As the organizations change infrastructure and applications into the cloud, the new high point of strong security measures has finally arrived. The land of cloud security has changed in 2024 and now offers accurate, sophisticated tools available for use in fighting ever-increasingly complex cyber threats.

This most important article talks about the list of cloud security tools to ensure the cloud environment is secure.

What are Cloud Security Tools?

Cloud security services can be described as the specialized type of software that is meant for protection of cloud infrastructure, applications, and data against all types of threats. These tools provides capability based on comprehensive security, including features such as the detection of threat, vulnerability assessment, compliance monitoring, and incident response.

By 2025, the tools are more advanced with the implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide a predictive measure of security with automatic responses toward threats.

Why Do We Need Cloud Security Solutions?

There are many challenges that ensure the security of deploying applications and services speedily. Cloud security solutions offer a framework for the employment of security measures without risking agility and efficiency. They allow teams to automate several security processes so that they retain compliance and protect against evolving threats while retaining their development velocity.

Key reasons why we need cloud security solutions:

Security: The Security tools keep pace with and maintain security at every point and be compatible with automated deployment pipelines.
Compliance and Governance: With best cloud security tools, organizations are able to fulfill internal governance requirements as well as external compliance through automated monitoring and reporting.
Multi-Cloud Environment Security: Due to the fact that many organizations have adopted multi-cloud strategies, tools offering security across various cloud providers along with various environments provide integrated protection.

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Types of Cloud Security Services

1. Cloud Infrastructure Security Platforms

The broad cloud security solutions that offer end-to-end security for the infrastructure of the cloud are listed below:

Snyk
Prisma Cloud
Aqua Security

Main Features:

Cloud workload protection
Container security
Scanning for serverless security
Cloud configuration management

2. Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs)

CASB stands for the security policy enforcement point between the consumers of the cloud service and providers. CASB includes,

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Netskope
Zscaler

Main Features:

Visibility into use of the cloud service
Data Security and Compliance
Threat Protection
Access Control

3. Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)

The risk visualizations and assessments concern CSPM tools are:

Wiz
Orca Security
CloudGuard

Main Features:

Continuous Security assessment
Compliance monitoring

Risk visualization
Automated remediation recommendation

4. Container Security Solutions

Tools to be used for the protection of containerized applications:

Trivy
Anchore
Qualys Container Security

Main Features:

Container image scanning
Runtime protection
Kubernetes security
Vulnerability management

5. Identity and Access Management (IAM)

IAM tools are aimed at managing user identities with their access rights as follows:

Okta
Microsoft Azure Active Directory
Amazon Web Services IAM

Main Features

Multi-factor authentication
Single sign-on
Privileged access management
Access governance

Selecting a Cloud Security Tool for yourself

While selecting cloud security tools look for these things:

1. Integration Capabilities

Easy integration
Multi-Cloud Support
APIs for Custom Integrations Available

2. Automation Capabilities

Automated Security Testing and Scanning
Remediation capability ends
CI/CD Integration Pipelines

3. Compliance

Compliance Templates integrated into the product
Automatic reporting of compliance
Compliance requirements updated by the company

4. Cost Efficiency

Pricing is tiered to the size of an organization
Measurable ROI
Scalable pricing

Top 12 Cloud Security Tools for 2024

1. Bitglass: Total Cloud Security (Now Forcepoint)

Bitglass’s innovative Zero Trust SASE platform is offering the most open source cloud security tools with real-time data and threat protection for any app, device, or location. Multiple security services, namely CASB, SWG, and ZTNA, in the Bitglass platform allow granular control of organization’s cloud resources and data. For Bitglass, its advanced technology detects threats and responds in real time with the use of machine learning algorithms.

However, it ensures sensitive data remains safe if it either resides at rest or is in transit. With patented AJAX-VM technology, a BYOD can be secured without an agent as well as the installation of any software.

