What Is Public Cloud Security?

Public cloud security is a set of policies, controls, and procedures, that work together to protect data, applications, and the infrastructure within cloud environments.

The public cloud security service market is skyrocketing, with spending forecast expected to grow 20.4% to around $675.4 billion in 2024. This growth is largely attributed to accelerated generative AI development and the rapid pace of application modernization.

According to Gartner’s VP analyst, Sid Nag:

“The continued growth we expect to see in public cloud spending can be largely attributed to GenAI due to the continued creation of general-purpose foundation models and the ramp-up to delivering GenAI-enabled applications at scale…Because of this continued growth, we expect public cloud end-user spending to eclipse the one trillion dollar mark before the end of this decade.”

With businesses increasingly moving to the cloud, a trend that gained serious momentum during the pandemic, cloud adoption has become essential for companies of all sizes.A solid cloud migration framework supports crucial technologies like big data, AI, machine learning, and IoT. Precedence Research suggests that the global cloud computing market is expected to soar to $2,297.37 billion by 2032, growing steadily at 17%.

This forecast underscores the importance of cloud security. In this guide, we’ll cover the key elements of both private and public cloud security, explain why they’re so important, and share best practices to help you get the most out of them. Let’s get started!

What is Public Cloud Security?

Public cloud security is defined as a combination of policies, controls, procedures, and cybersecurity measures, all in a bid to protect data and apps in public cloud environments accessible to multiple users or organizations.

In public cloud setups, security is split between the provider and the customer. The service providers take care of infrastructure security—network, storage, and physical data centers. Customers are responsible for securing their own personal data, workloads, and apps within the cloud.

Now, the cast net of responsibilities differs based on the type of service model whether it is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Software as a Service (SaaS).

To protect your data and cloud infrastructure from potential threats, public cloud security relies on a set of rules, protocols, and tools.

Take for instance, your dev team is creating a mobile app that works with sensitive data on AWS. AWS secures the physical infrastructure, but the team is responsible for protecting their code, configuring the app securely, and safeguarding customer data.

Given this setup scenario:

• EC2 runs the backend API
• RDS handles the database
• S3 stores the files
• CloudFront delivers content

AWS secures the underlying infrastructure, but it’s on the team to configure access controls, manage encryption, and ensure data is protected. In a shared cloud environment, securing the app’s data is squarely in their hands.

Additionally, this very setup allows scaling and flexibility, but it also introduces several challenges, such as:

• Keeping user data secure in motion and in transit
• Blocking unauthorized access to API endpoints
• Following data protection rules and regulations (e.g., GDPR)
• Preventing misconfigurations that could expose data

Public cloud security tackles these issues through various steps:

• Using encryption for data in transit (HTTPS) and at rest (S3 server-side encryption)
• Using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control access to resources
• Using AWS Config and CloudTrail to audit and ensure compliance
• Using security groups and network access control links (ACLs) to control traffic

Importance of Public Cloud Security

The cloud has already become a fundamental part of many business operations that host sensitive data and deliver software as a service.

With the world’s population owning a smartphone, the ability to access business applications remotely is invaluable

Yet, vulnerability is still high as about 81% of organizations have public-facing assets that are neglected and susceptible to threat infiltration and exploitation.

Cloud computing offers several benefits being able to support new innovations without hardware limitations, easy scalability for higher load levels without worrying about acquiring physical infrastructure, and faster collaboration 24/7 at any remote location, amongst others.

With this pack of pros, it’s certain that businesses build a large part of their operational real estate on the cloud.

Securing these cloud environments is non-negotiable, especially for SMEs that handle sensitive customer data.

This business model requires stringent security protocols and SMEs have to employ hybrid cloud solutions to keep these data in a private setting while tapping into the scalability of public clouds for less critical applications.

Prioritizing public cloud security would help your organization better with:

#1. Data Protection

Public cloud security helps keep sensitive data safe, allowing only authorized people to access critical information and preventing leaks or breaches. For example, a software company storing source code in the cloud uses encryption and access controls to protect its intellectual property from competitors and hackers.

#2. Regulatory Compliance

Maintaining trust and protecting an organization’s reputation depends heavily on ensuring regulatory compliance, especially for industries dealing with sensitive data.

Public cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure offer built-in tools to help businesses meet requirements like GDPR and HIPAA. For example, healthcare organizations must encrypt patient records both at rest and in transit to comply with HIPAA.

