Cloud Incident Response & Forensics: Underrated or Critical

As more and more businesses make that giant leap to cloud, security experts not only need to secure cloud implementation, but also need to perform cloud incident response and forensic processes. A number of businesses are already using cloud platform in some form or the other. Now depending on the cloud model, be it PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) or IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), businesses ought to brace for incident response and forensic programs. The article throws light on the most underrated yet critical topic of cloud incident response and forensics.

Getting Started!

The very first thing to do before moving your operations to cloud is assessing how moving to the cloud will transform incident response and forensics. Performing these operations in cloud is still a novel thing and thus, requires due consideration before making the big switch.

Often times, businesses slowly transit to the cloud whilst still keeping a presence in their local data centre. This is where an organisation ought to be cautious, because its existing forensic and incident response tools might not be designed for the cloud model. This can render grey areas in the network thus, allowing possible security attacks to go unnoticed minus the ability to perform cloud forensics. A model that sits on both the physical world as well as cloud can be detrimental to a business if designed without thorough consideration.

A gap (where we are and where we want to be) analysis on how the existing forensics and incident response tools or processes are used currently and how they will be utilised on the cloud is imperative. This will help in determining whether moving to cloud causes any limitations.

Questions to Ask:

When choosing a cloud vendor or provider that offers a robust computer forensic and incident response framework, always look out for the following pointers:

1. Open APIs (Application Programming Interface). Yes, this is importantly especially if the transition to cloud is supposed to be in hybrid state.
2. Determine how the systems are logged and what types of logs are stored. Is your provider able to deliver you this or you will be needing a log management tool in cloud or a completely separate system?
3. Determine if your existing security frameworks can be implemented in cloud.
4. Will your logs, applications, systems and data be moved to a different geography?
5. Carefully review documentation pertaining to compliance. This shall give you a fair idea about all the loopholes or gaps that you will have to fill in your forensic and incident response processes.

Takeaway

There are advantages of performing cloud forensic and incident response and it’s not murky. An organisation can enjoy the real benefits when it kick-starts its transition to the cloud, but do remember that the service model plays a pivotal role as well. To conclude, if a business intends to fully move to the cloud model, it ought to first take into consideration the security concerns.

To learn more about a smooth and secure transition to cloud model, contact us. You can also SMS SAGE to 56767 or drop us a mail at sales@sagesoftware,co.in for a free demo and consultation.

Disclaimer: All the information, views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and their respective web sources and in no way reflect the principles, views or objectives of Sage Software Solutions (P) Ltd.