Key Features

Zero-day threat protection
It provides functions for both CASB and cloud DLP.
Smart Core as well as Smart Edge technology.
Real-time protection against data and threats
Agentless mobile security

Pros

Deployment and management are straightforward
Insight into all cloud applications
Great protection and security of data
Superb performance and scalability
Compliance reporting is robust

Website

www.forcepoint.com/bitglass

2. SpectralOps

SpectralOps is one of the cloud security tools designed for developers to detect and prevent costly security mistakes in code and other assets. It finds exposed API keys, tokens, credentials, and other security risks across all assets and repositories by using AI/ML-powered scanning capabilities.

It can inform the developers, real-time on which of the security issues it contains in the repository, CI/CD pipeline, gists, and cloud assets. Their service is unique as it can protect JSON, yaml files as well as any source code.

Key Features

AI-based secret detection
Security of the code will be scanned in real-time
Security of infrastructure-as-code
API security monitoring
Remediation of bugs through automated means

Pros

Developer-friendly interface
Low false positives
Scan everything in record time
Include everything
Work with the workflows

Website

www.spectralops.io

3. Security Code Scan

Security Code Scan is one of the open-source cloud security tools and static code analysis tools, optimized for .NET. The analyzer performs a deep analysis of the source code to point out possible security vulnerabilities and coding mistakes which might appear sooner or later as vulnerabilities in the code. This works pretty nice with other popular IDEs, and also may be integrated into CI/CD pipelines to automatically send it security testing.

The library uses many advanced techniques, like pattern matching, taint analysis, to identify injection flaws, cross-site scripting, and bad implementations of insecure cryptography.

Key Features:

Static code analysis of .NET Possible integration with popular IDEs
Customizable security rules Integration with your CI/CD pipeline
Detailed reporting of vulnerabilities

Pros:

Free and open-source.
It has regular updates and community support. Low false-positive rate.
The integration into the developer’s workflow is effortless.
Comprehensive vulnerability detection

Website

www.security-code-scan.github.io/

4. Cisco Systems Cloudlock

Cisco Cloudlock provides an integrated CASB functionality that lets you have complete visibility into and control of your cloud services. It is phenomenal in protecting the organizations against cloud-based risks with advanced capabilities in User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA). Cloudlock approaches cloud security with a focus on securing users, data and applications across any cloud platform- SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS environments.

The solution gives an organization the deep visibility into the usage of cloud applications and keeps the organization compliant with a wide range of regulatory requirements.

Key Features

Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
User and Entity Behavior Analytics
App discovery and control
Compliance monitoring
Cross-platform threat protection

Pros

Very good integration capabilities
Full visibility
Sophisticated threat detection
Very good compliance features
User-friendly interface

Website

www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/cloudlock

5. Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 provides a holistic Zero Trust Network as a Service (NaaS) solution, thereby making traditional network security a cloud-based service. It is a hybrid SDP-based solution that offers the advanced network security feature of safe access to any organizations’ resources from anywhere.

Its approach nullifies the need for hardware-based traditional VPN but offers superior security with the facility of identity-based access control. It is feature-rich in advanced network segmentation, activity auditing, and automated policy enforcement. It stands to be one of the perfect solutions for organizations embracing the concept of remote work and cloud-first strategies.

Key Features

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Firewall that is cloud-based
Network segmentation
Activity monitoring and auditing
Automated Policy Enforcement

Pros

Easy to deploy and manage
Scalable architecture
Good security features
Excellent performance
Cost-effective solution

Website

www.perimeter81.com

6. Illumio Core

Illumio Core is the revolutionary pathfinder. It is one of the cloud security tools that offers real-time security of workloads in any data center or cloud environment. The zero-trust by segmentation approach introduced by the platform prevents threats from the lateral movement hybrid cloud infrastructures. It offers unparalleled visibility to workload communications, providing real-time application dependency mapping to assist the security teams in understanding and controlling interactions of applications.

This technology automatically adjusts to changes in environmental conditions and alters security policies, thus offering protection every moment of the way.