#3. Business Continuity

The ability to recover quickly from an outage can mean the difference between a minor hiccup and a complete operational collapse. Public cloud infrastructure equips businesses with robust disaster recovery and backup solutions, shielding them from cyberattacks, hardware failures, or natural disasters.

By distributing backups across multiple regions, companies reduce downtime risk and ensure high availability. This strategy not only preserves data integrity but also keeps operations stable, minimizing the impact of unexpected failures.

#4. Cost Efficiency

Migrating to the public cloud frees businesses from the heavy investment required for on-premises security infrastructure. Instead of purchasing expensive hardware and managing in-house security systems, companies can take advantage of scalable pay-as-you-go cloud security services.

For instance, rather than spending on costly intrusion detection systems, businesses can use a cloud-based security service like AWS GuardDuty, which offers real-time threat detection and scales effortlessly as the company grows. This cost-efficient approach not only provides top-tier security but also maximizes economic advantages by freeing up resources for growth and innovations. By making use of the cloud’s economic benefits, businesses can optimize their operational costs, shift focus to core initiatives, and adapt more quickly to market changes.

#5. Risk Mitigation

Cloud security solutions identify and address risks such as misconfigurations and insider threats before they escalate.

Often, misconfigured storage, like overly permissive S3 buckets, leads to data breaches. Adding to this challenge, limited visibility and insecure APIs also add risk, as organizations may miss critical vulnerabilities without full oversight.

Tools like infrastructure-as-code (IaC) and built-in security checks, businesses can automate the process of detecting and fixing these vulnerabilities.

Early risk detection allows companies to significantly reduce their threat exposure, preventing costly breaches that could harm both their financial stability and reputation.

#6. Reputation Management

Data breaches can severely damage a company’s reputation, eroding customer trust and potentially leading to long-term financial loss.

If an insider threat or compromised account goes undetected, sensitive customer data could be exposed or stolen, leading to a breach.

This loss of trust would devastate the company’s reputation, as clients would no longer feel secure, potentially resulting in customer attrition, negative press, and long-term financial losses.

Public cloud providers implement stringent security practices such as encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and continuous monitoring that help prevent such breaches, reassuring customers that their data is safe. By investing in robust cloud security, businesses protect their assets and build trust with clients, partners, and stakeholders, essential for maintaining a solid market position.

#7. Operational Flexibility

When using a public cloud infrastructure, organizations can easily enhance their operational flexibility by providing teams with secure access to essential resources from any location. Here’s how it works:

1. Cloud environments allow organizations to support remote workforces, facilitating seamless collaboration across distributed teams.
2. This is achieved through secure measures such as data encryption, VPNs, and access protocols, ensuring that business operations can continue without compromising security.
3. Additionally, the cloud empowers teams to innovate faster, adapting quickly to changing demands while maintaining a potent security framework that protects critical databases.

Flexibility empowers organizations to scale operations, adapt quickly to shifts in demand, and accelerate innovation while maintaining set standards.

By embedding security within flexible access frameworks, businesses ensure continuous and consistent agility without sacrificing data protection, thereby sustaining resilience and productivity.

Public Cloud Security vs Private Cloud Security

Organizations looking to optimize their data protection strategies must know the differences between public cloud security and private cloud security. Here’s a comparative analysis for your reference.

Features	Public cloud security	Private cloud security
Cost	More affordable due to shared infrastructure costs Higher costs associated with dedicated hardware and maintenance	Higher costs associated with dedicated hardware and maintenance Requires significant upfront investment
Scalability	Highly scalable; resources can be quickly adjusted based on demand	Limited scalability; scaling requires additional investment
Advanced Security Technologies	Access to cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning CSPs heavily invest in R&D for advanced security tools	May lack access to the latest security tools due to budget constraints The organization handles security with no shared infrastructure, multitenancy, or local latency concerns
Control	Limited control over infrastructure, managed by the CSP.	Full control over infrastructure, allowing for customized security.
Data Privacy	A shared environment with strong isolation measures for privacy.	Higher privacy with a dedicated environment
Compliance	CSPs provide compliance tools and certifications to meet general regulatory requirements.	Compliance can be tailored specifically to organizational needs to align with specific organizational policies and industry standards.
Reliability	High reliability with built-in redundancy and automatic backups.	Reliability depends on the organization’s own infrastructure.

How Does Public Cloud Security Work?

