Cloud cybersecurity using threat modeling is a proactive approach that identifies potential threats and suggests preventive measures before deployment in the dynamic and virtual cloud environment. This method transforms cybersecurity from being reactive to proactive, making it integral to maintaining a secure cloud infrastructure.
Cybersecurity was challenging enough when software and systems resided on your physical hardware and on your premises. Then along came the cloud. There’s no doubt about the benefits of deploying in the cloud. There are low startup costs, no hardware maintenance, quick and easy scale-up, etc. But, these benefits come with an increase in cybersecurity complexity. And that’s because the cloud is different.
How the Cloud is Different
What’s different about the cloud? Everything is software. Everything is virtual. And everything is dynamic. And it can be challenging to protect things that aren’t real and always changing. As RedHat points out, “Cloud-native technologies such as Kubernetes, containers, microservices, and service meshes have become tremendously popular because they provide the building blocks necessary for organizations to build, deploy, and run cloud applications more dynamically, reliably, and at greater scale than was previously possible.” One other thing that’s different in public clouds is the shared security responsibility model. From CIS Security, “In the public cloud, there’s a shared responsibility between the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) and the user (you). Security for things like data classification, network controls, and physical security needs clear owners. The division of these responsibilities is known as the shared responsibility model for cloud security.” So, in the cloud, things are virtual and dynamic and you have at least some responsibility for security. You’re going to need a little help.
How CloudModeler Helps
We’ve written many times about the necessity to do threat modeling, even when not deploying in the cloud. Threat modeling turns cybersecurity from reactive to proactive. It identifies threats and suggests compensating controls prior to deployment. Using industry lingo, it shifts left application security. This need to shift left is just as important in the cloud, but it’s no longer enough. Because the cloud is so dynamic and because DevOps is a continuous lifecycle of iterations, shifting left must be accompanied by continuous monitoring. And that’s where CloudModeler comes in. CloudModeler is a threat modeling tool specifically designed for cloud environments. First, CloudModeler automatically creates threat models of your AWS or Azure operational cloud environments (GCP coming soon). In just minutes, it designs and threat models your live cloud environment and builds a detailed visual representation of the resources and architecture currently deployed. Second, it keeps the operational threat models synced with the live environment in real-time. In this way, it automates drift discovery and alerts for drift when there are changes, so you can respond in near real-time with the appropriate controls. If you want to strengthen your cloud security and turn DevOps into DevSecOps, you need to automate security in the cloud the same way you automate cloud infrastructure with Infrastructure-as-Code (e.g., AWS CloudFormation). You need a tool that can automate security AND do continuous monitoring of the dynamic cloud environment. You need CloudModeler. To learn more about CloudModeler, reach out to ThreatModeler here. We’re happy to answer any of your questions or give you a free demo if you prefer.
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FAQs About Threat Modeling for Cloud Applications
What makes cloud cybersecurity complex compared to traditional systems?
The complexity in cloud cybersecurity arises from the fact that everything in the cloud is software-based, virtual, and dynamic, as opposed to traditional systems where software and systems resided on physical hardware and premises. This makes it challenging to protect things that are constantly changing and not physically tangible.
What is the shared security responsibility model in public clouds?
The shared security responsibility model in public clouds is a system where both the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) and the user share security responsibilities. Responsibilities such as data classification, network controls, and physical security need clear ownership between the CSP and the user.
What is threat modeling and why is it important in cloud security?
Threat modeling is a proactive cybersecurity approach that identifies threats and suggests compensating controls prior to deployment. In the context of cloud security, due to the cloud’s dynamic nature and the continuous lifecycle of DevOps, threat modeling needs to be paired with continuous monitoring for optimal security.
What is CloudModeler and how does it aid in cloud security?
CloudModeler is a threat modeling tool specifically designed for cloud environments. It automatically creates threat models of operational cloud environments, such as AWS or Azure, and maintains real-time synchronization with the live environment. It alerts users when changes occur, thereby enabling near real-time responses with appropriate controls.
How can CloudModeler help transform DevOps into DevSecOps?
CloudModeler helps to transform DevOps into DevSecOps by automating security in the cloud, just as cloud infrastructure is automated with Infrastructure-as-Code. It not only automates security but also continuously monitors the dynamic cloud environment, turning DevOps into a security-focused operation, known as DevSecOps.