Key Features

Real-time application dependency mapping
Adaptive micro-segmentation
Controls based on policy for security
Multi-cloud workload protection
Visual security analytics

Pros

Implementation can be smooth with no changes in the network
Delivers great visibility over the dependencies of the application
Offers flexible management of policies
It develops robust compliance with regulations
It offers intuitive visualization capabilities.

Website

www.illumio.com/products/core

7. Orca Security

One of the cloud security tools called SideScanningTM from Orca Security gives full visibility within the environments of Azure, and GCP in a completely agentless way. Orca offers full security coverage across the layers of compute, storage, networking, and identity in cloud environments. In as little as minutes, Orca can identify vulnerabilities, malware, misconfigurations, lateral movement risks, authentication risks, and exposure of sensitive data.

That brings it a notch higher since it will allow it to prioritize risks based on environmental context, accessibility, and business impact so that its solution can be utilized by security teams focusing on only the issues of import.

Key Features

Agentless cloud security scanning
Full-stack visibility
Contextual risk prioritization
Compliance monitoring
Asset inventory management

Pros

Zero performance impact
Super-fast deployment
Holistic risk assessment
Good prioritization capabilities
Compliant reporting

Website

https://orca.security

8. XM Cyber

XM Cyber brings the most advanced BAS platform that continually exposes attack vectors from breach points to organizational critical assets. Automated purple team, which allows organizations to simulate real-world attacks, identify gaps in security, and remediate before they’re actually exploited. The combined risk analytics, along with the attack simulation, make this product unique in providing actionable insights for enhancement in security posture.

The solution is continuously monitoring the security environment, providing real-time visibility into potential attack paths and prioritizing the remediation efforts based on business impact.

Key Features:

Automated purple team exercises
Attack path visualization
Risk-based remediation prioritization
Continuous security validation
Impact-based analytics

Pros

Sophisticated capabilities for attack simulation
Remediation guidance
Full risk assessment
Real-time monitoring
Business context aware

Website

www.xmcyber.com

9. Fugue (now Snyk)

Fugue is one of the comprehensive cloud security tools and compliance solutions that includes cloud infrastructure environments. It employs continuous configuration monitoring, policy enforcement, and other types of automated remediations that are cross-platform; that include AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

This it does by taking the infrastructure as code approach to ensure that a company’s cloud environment is safe and compliant in the long run. Solution automatically detects and corrects cloud infrastructure misconfigurations resulting in breaches of data and compliance.

Key Features

Infrastructure cloud security posture management
Automated policy enforcement through configuration
drift detection and compliance automation
Infrastructure visualization

Pros

Advanced automation capabilities
Provides 100% coverage for compliance
Continuous tracking of configurations
User interface ease of navigation
Fantastic visualization tools

Website:

https://snyk.io/product

10. Cato Networks | Cato SASE

Cato Networks is an all- Secure Access Service Edge -converging SD-WAN and network security into a global, cloud-native service. The platform provides enterprises with a full networking and security stack as a cloud service, so they will never have to buy multiple point solutions.

All traffic is optimally routed to the global private backbone of Cato, in order to give secure and optimized access to applications and resources without a particular location. Advanced security capabilities of NGFW, IPS, and SWG are managed through a single pane of glass by the solution provided by Cato.

Key Features

Global private backbone
Network Zero trust access
Cloud native firewall
Secure remote access
Advanced threat prevention
Advantage Single unified platform
Global network coverage

Pros

User Ease of Management
Excellent performance
A cost-effective solution

Website

https://www.catonetworks.com/sase

11. C3M – Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)

C3M developed an advanced CIEM solution that addresses some of the most challenging issues within cloud access management and permissions. The platform makes it possible to have an end-to-end view into IAM configurations, and thus organizations can identify and fix over-permissioning, also remediate the risk. C3M’s analytics engine will watch the cloud environments for security issues related to identity violations as well as compliance violations, privilege escalations.

