EU making new rules on data portability and privacy, it’s becoming apparent that violations will not be tolerated. That is unless you want to pay 4% of your global turnover for not following the rules.
The hefty fines are a surefire way to guarantee companies will stay in line and follow the rules of compliance in the cloud. However, most businesses also do so because they value their reputation and commitment to clients. Legally speaking, you’re responsible for any data you process or data that customers store on your cloud. So, enabling proper security practices is essential.
Cloud Compliance Tools and Frameworks
Now it’s time to talk about tools that will help you with cloud security compliance. Their core use cases are for already established environments where the software works to seal off any gaps in security. There is a lot of variety in the market, but we’ll list the most popular ones.
Sophos Cloud Optix
Cloud Optix is a prominent cloud security and compliance software that uses AI to optimize and automate processes in the cloud. It’s certainly not the cheapest option but Cloud Optix has other advantages to make up for the hefty price tag. For example, it has one of the broadest sets of certifications out there, meaning it’s useful for companies in almost any region.
What’s somewhat problematic here is that Cloud Optix is a very complex solution, meaning you’ll need specialized staff to handle it, and training may take a while. Also, it’s designed for use in popular public clouds and doesn’t fit custom, private deployments. It’s still a great tool for cloud computing compliance, but not without its cons.
Drata
With nearly 1.7 million users, Drata is a massive name in cloud security compliance. One big point we’ll mention right away is flexible pricing, as each company gets its own quote. Do note that the software is a bit fragmented, with access to different certifications locked away. Therefore, companies that wish to conquer multiple markets will pay much more for the tool.
Now, what is cloud compliance without automation? A big slog, to put it mildly. Thankfully, Drata is one of the best options for hands-off compliance processing. Real-time monitoring and risk assessment help understand when your team needs to intervene and what should be prioritized.
SentinelOne Singularity
SentinelOne’s Singularity is technically formerly known as PingSafe, but the post-acquisition tool is much different from its previous iteration. Both are great solutions for cloud security and compliance, but the modern incarnation is sleek and corporate-friendly. It’s certainly not a cheap offering, but the numerous awards speak for the quality of Singularity and justify the cost.
What’s great about Singularity is the in-depth analysis of risks and automated alerts, which help find potential issues before they snowball. It’s also focused on uncovering the roots of problems so that you don’t run into the same problem over and over again. All in all, a solid tool.
Cloud Security Compliance Standards and Regulations
We’ve talked at length about why compliance is important and who creates the standards that rule this field. But it’s also important to dissect the most common regulations to highlight their inner workings. Here are just a few standards you’ll likely need to follow.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
If you’ve done any business in the EU, you’ve heard this abbreviation before. GDPR is always brought up as a major regulatory force and it’s no wonder. It requires companies to:
- Control data storage and limit it to EU territories
- Curtail data collection and keep it to the barest minimum
- Set a strict timer on how long user data is kept
- Provide points of access and control for users
This somewhat complicates cloud security and compliance, though GDPR is a healthy regulation to have. It’s so popular that it influenced the UK’s Data Protection Act, and it’s quite likely that other regions will adopt similar legislation as well. Making your cloud compliant with GDPR is just good foresight at this point.
ISO 27000 Series
It should be familiar to you unless you sneakily skipped one of the above sections. This branching tree of standards and regulations has one of the biggest influences on businesses. For example, a company that isn’t ISO 27001-compliant (the world's best-known standard for information security management systems) might as well have a big sign on it that says “Not secure.”
Each of these standards regulates a different section of operations, from risk management to cybersecurity. But they all converge to create a web of practices that you must follow in order to make your cloud truly secure and compliant legally.
PCI DSS
The last cloud security compliance regulation we want to mention is PCI DSS, also known as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. The name is rather self-explanatory, as this regulation concerns the processing and storage of credit card data. It consists of twelve rules for keeping your cloud secure and card data protected.
Most of the rules boil down to common sense: encrypting information, hashing confidential data, using a cloud firewall, and enabling multi-factor authentication. These are all straightforward operations for cloud security compliance, making PCI DSS kind of a great way to start your compliance journey. If you follow its requirements, you’ll find yourself with a good, secure cloud.
Cloud Compliance Best Practices
There are other ways to secure your cloud, ones outside of specific protocols that regulations dictate. Before we round off our coverage of cloud security compliance, we’ll share the most meaningful ones with you.
Encryption and Tiered Access
In 2024, there are no excuses for not having your data, especially confidential client data, encrypted at rest and in transit. Similarly, giving too many employees access to this information is not something a present-day company should do. So use modern, secure encryption protocols and establish a system where staff has limited, flexible access. That way, you can avoid leaks and data breaches, including internal ones.
Continuous Monitoring
Creating a set of checks and automated verification processes will help ensure your security doesn’t have any gaps in it. This is where software is most useful, as its automation functions will do the work for you, as well as make routine risk assessments possible. The whole process greatly simplifies compliance in the cloud and helps keep an eye out for problems.
Storage and Sharing Policies
While external regulations are a good foundation to structure your security around, it’s also important to set in-house rules. Create protocols for data storage, including special situations such as clients that fall under GDPR or HIPAA. Outline what the procedure will be if you need to share some information or transfer it to another cloud, highlighting ways to secure the processes.
Stay Compliant With JetBase
We’ve demonstrated the deep, complex field of cloud security compliance and the nuances of working with the necessary standards. It’s apparent that the multi-layered nature of this process and the diverse regulations make it a bit difficult for a company to navigate. Thankfully, you do not have to do it alone.
JetBase is a company with more than a decade of experience in the market, and our core values as a team are:
We’ve worked in fields ranging from cybersecurity to medicine, always addressing the tricky questions of data protection. In our work on health mobile apps, we tackled HIPAA and tiered access for medical staff. As a result, we’ve learned how to be flexible in dealing with cloud compliance standards and implementing modern solutions for these regulations.
Meanwhile, our projects for SaaS platforms had us working with general cloud security compliance standards. Every time, we managed to not only keep the platforms fully compliant but also develop them with care and refinement. This is why our customers are always satisfied, and their projects succeed, following legal requirements and best practices.
Our experience with cybersecurity also speaks for itself, as we implemented multi-tenant solutions, containerized processes, and fostered a secure environment. Combining everything into one platform while keeping it optimized isn’t an easy task. But the JetBase team isn’t afraid of challenges. We cherish the opportunity to work hard and solve unusual tasks in cloud security and compliance.
If you want to see the same kind of care and respect shown to your own project, reach out to us. JetBase is happy to offer consultations on cloud security compliance and help implement necessary measures to keep your company compliant. You’ll secure your cloud, meet regulations, and witness professionals at work. Just send us a message, and let’s get started.
