Open-Source Security Operations Center (SOC)

12Cloud Security and SOC Operations

Introduction

Cloud computing has transformed how businesses use information technology over the past decade. By providing on-demand access to computing resources, applications, and services over the Internet, cloud platforms allow organizations to be more flexible and scale their IT usage based on real-time needs. However, moving workloads and data to shared environments also introduces new security challenges that need to be addressed. In this paper, we will discuss key cloud computing models and the benefits they provide, as well as look at common security risks faced in cloud environments. We will then examine different techniques and best practices that security operations teams can use to gain visibility and protect resources deployed across hybrid cloud infrastructures.

Models of Cloud Computing

There are generally three primary models of cloud services based on the level of abstraction each provides: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). IaaS refers to basic computing resources like processing, storage, and networking capabilities delivered as a service over the Internet. Popular IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. With IaaS, customers can deploy and run operating systems and applications without managing the underlying hardware.

PaaS takes this a step further by providing development platforms and services for building, ...