Practical approaches to Cloud-Native Security

Practical approaches to Cloud-Native Security - cloud-native security services can be approached through a more practical approach. These cloud-native security services …

Technology and its very omnipresence have brought around a lot of changes in our lives which makes it exemplary and revolutionary. Even the smallest of things can now be better transpired with the help of technology. Volumes of information flow on the internet every day which makes our modus operandi easier but going there we also have various level of security threats to this information that are broadcasted on some or the other level in multiple platforms.

This information runs the threat of getting construed in a negative manner which may bring in bad experiences and consequences. Eavesdropping from suspected cybercriminals can cause havoc in your life, and better infrastructure should be put in place to tackle this.

There have been some security patches in place for the various architectures that are being deployed nowadays to improve the protection. To talk of these kinds of protection, most of them are of the traditional types which will lack in some of the necessary firmware which is needed to tackle these kinds of malware.

Cloud-Native applications or building applications that are cloud-based and are stored in various containers is the new go-ahead for the many organizations that are there and which gives them a new level of security.

Explaining Cloud-Native Security

Conventional methods are better being given up for new ways of dealing with threats. Nowadays, applications are being built on the point of action of cloud-based services that are being provided by the various software services companies. A change in architecture in the form of Microservicesare being put to work in the process of the previously used Monolithic ones.

Traditional ways of producing software services are being given up in the form of DevOps, which is a set of software development practices that enhance the delivery of services which is fast-paced and is more reliable. You can update it frequently without any much glitches. Such high-level interaction with codes to implement such methods will give rise to various levels of security threats.

These enterprises should employ security formulas in the most innovative manner which will save them from further discrepancies. These can be discussed under:

Repair

Malware which is the primary node of security fears feed on misconfigured or unpatched software. Sometimes these misconfigured patch takes many days to get repaired ad it is occasionally difficult to ward off the problem, but with a Cloud-Native Security’s mitigation approach, the vulnerable software can be moderated as soon as any new updates are available.This lucid approach to implement security in this manner will boost the architecture which will be implemented and with further updates, it can be made more reliable.For example, in case of your Anti-virus that you use on your Desktops, you have to cater to daily updates of the Anti-virus so that it will guard you against any new kind of threat which is looming on you. It repairs any risks that it detects and makes a protective screen against the dangers that might affect you at large.

Repave

Restoring our system from advanced persistent threats can be tough and can be carried out to the very minimum to some extent. Repaving the servers and applications from a good state will help you to improve its condition and extend its lifeline. It’s preventing yourself from a known threat by using specific preventive measures.Take the example of Anti-Virus in this too, the firewalls that it creates is just like repaving the various security levels that it has for us.

Rotate

Sometimes the precautions that we take can lead to some of the other leakages which might lead to some grave consequences which we would never like to face. The information that gets leaked is known as credentials. Here, we can rotate the credentials which will make it useful for a short period.For example, using encryption for your valuable information which changes from time to time will make it hard for hackers to decode. Faster technological innovations also lead to faster implementation of architecture which can be sometimes done through a lackluster manner which makes it all the more vulnerable to discrepancies. Cloud-based services are the new cool amongst the industrial enterprises, therefore, protecting them against the large anomalies that loom because of it following the container style architecture is very important.With these 3 R’s, cloud-native security services can be approached through a more practical approach. These cloud-native security services are borrowed from the cloud-native development services of the various software services that have been implemented.

Build up a “Cloud-Native Security”

It refers to some of the essential cloud-native apps which you can deploy by building them up with basic architecture related to this. Here are some of the primary ways in which you can authorize that.

OAuth (Open Authorization)

This framework allows an HTTP service to the third-party application via minimal service. It is either done by architecting an interaction between the resource owner and the HTTP service or by allowing the third to do that. Directly speaking, OAuth allows a user’s account information to be used by third-party applications without hampering much of the user credentials.Information from platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are given to them but which is well construed with security patches.

OpenID Connect

It is one notch above the OAuth authorization framework and is capable of giving additional authentication capabilities to provide a further protective security patch to the framework.

OpenID Connect also aims at reducing the complexity that is built by avoiding XML and SOAP overheads as seen in the cases related to SAML. It is authenticated by third-party services which are known as identity providers. Users get to choose their preferred OpenID providers to easily to log into the apps or systems that accept the OpenID authentication scheme.

SAML (Security Assertion Mark-up Language)

It is an XML-based open standard data format which is used for exchanging authorization and authentication data. This work is basically between a Service Provider that hosts Web Applications and an Identity Provider which maintain and provide an electronic identity for their authentication and processes. The best example for this is LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, and other such sites.The structure provides authentication and authorization processes for users over a growing world of a dynamic and static pool of platforms. It enables a better and robust platform in a cloud-native way by implementing independent roles to platforms of web applications. It allows a more robust platform by giving way to separate access to the web applications by going on the rounds of a cloud-native way. This doesn’t need the positioning of IT teams to look after it always.