Organizations can employ third-party CSPs to manage applications and data within their data center. The working of public cloud security can be categorized into six parts:

1. Shared Responsibility Model

In public cloud environments, security duties are divided between the CSP and the customer under the shared responsibility model. The CSP is responsible for securing the cloud infrastructure, including physical security at data centers, while the customer manages access controls, application security, data encryption, and the storage, transfer, and backup of data. These responsibilities vary depending on the service model—whether it’s IaaS, Platform as a Service PaaS, or Software as a Service SaaS—requiring both parties to collaborate for comprehensive security.

2. Data Encryption

CSPs employ strong encryption methods to secure data both during storage and transfer. For instance, AES-256 encryption is widely used to protect data, ensuring that it remains unreadable without proper authorization, even if intercepted while at rest or in transit.

This encryption standard safeguards sensitive information across cloud networks, offering robust protection against unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber threats. Besides, CSPs often provide tools for managing encryption keys, adding another layer of security to the process.

3. Access Control

Most organizations rely on IAM systems to enforce rule-based access control for cloud resources. These systems implement the Least Privilege Principle, ensuring that users are granted only the minimal access necessary to perform their roles. By limiting permissions, the risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches is significantly reduced. Furthermore, integrating MFA strengthens security further by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access, adding an extra layer of protection to cloud environments.

4. Firewalls and Network Security

Firewalls serve as protective barriers between cloud resources and external networks in public cloud environments, monitoring and filtering network traffic based on predefined security rules. Many public cloud providers also offer Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), which allow organizations to create isolated network environments within the public cloud. This gives organizations greater control over data flow and enhances security by allowing them to manage their own network configurations and enforce stricter access controls.

5. Security Monitoring and Incident Response

Constant monitoring of cloud environments is crucial for detecting and addressing potential security threats. Organizations can leverage cloud-native security tools that provide real-time visibility into their infrastructure, enabling them to identify anomalous behavior or unauthorized access attempts. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems play a vital role by aggregating and analyzing security logs from various cloud services, providing centralized insights into possible vulnerabilities or breaches, and facilitating a swift response to security incidents.

6. Security Patching and Updates

CSPs regularly issue patches and updates to address vulnerabilities and enhance the security of their infrastructure. However, customers must also take responsibility for keeping their applications and services up to date to mitigate security risks.

Failing to apply patches promptly can leave cloud-based applications exposed to known vulnerabilities, making them targets for exploitation. For instance, if a security flaw is identified in a cloud application, timely patching is critical to prevent attackers from exploiting it.

Cloud Security: How Public, Private, and Hybrid Models Shape Your Strategy

Companies need to know the differences between public, private, and hybrid cloud computing models to improve their IT plans. Each type has perks that fit different business needs, from growing and saving money to staying secure and being customizable.

Public cloud: A public cloud lets many users and companies use services and infrastructure that third-party providers offer online. It’s easy to scale up and saves money, but users share the resources.

Example: AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure

Private cloud: A private cloud is a cloud setup that one company uses. It gives the company more control, better security, and the ability to make changes as needed. , it’s set up in the company’s own building or run by another company just for them.

Example: IBM or private clouds that companies like VMware run for others

Hybrid cloud: A hybrid cloud mixes public and private cloud parts. It lets data and programs move between them. This setup allows companies to grow and use their resources in the best way possible, based on their needs.

Example: A company might use AWS to get scalable public cloud services while keeping sensitive data on a private cloud through a solution like Microsoft Azure Stack.

Here is a comparative overview of public vs. private vs. hybrid cloud networks

Features	Public cloud	Private cloud	Hybrid cloud
Access	Shared among multiple users	Exclusive to one organization	Combines public and private cloud elements
Scalability	High, with flexible resource allocation	Limited to the organization’s infrastructure	High, with flexibility in resource management
Security	Standard security with shared resources	Enhanced security with dedicated resources	Balances security across public and private clouds
Cost	Generally lower due to shared resources	Higher due to dedicated infrastructure	Variable, depending on usage and infrastructure
Customization	Limited customization options	Highly customizable	Moderate customization, depending on the configuration

Public Cloud Security Standards

Public cloud security standards are rules, best practices, and guidelines created by governmental bodies, global entities, and industry organizations that help companies establish a foundational level of security in cloud settings.

These rules change based on the varying requirements of different industries and what kind of data they use. For example, banks and financial institutions adhere to PCI DSS standards to protect payment card information. Similarly, healthcare organizations must comply with HIPAA regulations to safeguard patient data.

