When it comes to cloud security, many organizations rely on tools that can provide visibility into vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in cloud environments, and that's about it. If a tool can only tell you what the problem is – but without preventing adversaries from exploiting it – is it really an effective security solution?
The answer is no. How did we get here and what is the solution? Let's dig.
“Alphabet Soup” is a security tool
As more organizations move their operations to the cloud, adversaries follow suit. Cloud intrusions have grown steadily over the past decade. In 2023, we saw a 75% increase in cloud intrusions and a 110% increase in the number of cloud-aware adversaries.
The security response to this rise in cloud-focused attacks has been fragmented. Cloud security strategies and trends have come in waves, along with a dizzying array of cloud solutions. The space has become crowded with a wide range of tools: CNAPP, CWP, CSPM, CIEM, CDR, ASPM, DSPM… the list goes on. Many organizations are wondering how all of these solutions fit together.
Often, they don't. Each solution addresses a different aspect of cloud security. Putting together a set of point solutions may work to solve specific problems, but it will not achieve a comprehensive security posture – or the ultimate goal of stopping breaches.
Point solutions are too fragmented to protect integrated, ever-changing cloud environments. The rapid pace of continuous integration and continuous delivery development (CI/CD) lifecycles, coupled with the proliferation of multi-cloud configurations, has made point solutions unable to keep up with the evolving attack surface and threat activity.
Even most CNAPPs, the latest iteration of comprehensive security posture, were never designed to stop breaches. They are developed as visibility tools to detect misconfigurations and vulnerabilities across cloud environments. This is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for truly securing the cloud. To secure the cloud, organizations need the right mix of cybersecurity technology, threat intelligence and professional services delivered as a unified solution, focused on stopping breaches.
Cloud detection and response
If stopping breaches is the ultimate goal (which is indisputable, in my opinion), the focus should be on cloud detection and response.
Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) is a security approach designed specifically for cloud environments that focuses on threat detection, immediate incident response, and service integration. It's designed to handle the fluidity of the cloud, leveraging real-time data and cloud-native threat hunting capabilities to protect cloud environments.
