Cloud computing has changed how technology works for everyone. It promises a higher level of efficiency, promises greater agility, and promises more flexibility at a lower price. In short, changes in cloud computing are changing the way all Internet-based security works, whether it is network security or cloud security.

What makes ensuring security measures on the cloud so demanding is that cloud computing is based on shared responsibility. When network engineers ponder the intricacies of cloud security, one example they look toward is Azure Security, which has ironed out many thorny problems that had previously puzzled specialists.

Leading the Field

When it comes to cloud infrastructure, Amazon Web Services is leading the field by virtue of its position as one of the industry’s leading providers. As a result of its unique position in the history of cloud architecture, maintenance, and security, it has had to come up with practical measures that other service providers have yet to experience.

A Massive Customer Base

Amazon Web Services is used by thousands of websites to host their data. It is also used by big brands like Netflix, and Amazon’s own gargantuan operation, Amazon.com, relies on it. In other words, if Amazon Web Services must get things right because millions of dollars a day and a worldwide reputation hang in the balance.

5 Secret to Success

So how does Amazon Web Services ensure its top priorities of providing customers with rock-solid security and unfailing availability? It does it by establishing five lines of defense: adhering to international certifications and standards, separating the work of employees, obliterating obsolete data, deploying surprise inspections, and ensuring continuous updates.

  1. Adhering to international certifications and standards.

Internationally recognized standards in cloud computing designed by data protection organizations around the world provide cloud computing service providers with strict guidelines on how to protect privacy and maximize security measures. These standards offer two primary benefits. One benefit is that data protection is done in a methodical way that can be replicated by any service provider. The other benefit is that everyone takes the same security measures. In essence, there is a common language to discuss what protocols to follow and what standards to ensure. Depending on its customer’s business, Amazon Web Services is a stickler for conforming to these regulations. Two examples of internationally recognized standards Amazon Web Services uses are Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and the Sarbanes-Oxley rules.

  1. Separating the work of employees.

Employees are only permitted to access customer’s systems when necessary. This permission is further restricted to their functions. So, for example, a storage manager will not be able to access features used by a network engineer. There are three benefits to this policy: one, it improves security; two, less mistakes are made because users stick to their level of expertise; and three, glitches in the system can be quickly traced and corrected because there is clear accountability.

  1. Obliterating obsolete data.

Obsolete customer data is not archived, but destroyed. Moreover, before hard-drives are disposed, the data on them is completely shredded.

  1. Deploying surprise inspections.

Security experts working at Amazon Web Services are tested with random drills that inject irrelevant code into programs. Knowing that these tech booby traps exist, staff members are constantly on the alert to spot them.

  1. Ensuring continuous updates.

Customers who use Amazon Web Services are promised that their accounts will be fully operational around the clock. This promise is upheld in two specific ways: continuous updates replace the need to take systems down for a major upgrade and servers are spread through numerous buildings but work like a single data hub.

Conclusion

Although Amazon’s cloud computing security is not perfect, with occasional outages flashed across tech news channels, Amazon Web Services strives for perfection. Since large businesses like Instagram, Pinterest, and Netflix rely on Amazon Web Services to ensure maximum security and unfailing availability, Amazon Web Services uses five core security systems – conforming to international standards, separating employee functions, shredding hard-drive data, springing surprise inspections, and maintaining continuous updates—to keep all systems running at all times and customers happy.