By following the right rules for their field, companies can reduce risks in the public cloud. Here are some key public cloud security standards:

1. ISO standards

• ISO/IEC 27001: ISO/IEC 27001 establishes a structure for establishing and maintaining an information security management system (ISMS). Organizations of all kinds can use it to manage information security methodically.
• ISO/IEC 27017: ISO/IEC 27017 provides detailed instructions for cloud services and specifies the security measures that both cloud service providers and customers should take.

2. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)

PCI DSS plays a crucial role for businesses that handle credit card payments. It calls for tough security steps to safeguard cardholder info, making sure it’s processed, kept, and sent in the cloud infrastructure.

3. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

HIPAA establishes rules to protect sensitive patient data in healthcare. Companies using public cloud services need to check that their providers follow HIPAA rules to keep patient information secure.

4. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines

NIST  provides in-depth instructions on how to secure cloud setups. It includes documents like NIST SP 800-144, which tackles security and privacy concerns in public cloud offerings.

5. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

GDPR  protects data and privacy for people in the European Union. Companies using public cloud services must adhere to GDPR when they handle the personal data of EU citizens.

6. Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls

The CIS  offers a set of best practices to secure IT systems and data. These include specific controls for cloud environments to boost security measures.

7. Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Standards

The CSA  provides different frameworks and best practices for cloud security. One of these is the cloud controls matrix (CCM), which helps evaluate cloud service providers’ security standing.

8. Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP)

FedRAMP is a program run by the US government to standardize how federal agencies assess, authorize, and keep an eye on cloud products and services they use for security.

9. Service Organization Control (SOC) 2

SOC 2 is an auditing standard that ensures service providers handle customer data. It focuses on five key areas: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

10. Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS)

FIPS are standards set by the US government. These standards spell out security requirements for cryptographic modules that federal agencies use. Cloud services that handle sensitive government data often need to comply with FIPS.

Public Cloud Security Challenges

Companies that use public cloud services are vulnerable to certain security issues that must be solved to protect their data and apps. Here are eight of the biggest issues:

1. Misconfigurations

Misconfigurations are a major cause of security vulnerabilities in public cloud environments.

Examples include incorrect Identity and Access Management (IAM) settings, where overly permissive access gives users more privileges than necessary,  unauthorized access due to improper authentication setups, and extortion attacks exploiting misconfigured backups.

These occur when cloud services are not set up correctly, which can expose sensitive data. For instance, the Microsoft outage is one real-world misconfiguration example that occurred in the company’s cloud services, leading to widespread disruptions worldwide.

This incident highlights how even minor missteps in cloud configurations can lead to significant operational and security challenges, underscoring the importance of proper setup and continuous monitoring of cloud structure.

2. Insecure Access Points

Insecure access points can result from weak authentication methods or poorly configured access controls, giving cybercriminals easy entry into cloud environments.

For instance, in the Norton LifeLock breach, hackers targeted vulnerabilities in user access controls, exploiting weak password management and minimal restrictions to gain unauthorized entry.

Additionally, insecure API configurations can expose cloud environments to similar risks by granting excessive permissions, using inadequate encryption or failing to implement rate limiting, making robust multi-factor authentication and strict access protocols essential to safeguarding cloud systems against unauthorized access.

3. Account Hijacking

Account hijacking happens when an attacker takes over a user’s cloud account, often through phishing or stolen credentials. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and applications. A real-world instance of this occurred in the Okta case, where attackers exploited stolen credentials to access user accounts. This breach allowed them to manipulate applications and access sensitive information, demonstrating how account hijacking can be a serious threat, potentially leading to further attacks within an organization if not properly secured.

4. Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks

DoS attacks flood cloud services with excessive traffic, making them unavailable to legitimate users. This can disrupt business operations and cause significant financial losses.

In June 2022, Cloudflare, a major content delivery network and DDoS mitigation provider, reported the mitigation of one of the largest HTTPS DDoS attacks ever recorded. The attack peaked at 26 million requests per second and targeted a customer website using Cloudflare’s free plan.

Another notable case occurred in September 2024, when Cloudflare blocked a record-breaking DDoS attack that peaked at 3.8 terabits per second (Tbps), overwhelming the network infrastructure of various industries, including financial services and telecommunications.

5. Inadequate Access Controls

Inadequate access controls can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, especially when users are granted excessive permissions or access rights are not periodically reviewed. A prime example is the MGM Resorts breach, where attackers exploited vulnerabilities in access controls to compromise vast amounts of customer data. This incident underscores the importance of implementing strict access control policies and regularly reviewing user permissions to mitigate the risk of data exposure or misuse.