Where the security patches are applied

The designers and architects go for cloud-native application development by adhering to some factors. In this manner, they build and implement the specific external configuration in a stateless way.

Some of the basic design approaches related to the cloud-native application are as follows:

Fixing Endpoints and Credentials

It is always recommended to keep the service credentials and the source and target endpoints outside the main memory scope. By following this approach, any hacker wouldn’t have any access to any of the credentials or parameters at any point in time.

Caching

Scaling is done on a very high level when it comes to Cloud-Native apps. It sometimes happens in multiple instances at some point in time. For seamlessly doing this, they use external caches such as Memcache or Redis. For a stateless design structure, the apps should never store any information for not longer than the critical time that is needed for its execution.

Personally Identifiable Information(PII)

It is not recommended to write PII information to logs. Logs are insecure to some extent as they contain information in everyday texts. They become soft targets for hackers.

Encryption of Data at Rest and in Transit

This rule applies not only for cloud-based applications but also for data center based applications. Sensitive data should be encrypted while they are traveling through the network or when it is kept at repositories at work. The IPSec and SSL/TLS structures come in handy when it comes to conducting encryption of the data flowing through different networks.

Resources of Encryption

All the resources about encryption are fluid and dynamic. These must be cycled or renewed periodically. When the encryption is done at the application, file or the database field level, it usually provides the highest level of security. However, it is recommended for apps to use a decentralized encryption and decryption approach which will allow it to give the process at various modules which ultimately reduces the risk of getting hacked. This method ensures a better performance but also reduces the point of contact of failures that follow.Thus, these are the few authentications which all the cloud-native application builders should follow to ensure the safety of their applications that they are building. Cloud-native is, and when it is not there, it is bound to give rise to certain anomalies which will plague it to a certain level.

Anomalies in the absence of Cloud-Native Security

A tree is protected if we water its roots properly, and since the source of all software services is a cloud-based system, it ought to be protected from where it emerged. Let’s take a look at some of the vulnerabilities which the traditional approach came up with.

Regular Vulnerabilities

A lackluster system will give rise to vulnerabilities which will affect your system regularly. A laid-back attitude will let you face you such weaknesses which is obvious. These vulnerabilities were also widespread across some of the critical websites.

Leaked Credentials

Though it can happen in a cloud-native approach too, it is more in ordinary when it comes to traditional methods. This can be prevented in a significant manner by using a cloud-native approach.

Phishing Campaigns

Phishing is, and it can only be curbed by spreading awareness and automation through Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for which Cloud-Native security approach will be essential. For the same things, cybercrime leads to elusive ransomware from the wrong-doers. Leaked credentials lead to such phishing campaigns and also to ransomware which sometimes the charged company is unwarranted off.The importance of Cloud-Native Security Approach

Implementing rapid changes

Times are changing which makes the new codes to be applied even faster, but operating with an older security architecture in this phase will make it more vulnerable to non-acceptance of the changes. With DevOps being used extensively, cloud-native security approach will affect the way the new software services will be implemented.If you want to implement new structures to your modules, then working with more unique sets of Cloud-Native Approaches will only help you.

The increasing threats

As discussed above in the approaches, the risks are increasing the implementation of new kinds of technology. The cloud-native approach will be the only path to help you ward off against such threats which looms large on you.The problem with the traditional approach is that they won’t be able to evolve in the same manner such as the Cloud-Native security patches.

Implementing a controlled leaking of credentials

By performing cloud-native security services, credentials will only be managed in a much better manner. The lifespan of the credentials can be changed which will be difficult for the hackers to use it for their purposes.

Looming threats of Automatic updates

Sometimes these updates are exciting and in a way too exception of being a threat to the normal human consensus. What if they are a threat?

These updates get automatically fixated which makes you think of the security features that it comes with these automation makes the elements get arranged hierarchically. Thus, when the threats hit you, you believe that you are being protected, but actually, you are not which is somewhat of a broken process. Cloud-native approach eradicates this process in the most fantastic manner.

Being in a static environment

Being in a static environment for months due to the transfer of lineage from one technical base to others will lead you to many threats. Update in architectural structures takes a little time to get acquainted with. Thus, the danger to the static version is significant. Production changes to the structures attract a lot of criminals.Therefore, a cloud-native approach to application building helps you to store them in containers, and in the time of upgrades, a need to change the entire architecture doesn’t arise.