Key Features

Multi-cloud IAM governance
Privilege right-sizing
Access risk assessment
Compliance monitoring
Automated remediation

Pros

Max entitlement visibility
Strat compliance capabilities
Automated risk remediation
User-friendly interface
Detailed reporting

Website

www.c3m.io

12. OpenVAS

OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment System) is a comprehensive open-source framework for vulnerability scanning and management. It is widely used by security professionals to identify and assess security vulnerabilities in various systems, networks, and applications.

OpenVAS offers a range of tools and services, including automated scanning, detailed reporting, and continuous updates to its vulnerability database, making it a valuable asset for maintaining robust security postures.

Key Features

Extensive Vulnerability Database
Advanced Scanning Capabilities
Detailed Reporting and Analysis
User-Friendly Interface
Integration and Extensibility

Pros

Cost-Effective
Community Support
Proactive Security Management
Flexibility
Network Security Audits
Penetration Testing

Website

https://app.cloudknox.io

Cloud Security Best Practices

Cloud computing has now become a backbone of modern business operations. However, with growing use of cloud services, it also raises the critical issue of strong security measures. This all-inclusive guide reviews the key cloud security best practices to be implemented by the organization for protecting valuable digital assets.

Multi-Layer Approach to Security

The implementation of cloud security strategy would start through several controls’ embedding into the system. This will avoid a single point of failure, where in case one of the security controls fails, others will remain working to provide security. Several security devices and practices would be assimilated into the business model of the firm.

They include:

Next generation firewalls as well as intrusion detection systems
Security auditing and vulnerability assessment regularly
Encryption of data while in transmission and storage
Strong authentication mechanism
Continuous monitoring and threat detection

Access Management and Identity Control

Access controls should also be strictly limited so that the security of the cloud is taut. There should be an embracing of the principle of least privilege-that of giving users only the minimum amount of resources needed to accomplish their task and see only what is necessary to do so. These considerations will include multi-factor authentication of all cloud services:

Rights reviewed and modified at reasonable intervals,
Strict password policies with regularly changed passwords,
Use of Single Sign-On solutions that can facilitate central management of access.

Data Protection and Encryption

Data needs to be at the heart of any cloud security strategy. Organizations need to ensure that data enters safe custody either in motion or in rest in the following ways:

Data in motion should receive end-to-end encryption
Data must at rest be kept safe through strong encryption
Regular backup and disaster recovery plan
Data classification and handling procedures which are clear
Compliance with any data protection legislation

Cloud Configuration and Monitoring

Configuration alone protects the system. Organizations should,

Frequently audit the cloud configuration
Detects unwanted changes
Integration of automated security scanning
Keeps very rich logs of all the activities going on in the clouds
Use CSPM tools

Training of Employees and Security Awareness

Human factors still fall among the biggest risks. Organizations should invest in,

Timely security awareness training
Phishing exercises simulated
Security policies and procedures
Incident response plans updated with application
Sustained security education programs

Management and Compliance with the Vendors

Organizations involved in the deployment with cloud service providers have to consider the following:

Whether any security measures that the provider has undertaken.
Whether the provider follows all the compliance standards of the concerned industry in adhering to such standards.
The level of services offered should be reviewed from time to time to see if everything is in line with signed service level agreements.
Security responsibilities among employees should be clearly defined.
Third-party access and activity should be monitored.

Conclusion

Cloud security tools are not just a one-time implementation but a journey of constant vigil and adaptation. Organizations should open their eyes to the emergence of new threats and the ever-evolving practice of security. Through these best practices and proactivity about security, organizations can do so much better about protecting their cloud infrastructure and data against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

FAQs

What should be the most prominent first act in cloud security?

Typically the most critical first acts would be doing a broad security assessment of your existing cloud infrastructure and implementing access controls.

How frequently should security training be conducted?

Security awareness training should be performed at least quarterly.

Really do all the data in the cloud need to be encrypted?

Encryption is key to protecting information both at rest and in transit. It provides an essential layer of security even if other protective measures fail.

What is the biggest mistake about cloud security that organizations make?

Assuming that generally, cloud providers handle all security issues. Most fundamentally, though, security is a shared responsibility between provider and the organization.