Cloud Governance

What is Cloud Governance?

Cloud Governance, also known as Cloud Access Governance or Cloud Identity and Access Management (Cloud IAM), uses automated tools to protect data security and privacy by enforcing “least privilege necessary” access controls for users within Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cloud ecosystems.

In recent years there’s been a proliferation of cloud governance models, frameworks, and best practices for managing the new frontier of cloud security governance.

Cloud Governance in the Workplace

Enterprises experiencing digital transformation increasingly adopt cloud governance tools to meet business demands for elasticity, flexibility, and scalability. With hybrid IT becoming the norm, critical enterprise assets are now fragmented. Sensitive data or critical infrastructure already live in the cloud and outside the enterprise’s traditional perimeter. Given the new ecosystem, today’s enterprise needs to implement cloud governance best practices designed to ensure information security within the cloud governance model.

The responsibility for appropriate and consistent enforcement of compliance and security controls and policies is the responsibility of the enterprise. Because each cloud governance tool offers different degrees of control over security, identity has become the primary factor that brings together security and trust.

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) tools don’t always meet the need to secure some types of identities such as users, devices, business partners, customers, etc. In addition, most IGA tools only understand coarse-grained access and cannot be easily extended to secure data, infrastructure, and fine-grained application entitlements.

Security Concerns in the Cloud

Managing your business within a cloud governance framework presents unique security challenges. Let’s have a look at the risks associated with different cloud-based systems.

Risks Associated with Data Platforms

Any user with read rights to a file can share it if a DAC (Discretionary Access Control) model is in place
Users can share files freely on the internet
Untrackable file links can be shared anonymously
Users can log in from anywhere and download, print, or screenshot files
Encryption of data doesn’t fully protect from risks presented by authorized accounts

Risks Associated with Infrastructure Platforms

Mistakes in managing access present significant risk. For example, if a data center is taken offline
The capabilities of these platforms are vast and complicated with hundreds of features
Access management is extended to entities like servers and databases
In AWS, service access is controlled through JSON objects, which have to be read in the case of audit to confirm the access they provide

Risks Associated with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Critical data related to HR, customers, and finances is now in the cloud
Logging is inconsistent and, in many cases, not robust enough
Not always easy to tell who has access to what data
Many companies sync access with Active Directory via SSO, resulting in inadequate protection
Super users are regularly unmanaged
Lack of segregation of duties

Saviynt & Cloud Governance

Enterprises using cloud governance tools present a unique security challenge and require a forward-thinking approach that focuses on identity as the new security perimeter. Leveraging the following cloud governance best practices best positions your organization to mitigate the security risks presented by operating in the cloud:

Import fine-grained access permissions and usage activity so you understand who is doing what and who has access to what
Intercept access grants to files or roles, and evaluate new instances against current business policies
Classify your data in the cloud based on content, identity, access, and usage
Standardize policies for requesting data from specific cloud-based applications
Leverage continuous controls monitoring for all cloud applications, collaboration, or infrastructure vendors
Put in place fine-grained application entitlements and certify critical data access, orphan and critical infrastructure components
Ensure separation of duties across all cloud providers
Use advanced behavioral models to detect abnormal user or system behavior

The Cloud Governance Tools You Need to Secure Your Business in the Cloud

Saviynt’s Enterprise Identity Cloud (EIC) is built in the cloud for the cloud and is the only FedRAMP-authorized SaaS solution for Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) and Cloud Privileged Access Management (CPAM).

The fundamentals of IGA align closely with the requirements outlined in Federal Identity Credential and Access Management (FICAM). Saviynt EIC is a modular, converged cloud platform developed entirely in-house using a single code base without bolted-on solutions from third-party acquisitions to complicate the implementation process. Each solution can operate independently, allowing customers to select the product that suits them – and integrate EIC with existing solutions.

Saviynt EIC includes the following solutions:

Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)

Ensures that users have seamless access and your organization is in continuous compliance
Increases organizational efficiency and agility through automation and intuitive identity workflows
Powered by a comprehensive identity warehouse and user experience to drive frictionless access, Saviynt IGA enables Zero Trust in your hybrid and multi-cloud environment

Cloud Privileged Access Management (CPAM)

Provides complete privileged access protection to support ongoing business transformation and scale as your business needs evolve
Gain visibility and governance for every identity across your entire environment to improve your security posture and maintain compliance
Fast to deploy and easy to manage, so you realize value on day one
CPAM can limit users’ actions in the end systems, and session recording provides an auditable record of the activities executed

Application Access Governance (AAG)

Protects sensitive application access and satisfies governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) requirements
Get comprehensive capabilities in Separation of Duty (SoD) analysis, emergency access management, role engineering and management, compliant provisioning, and access certification

Data Access Governance (DAG)

Discovers, analyzes, and protects sensitive structured and unstructured data – regardless of whether your IT ecosystem is on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based.

Third-Party Access Governance (TPAG)

Securely manages third parties throughout the engagement lifecycle
Internal and external sponsors shepherd the account from inception through access management, periodic reviews, and eventual decommissioning

Cloud Governance

What is Cloud Governance?