Cloud Security Testing

SaaS Testing is a software testing process in which the software application built in a Software as a Service model is tested for the functional as well as non-functional requirements. The goal of SaaS testing is to ensure the quality by testing data security, integrity, performance, compatibility and scalability of the software application.

The four areas of cloud security are as follows:

• Visibility and compliance.
• Compute-based security.
• Network protections.
• Identity security.

1. Visibility and compliance-
The visibility layer reduces the visibility for unauthorized persons. One of the main elements of zero-trust computing is continuous improvement. An efficient cloud security solution should enable continuous insight into the entire cloud environment, thereby creating the opportunity for ongoing improvement. That involves several steps: Asset inventory. Every agency needs an overall inventory of what it has in the cloud- like servers, cloud provider services, users and cloud tools like load balancers. This is especially necessary while using multi-cloud solutions from different providers. A centralized inventory of all cloud-based assets establishes management overhead, however it?s complicated and manually comprehensive to develop and maintain. The finest security solution would automate the integrated inventory process. Most agencies will follow one or many available security frameworks (such as those from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, ISO 27001, or others) that provides a detail on how a secure cloud environment looks like. Using these frameworks for assessment helps determine what controls are needed to secure data and endpoints. Although these tools are helpful, they can be complex or confusing for IT professionals who lack deep security knowledge. It helps to possess a cloud security resolution that automates framework implementation and provides continual coverage and rectification controls. Data security. An efficient security solution will accurately classify its data and its level of severity. It should also provide controls that stipulate where specific data types can reside, such as in a software-as-a-service application or cloud-provider storage, whether or not data is publicly exposed and who may access it
2. Compute-based security-
Manages the security of end systems. The second pillar involves providing security for end systems, managed services or different workloads running inside the cloud ? commonly called platform as a service. This compute-level security has 2 key parts. 1st is machine-driven vulnerability management, that identifies and prevents vulnerabilities across the complete application lifecycle whereas prioritizing risk for cloud-native environments. The other key component is ongoing operational security, involving anything considered to be a compute engine or compute workload. Effective cloud security needs inspecting activity mechanically and ceaselessly to discover any abnormal or malicious activity.
3. Network protections-
Provides network security to your data. Protecting the network is traditionally integral to on-premises environments but is equally vital for the cloud. There are two major parts of network protections. One is micro segmentation, a technique of making zones to isolate workloads from each other and secure them one by one. This is at the center of zero trust. By putting up roadblocks between applications and workloads, micro segmentation makes it much more difficult for would-be attackers to move laterally from one infected host to another. The method employs containerization and segmenting the application itself in order to minimize any damage. For example, an organization may have numerous applications running in one cloud environment, some of which support a civilian workforce and others that support sensitive or even classified information. Since the two application types cannot be combined together, micro segmentation can keep them at different classification levels, ensuring no overlap. The other essential part of network protection applies to the live ?inline? flow of traffic. Instead of providing a border round the cloud, like with a standard on-premises setting, network protection extends the border right down to the user level. A cloud security resolution ought to enable licensed users to firmly access cloud-based knowledge they have whereas providing threat visibility into what activities they're performing.
4. Identity security-
Limits the usage of data and devices from unrestricted access. The fourth pillar involves mapping user and machine identities to what they're licensed to really do on the network. A cloud security resolution ought to make sure that users are solely able to access the applications they have at the amount they have to perform their jobs whereas making certain the machines will solely communicate with different machines required to accomplish their application. Comparable to micro segmentation, identity security is another integral part of zero trust. These four pillars are the foundational needs for comprehensive cloud security. It?s a multi-layered approach that can't be satisfied by one technology, CASB or different resolution. During this unpredictable time of remote work, as agencies are increase cloud adoption, shift IT practices, while continuing to face persistent cyber adversaries, implementing a holistic framework that includes every pillar is essential for bigger cloud security and achieving a zero-trust network.