6. Insecure APIs and Cloud Interfaces

If not properly secured, insecure APIs and cloud management interfaces can be vulnerable to attacks, allowing hackers to exploit them for unauthorized access or data manipulation. A well-known instance is the Twitter breach, where attackers gained access by exploiting weaknesses in its API and cloud infrastructure. This breach enabled the attackers to manipulate accounts and access sensitive information, emphasizing the critical need for securing APIs and cloud interfaces to prevent such incidents.

7. Lack of Visibility and Monitoring

Many organizations struggle to maintain visibility over their cloud environments, making it difficult to promptly detect and respond to security incidents. One real-world example is the Capital One breach, where a lack of proper monitoring and visibility over cloud resources allowed attackers to access sensitive customer data without immediate detection. This incident highlights the importance of using comprehensive monitoring tools to quickly identify and address unusual activity, preventing significant damage such as data theft or unauthorized access.

8. Insider Threats

Insider threats occur when employees, either deliberately or accidentally, expose sensitive data. These risks are particularly challenging because insiders typically have legitimate access to the systems they compromise. A 2023 example is of a Tesla employee who leaked sensitive information, including confidential business data, by sharing it with unauthorized parties. This incident demonstrates how insiders, even with valid access, can significantly harm an organization by intentionally or unintentionally leaking or mishandling critical information.

Public Cloud Security Best Practices

As organizations begin their journey into the cloud, there are essential security considerations that must be addressed. Certain best practices stand at the forefront of it. So, Here are some top public cloud security practices to consider:

1. Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Strong user authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric checks, should be implemented. Users should be given the permissions they need, and access controls should be regularly checked and updated.

You can also:

• Establish layered authentication by combining MFA (e.g., TOTP-based or biometrics) with single sign-on (SSO) to secure all identity touchpoints.
• Minimize privilege exposure by creating least-privilege roles, granting temporary elevation for specific tasks, and enforcing session recording and keystroke monitoring on high-risk accounts.
• Enforce complex password requirements (length, character diversity) and expiration cycles. Incorporate passwordless solutions to reduce phishing risk and improve user compliance.
• Limit root access to break-glass use only, enabling strong auditing on each session. Integrate hardware security modules (HSMs) for additional protection, and establish root key rotation policies.
• Integrate CIAM within enterprise IAM frameworks to centralize customer and employee identity protection.
• Deploy Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) to monitor identity-based threats in real-time

2. Data Encryption

To protect sensitive information, it’s essential to encrypt data both at rest and in transit. This ensures that the data remains unreadable even if unauthorized access occurs without the proper decryption keys.

Here’s what to do at every stage of data migration:

• Pre-migration encryption and data classification: Assess the sensitivity of data to determine the necessary encryption standards (e.g., AES-256 for high-sensitivity data). Using client-side encryption tools pre-migration adds a zero-trust layer, ensuring data remains encrypted even before entering the cloud.
• Cloud-native encryption for data at rest and in transit: Cloud providers’ built-in encryption (AWS KMS, GCP Cloud Key Management) often employs AES-GCM for high efficiency. For data in transit, apply TLS 1.3 or higher, and enforce forward secrecy, protecting session keys from future decryption if private keys are compromised.
• Post-migration controls and key management: Implement key rotation policies with automated tools to limit the lifespan of keys. Enforce separation of duties (SoD) in key management to ensure that no single user has complete access to both encryption and decryption keys.

3. Secure Configurations

Misconfigurations are a common security risk in cloud environments, often stemming from default settings that don’t align with an organization’s security requirements. To mitigate these risks, it’s crucial to assess and adjust default configurations thoroughly. This includes:

• Disabling unnecessary services
• Closing unused network ports, and
• Implementing strict access control measures.

Regularly auditing configurations is essential to ensure that they meet evolving security needs and prevent vulnerabilities from arising.

4. Firewalls and Network Security

Set up firewalls to watch and control network traffic based on security rules. To protect against web-based threats even more, consider using web application firewalls (WAFs).

5. Monitoring and Logging

Use monitoring tools such as AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor, or Google Cloud’s Operations Suite to receive immediate alerts about potential threats. Maintaining detailed logs is equally important, as they provide a record of events that can be used for in-depth analysis and troubleshooting, helping to identify the root cause of incidents and improve security measures over time.

6. Vulnerability Management

Effective vulnerability management is essential for maintaining cloud security. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify weak points in cloud infrastructure, applications, and configurations. These assessments involve:

• Scanning for known vulnerabilities
• Misconfigurations or outdated software that could be exploited.
• Once vulnerabilities are identified, patches and fixes are promptly applied to reduce exposure to threats.