Security Vendors

They haven’t evolved much as such. They are still basking in the pre-era of safety features which don’t have a much impact today. Technology has been on a revolutionary rise but it is high-time we reflect on how to protect it as well.We have built many things related to security which helps us to prevent the threats but what have we done to act when the threats somehow loom into our area and then threaten us. The cloud-native approach helps you to avoid as well as act against these threats at a more significant level.When it comes to Cloud security, it is a shared responsibility, the role which is shared by both the security vendor and the customer. Cloud vendors (both IaaS and PaaS) will manage the security of the cloud that your application is being hosted on, but it is your added responsibility to secure your application on the cloud by taking the respective steps.

For a fully secured data structure without any possible anomalies, you should implement the best practices and design approaches which should be carried across by your team of architects and designers. Evolution of this is undoubtedly on the rise as the threats to this growing medium increases. It will be our real task of how better are we getting to ward off the risks to the extent. Security implementation should be the topmost priority and not something which is to be kept as the last thing in the queue. It is the thing that will help you to build a level of trust among your customers. Therefore, not a single level of compromise should be entertained when it comes to this.

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How native is React Native? | React Native vs Native App Development

If you are undertaking a mobile app development for your start-up or enterprise, you are likely wondering whether to use React Native. As a popular development framework, React Native helps you to develop near-native mobile apps. However, you are probably also wondering how close you can get to a native app by using React Native. How native is React Native?

In the article, we discuss the similarities between native mobile development and development using React Native. We also touch upon where they differ and how to bridge the gaps. Read on.

A brief introduction to React Native

Let’s briefly set the context first. We will briefly touch upon what React Native is and how it differs from earlier hybrid frameworks.

React Native is a popular JavaScript framework that Facebook has created. You can use this open-source framework to code natively rendering Android and iOS mobile apps. You can use it to develop web apps too.

Facebook has developed React Native based on React, its JavaScript library. The first release of React Native came in March 2015. At the time of writing this article, the latest stable release of React Native is 0.62.0, and it was released in March 2020.

Although relatively new, React Native has acquired a high degree of popularity. The “Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2019” report identifies it as the 8th most loved framework. Facebook, Walmart, and Bloomberg are some of the top companies that use React Native.

The popularity of React Native comes from its advantages. Some of its advantages are as follows:

• Performance: It delivers optimal performance.
• Cross-platform development: You can develop both Android and iOS apps with it. The reuse of code expedites development and reduces costs.
• UI design: React Native enables you to design simple and responsive UI for your mobile app.
• 3rd party plugins: This framework supports 3rd party plugins.
• Developer community: A vibrant community of developers support React Native.

Why React Native is fundamentally different from earlier hybrid frameworks

Are you wondering whether React Native is just another of those hybrid frameworks like Ionic or Cordova? It’s not! React Native is fundamentally different from these earlier hybrid frameworks.

React Native is very close to native. Consider the following aspects as described on the React Native website:

• Access to many native platforms features: The primitives of React Native render to native platform UI. This means that your React Native app will use many native platform APIs as native apps would do.
• Near-native user experience: React Native provides several native components, and these are platform agnostic.
• The ease of accessing native APIs: React Native uses a declarative UI paradigm. This enables React Native to interact easily with native platform APIs since React Native wraps existing native code.

Due to these factors, React Native offers many more advantages compared to those earlier hybrid frameworks. We now review them.

#android app #frontend #ios app #mobile app development #benefits of react native #is react native good for mobile app development #native vs #pros and cons of react native #react mobile development #react native development #react native experience #react native framework #react native ios vs android #react native pros and cons #react native vs android #react native vs native #react native vs native performance #react vs native #why react native #why use react native

Multi-cloud Spending: 8 Tips To Lower Cost

A multi-cloud approach is nothing but leveraging two or more cloud platforms for meeting the various business requirements of an enterprise. The multi-cloud IT environment incorporates different clouds from multiple vendors and negates the dependence on a single public cloud service provider. Thus enterprises can choose specific services from multiple public clouds and reap the benefits of each.

Given its affordability and agility, most enterprises opt for a multi-cloud approach in cloud computing now. A 2018 survey on the public cloud services market points out that 81% of the respondents use services from two or more providers. Subsequently, the cloud computing services market has reported incredible growth in recent times. The worldwide public cloud services market is all set to reach $500 billion in the next four years, according to IDC.

By choosing multi-cloud solutions strategically, enterprises can optimize the benefits of cloud computing and aim for some key competitive advantages. They can avoid the lengthy and cumbersome processes involved in buying, installing and testing high-priced systems. The IaaS and PaaS solutions have become a windfall for the enterprise’s budget as it does not incur huge up-front capital expenditure.

However, cost optimization is still a challenge while facilitating a multi-cloud environment and a large number of enterprises end up overpaying with or without realizing it. The below-mentioned tips would help you ensure the money is spent wisely on cloud computing services.

