What you need to know about cloud security

As a web presence grows, websites need to be prepared with a plan to fend off increasingly complex attacks against web infrastructure, like DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks and Level 7 (application layer) attacks.

When businesses are looking to move all or part of their operations to the cloud, there is the inevitable question of security. Will our website be safe in the cloud? Does hosting our application data in the cloud make our business more vulnerable to cyber attacks? Can our cloud servers handle a DDoS attack? What is cloud security and what is the right way to implement it for our business?

Cloud security done right is a solution that answers all these questions, making it an essential component to creating a cloud environment that works for businesses (and customers) around the globe. By providing a scalable and flexible network solution, the cloud enables tremendous opportunities, but it also brings challenges. As a web presence grows, websites need to be prepared with a plan to fend off increasingly complex attacks against web infrastructure, like DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks and Level 7 (application layer) attacks.

What is Cloud Security?

Cloud security provides multiple levels of controls within the network infrastructure in order to provide continuity and protection for cloud-based assets like websites and web applications. Whether in a public or private cloud, businesses need to balance DDoS protection, high availability, data security, and regulatory compliance in their cloud security provider.

A combination of the latest in Content Delivery Netork (CDN) security technology and cloud-based infrastructure provides a multi-faceted approach to cloud security. See an illustration of the layered protections of a cloud security solution.

Benefits of a Cloud Security solution

Let’s take a look at the benefits of a cloud security solution blended with the performance of a content delivery network.

1.       Cloud DDoS Protection

Distributed denial of service attacks are on the rise, particularly for retail and gaming websites. In 2014, a study by CDNetworks saw a 29 percent increase in DDoS attack frequency on client websites. Amplification attacks, a type of DDoS attack that utilizes vulnerable systems (“zombie” computers) to send huge amounts of traffic to the target website or web application servers, increased sharply from only one occurrence in 2013 to 64 in 2014.

A DDoS attack is designed to overwhelm website servers so it can no longer respond to legitimate user requests. If a DDoS attack is successful, it renders a website useless for hours, or even days. This can result in a loss of revenue, customer trust and brand authority.

90% of websites are vulnerable to attack in all types of industries including ecommerce, gaming, SaaS solutions, and media.  When websites and cloud applications are under attack, the user experience suffers and revenue is lost.  Companies who have a cloud security feature integrated into their CDN platform can expect a reduction in the length, intensity and impact of the attacks.

2. High Availability

Web assets, whether they’re a suite of applications or a business website, are always on. A security solution that provides constant support, including live monitoring, is becoming a business necessity. CDNs enhance the delivery of website content as well as application functionality on a global scale.