Why Data is the New Center of Gravity in a Connected Cloud Security Ecosystem>
Sentra.io – Catherine Gurwitz
Major data breaches in organizations like Discord, Northern Ireland Police, and Docker Hub have demonstrated the significant impact of security risks on sensitive data.
While security teams have access to various cloud security tools like Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP), and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), the real focus should be on understanding and assessing the data itself.
For instance, let’s consider a configuration issue detected in an S3 bucket.
To accurately assess the risk, it becomes essential to determine the nature of the data stored within the bucket, its sensitivity, and how it aligns with the organization’s specific security policies.
These factors are critical in determining the true extent of the risk.
Neglecting to understand the data would result in an incomplete assessment, lacking the necessary contextual depth.
The importance of understanding data sensitivity lies in its impact on risk severity.
Sensitive data raises the level of alertness and the priority given to data-related risks.
This is where Sentra’s innovative technology comes into play.
Sentra automatically assigns risk scores to vital data risks within an organization.
This empowers security teams and executives with a comprehensive view of the sensitive data at risk.
Furthermore, Sentra enables deep analysis, even down to the code level, to uncover the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Sentra’s automated risk scoring is built upon a rich data security context that encompasses several layers:
1.
Data Access: It considers who has access to the data and how it is governed.
2.
User Activity: It analyzes the actions that users perform with the data.
3.
Data Movement: It tracks how data flows within a complex multi-cloud environment.
4.
Data Sensitivity: It evaluates the level of sensitivity associated with the data.
5.
Misconfigurations: It identifies any errors or misconfigurations that could potentially expose the data.
By considering all these aspects, Sentra creates a holistic picture of data risk and forms a comprehensive foundation for data risk assessment and prioritized risk scoring.
Contextualizing data risk is crucial for accurate risk prioritization and scoring.
Adding the layer of data sensitivity, with its nuanced scoring, enriches this context and provides a more detailed perspective of the risk landscape.
This integrated security system empowers security leaders by offering a clear view of their exposure to risks while providing actionable steps for risk reduction.
The value of this approach becomes evident when security professionals are equipped to proactively manage and monitor risk.
The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) gains insights into the organization’s vulnerabilities and the means to address them effectively.
Data security platforms, like Sentra, seamlessly integrate with the workflows of risk owners, facilitating timely action and eliminating bottlenecks and unnecessary back-and-forth with security teams.
The connection between cloud security and data is profound and is shaping the future of cybersecurity practices.
Adopting a data-centric approach enables organizations to harness the full potential of the cloud while safeguarding their most valuable asset: their data.
Link: https://www.sentra.io/blog/why-data-is-the-new-center-of-gravity-in-a-connected-cloud-security-ecosystem