• Deactivate underused or unattached resources

Most organizations tend to get wrong with simple things which turn out to be the root cause for needless spending and resource wastage. The first step to cost optimization in your cloud strategy is to identify underutilized resources that you have been paying for.

Enterprises often continue to pay for resources that have been purchased earlier but are no longer useful. Identifying such unused and unattached resources and deactivating it on a regular basis brings you one step closer to cost optimization. If needed, you can deploy automated cloud management tools that are largely helpful in providing the analytics needed to optimize the cloud spending and cut costs on an ongoing basis.

• Figure out idle instances

Another key cost optimization strategy is to identify the idle computing instances and consolidate them into fewer instances. An idle computing instance may require a CPU utilization level of 1-5%, but you may be billed by the service provider for 100% for the same instance.

Every enterprise will have such non-production instances that constitute unnecessary storage space and lead to overpaying. Re-evaluating your resource allocations regularly and removing unnecessary storage may help you save money significantly. Resource allocation is not only a matter of CPU and memory but also it is linked to the storage, network, and various other factors.

• Deploy monitoring mechanisms

The key to efficient cost reduction in cloud computing technology lies in proactive monitoring. A comprehensive view of the cloud usage helps enterprises to monitor and minimize unnecessary spending. You can make use of various mechanisms for monitoring computing demand.

For instance, you can use a heatmap to understand the highs and lows in computing visually. This heat map indicates the start and stop times which in turn lead to reduced costs. You can also deploy automated tools that help organizations to schedule instances to start and stop. By following a heatmap, you can understand whether it is safe to shut down servers on holidays or weekends.

#cloud computing services #all #hybrid cloud #cloud #multi-cloud strategy #cloud spend #multi-cloud spending #multi cloud adoption #why multi cloud #multi cloud trends #multi cloud companies #multi cloud research #multi cloud market

Becoming Cloud Native

There are few companies operating in today’s markets affected most recently as we are with the events of 2020 that have not undergone a digital transformation of some sort. Research shows that 80% of executives are accelerating plans to digitize work processes and deploy new technologies in response to the impact of COVID on the business world. The traditional model of business is undergoing radical change in an endeavour to employ digital technologies better to suit multiple purposes across a variety of sectors, and cloud native is one of the key drivers that re-architects cloud environments with the intent of adapting the means for how to deliver services. cloud native is a modern and advanced software development approach; which is why it is becoming of high importance to many companies.

Digital Transformation Risks

But moving to a new software development approach is not easy, and organizations can be slow to adopt radical change in the interests of safeguarding their market, output and business. So, to mitigate risk, organizations can take a step-by-step approach to becoming cloud native in several phases, where they can first replicate the new approach on a smaller scale inside a department/team/project architecture to test the results. If positive, it is then possible to scale the approach organization-wide continuously till the whole enterprise cloud architecture becomes cloud native. If implemented correctly, the cloud native approach supports organizations to improve speed, agility, and resilience in the app development and management process.

#cloud native #cloud #cloud computing #cloud native development #cloud-native applications

What are the benefits of cloud migration? Reasons you should migrate

The moving of applications, databases and other business elements from the local server to the cloud server called cloud migration. This article will deal with migration techniques, requirement and the benefits of cloud migration.

In simple terms, moving from local to the public cloud server is called cloud migration. Gartner says 17.5% revenue growth as promised in cloud migration and also has a forecast for 2022 as shown in the following image.

#cloud computing services #cloud migration #all #cloud #cloud migration strategy #enterprise cloud migration strategy #business benefits of cloud migration #key benefits of cloud migration #benefits of cloud migration #types of cloud migration

Cloud Security: Is it Worth it?

Storing and managing corporate data by applying the cloud is becoming more and more popular. Companies grow, and it gets too expensive, and resources consuming to store their data on traditional servers. To prove it, look at the research conducted by Google in 2019 that includes insights for the cloud computing market for the next 10 years.

Around 80% of US respondents (about 1,100 businesses participated) revealed that they are thinking about cloud adoption by 2029. In 2019, only about 40% made a switch. 72% of businesses state that they’d like to automate security solutions by 2029, while now only 33% actually do it.

What do these numbers tell us? That companies seem to be suspicious about cloud security and prefer traditional on-premises data storage to the cloud environment. Why are they afraid to entrust cloud providers with their data? What to do to get rid of this fear? How to prove that the future of security is after the cloud?

In our article, we aim to answer these questions and more, but first, you need to be able to identify the reasons why companies have cloud-related trust issues. The first step in eliminating a problem is identifying it, let’s do it together!

#cloud-security #security-of-data #cybersecurity #cloud-computing #aws-security #azure-security #data-breaches #cyber-security