Additionally, staying informed about emerging threats and zero-day vulnerabilities is paramount for proactive defense. Utilize automated vulnerability management tools to continuously monitor for loopholes and streamline the remediation process, ensuring that security gaps are addressed before they can be exploited.

7. Compliance Management

Ensuring that your cloud infrastructure adheres to regulatory requirements and industry standards is critical for avoiding legal and financial repercussions. Cloud setups must comply with key regulations and standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO/IEC 27001.

Compliance involves securing data, maintaining records, ensuring audibility, and implementing governance frameworks. Since compliance in cloud environments is often a shared responsibility, it’s important to work closely with cloud providers to clarify who is responsible for specific compliance tasks.

Tools like AWS Artifact, Azure Compliance Manager, and Google Cloud’s Compliance Reports can help manage compliance obligations by offering insights, audits, and documentation related to regulatory requirements.

How Can SentinelOne Help with Public Cloud Security?

SentinelOne strengthens public cloud security with its Singularity™ Cloud Security suite, featuring the Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) and Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP).

SentinelOne empowers organizations to effectively manage and enhance their public cloud security through integrated data and actionable insights.

• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): SentinelOne offers agentless CSPM, providing rapid deployment and over 2,000 built-in configuration checks. It continuously monitors for misconfigurations and compliance violations across multi-cloud environments, ensuring proactive risk elimination.
• Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP): It defends any workload—containers, VMs, or serverless—using AI-driven runtime protection. This setup supports all cloud types, ensuring real-time threat detection and telemetry collection, vital for incident response and compliance in complex, hybrid environments.
• Cloud Detection and Response (CDR): CDR delivers forensic telemetry, incident response, and custom detection rules, with tools like Graph Explorer to visualize and manage attack paths. This advanced telemetry supports rapid, expert-led response, ensuring that threats are contained effectively and analyzed deeply.
• Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) scanning: SentinelOne integrates into CI/CD pipelines to shift left, scanning templates (Terraform, CloudFormation) for vulnerabilities pre-deployment, ensuring cloud infrastructure security at the development stage.
• AI Security Posture Management (AI-SPM): Singularity’s AI-SPM identifies vulnerabilities within AI pipelines and applies Verified Exploit Paths™ for actionable insights. This ensures AI service protection with preemptive checks on exploit pathways, bolstering the AI models’ integrity and operational resilience.
• Secrets Scanning: Secrets scanning identifies over 750 types of secrets across codebases, configurations, and IaC templates, enabling preventive security and drastically reducing the likelihood of credential leaks or unintended exposure in CI/CD pipelines.
• AI-Powered Data Security for Amazon S3: SentinelOne’s TD4S3 provides machine-speed scanning and threat elimination for Amazon S3 buckets, leveraging its Static AI Engine to quarantine malware and prevent the use of S3 buckets as attack vectors.

These features collectively ensure stronger compliance, real-time threat prevention, and workload security from development through production.

Strengthening Your Public Cloud Security Posture

As more companies move to public cloud platforms, putting strong security measures in place becomes essential.

Key approaches include using tough encryption to protect data, setting up tight access controls with tools that manage identity and access, and following industry standards like PCI DSS or HIPAA.

To stay ahead of threats employing best practices like end-to-end IAM, encryption across all stages of data migration, and real-time active threat monitoring ensures resilience of your cloud environment.

By leveraging security tools like firewalls, monitoring, and compliance management, organizations can better secure sensitive information and meet regulatory standards all while supporting operational agility and scalability.

Using cutting-edge security tools, like AI, that find threats and defend in real-time (for example, SentinelOne’s Singularity platform) can really boost your ability to guard important data and apps in the public cloud.

FAQs

When do we use the public cloud?

Web hosting, development environments, and data storage are common examples of when to use the public cloud. The public cloud is ideal for applications that require scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.

What is the difference between public cloud and private cloud security?

Public cloud security involves shared responsibility between the provider and the customer, while private cloud security offers more control and customization for the organization but requires more resources.

What is an example of a public cloud?

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are examples of public clouds that provide various services over the internet.

Is a private cloud more secure than a public cloud?

Private clouds can offer enhanced security through dedicated infrastructure and greater control, but public clouds also pro

video robust security features that are often sufficient for most organizations.

Who is responsible for securing the public cloud?

Security in the public cloud is a shared responsibility; the cloud service provider secures the infrastructure while the customer secures their data, applications, and access controls.