Best Encrypted Cloud Storage For Organizations: How to Choose

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With data breaches on the rise, encryption has become a mandatory component of any cloud data security strategy. Encrypting sensitive information stored in the cloud protects confidentiality by transforming data into unreadable cipher text accessible only by authorized parties. However, with a myriad of encrypted cloud storage solutions now available, determining the right platform aligned to your specific security needs and use cases requires careful evaluation. In this Best Encrypted Cloud Storage For Organizations guide, we provide an impartial overview of leading enterprise-grade encrypted cloud storage options, key capabilities, and selection criteria to consider. 

Microsoft Azure Encrypted Storage Services 

Microsoft Azure offers a comprehensive suite of encryption services to protect data stored within its cloud environment. These services are essential for ensuring data privacy, security, and compliance with various regulations. Let’s delve deeper into the key encryption services offered by Azure: 

  1. Azure Storage Service Encryption (SSE)

  • What it does: Automatically encrypts data at rest. 
  • Encryption Standard: Utilizes the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a 256-bit key, which is a highly secure encryption method. 
  • Scope of Application: It covers all types of storage including Blob Storage, File Storage, Disk Storage, and Table Storage. 
  • Management: Encryption and decryption are handled transparently by Azure, requiring no additional actions from the user. 
  • Key Management: Managed by Azure, though customers can opt to manage their keys using Azure Key Vault for more control. 
  1. Azure Disk Encryption

  • Technology Used: Employs BitLocker encryption technology for Windows virtual machines (VMs) and DM-Crypt feature for Linux VMs. 
  • Functionality: Provides volume encryption for both the operating system and data disks. 
  • Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Azure Key Vault, allowing customers to control and manage disk encryption keys and secrets. 
  • Benefit: Particularly useful for enhancing the security of virtual machines by encrypting data while at rest and during inter-node communication within Azure. 
  1. Client-Side Encryption

  • Concept: This approach involves encrypting data on the client’s side (i.e., before it is uploaded to Azure Storage). 
  • Key Control: Users have complete control over the encryption keys. 
  • Use Case: Ideal for scenarios where customers require additional security measures, such as in highly regulated industries or for sensitive data. 
  • Flexibility: Offers the option to use either Azure-managed keys or customer-managed keys. 

Integrated Features and Benefits 

  • Compliance Certifications: Azure’s encryption services align with various industry standards and regulations, ensuring that data stored in Azure meets legal and compliance requirements. 
  • Hybrid Storage Options: Azure supports a mix of on-premises and cloud storage solutions, allowing for encrypted data to be stored and managed across both environments seamlessly. 
  • Flexibility and Scalability: Azure’s encryption services are designed to be flexible, catering to a wide range of applications and scalable to accommodate growing data needs. 
  • Integration with Azure Security and Management Tools: Azure encryption services are integrated with other Azure security and management tools, providing a holistic approach to cloud security. 

Google Cloud Encrypted Storage 

Core encrypted storage services on Google Cloud Platform include: 

  1. Google Cloud Storage

  • Encryption: Provides both client-side and server-side encryption to secure object data. 
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Integrates with DLP scanning to identify and protect sensitive data. 
  • Key Management: Allows the use of cloud-managed keys or customer-supplied encryption keys (CSEK) for greater control. 
  • Use Cases: Ideal for storing any type of data, including large data sets, with flexible encryption options. 
  1. Cloud Storage for Firebase

  • Encryption Method: Uses 256-bit AES encryption to secure binary objects like images, audio files, and videos. 
  • Key Management: Manages encryption keys via Cloud Firestore, a NoSQL document database. 
  • Target Audience: Aimed at developers building apps on Firebase, providing a secure way to store user-generated content. 
  1. Persistent Disk

  • Functionality: Encrypts block storage volumes attached to virtual machines (VMs), securing boot disks, application disks, and data disks. 
  • At Rest and In Transit: Ensures data is encrypted both at rest and during live migration, enhancing data security across different states. 
  • Seamless Integration: Works with Google Compute Engine VMs, providing encrypted storage with minimal configuration. 
  1. Local SSD

  • Encryption Standard: Offers 256-bit AES encryption for ephemeral high input/output operations per second (IOPS) solid-state drives (SSDs). 
  • Use Case: Suitable for applications requiring high performance and low latency, such as databases and caching layers. 
  • VM Attachment: Encrypted Local SSDs are attached to VMs, providing fast and secure temporary storage. 

Overall Features and Benefits 

  • Span of Services: Google Cloud’s encrypted storage services cover a wide array of storage solutions, including object storage, NoSQL databases, and VM disks. 
  • Key Management Flexibility: Offers multiple options for key management, catering to different security needs and compliance requirements. 
  • Integration with Google Cloud’s Security Tools: Seamlessly integrates with other security and management tools within GCP for a comprehensive security strategy. 
  • Scalability and Performance: Designed to be scalable and high-performing, meeting the demands of both large and small-scale applications.   

Amazon S3 Encrypted Storage 

 Amazon S3 underpins many workloads and provides encryption capabilities including: 

  1. Client-Side Encryption

  • How it Works: This method involves encrypting files and data on the client’s side (i.e., before they are uploaded to Amazon S3). 
  • Key Management: Clients have complete control over the encryption keys and the encryption process. 
  • Use Case: Ideal for users who require tight control over their encryption keys and processes, typically for highly sensitive data. 
  1. Server-Side Encryption (SSE)

  • Encryption Process: Amazon S3 automatically encrypts data at rest as it is written to disks in AWS data centers. 
  • Encryption Standard: Utilizes Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a 256-bit key size, often considered the gold standard for encryption. 
  • Envelope Encryption: This is a method where each piece of data is encrypted with a unique key. These keys are then encrypted with a master key. 
  • Options: There are several SSE options, including: 
  • SSE-S3: Uses AWS-managed keys. 
  • SSE-C: Allows customers to manage their own encryption keys. 
  • SSE-KMS: Leverages AWS Key Management Service for key management and additional security controls. 
  1. AWS Key Management Service (KMS)

  • Key Management Solution: Offers a managed service for creating, managing, and using cryptographic keys. 
  • Features: Includes key generation, establishing usage policies, auditing, and automatic key rotation. 
  • Integration: AWS KMS is integrated with most AWS services, including S3, allowing seamless encryption and decryption of data. 
  • Compliance and Security: Helps in meeting compliance requirements and provides a secure way to manage encryption keys at scale. 

Integrated Security Features 

  • Layered Security: AWS provides an environment where layered data security can be implemented, offering different levels of control and security to meet diverse risk tolerances. 
  • Compliance and Certifications: Amazon S3 encryption options align with various industry standards and regulations, ensuring compliance for stored data. 
  • Flexibility and Scalability: Whether it’s a small-scale application or a large enterprise workload, S3’s encryption capabilities are designed to scale and adapt to varying needs. 
  • Integration with AWS Ecosystem: Encryption in S3 is part of a broader AWS security ecosystem, which includes monitoring, logging, and other security services for comprehensive protection. 

IBM Cloud Encrypted Object Storage 

IBM Cloud offers encryption options for block storage and object data:   

  1. Hyper Protect Crypto Services

  • Service Nature: A fully-managed data encryption service. 
  • Security Modules: Utilizes Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) that are kept in hardware, providing a high degree of security. 
  • Certification: Backed by certified Cloud HSMs, ensuring compliance with rigorous security standards. 
  • Use Case: Ideal for sensitive data requiring the highest levels of protection, often used in industries like finance, healthcare, and government. 
  1. Key Protect

  • Functionality: Manages encryption keys for IBM Cloud services and customer-created keys. 
  • Dual Authorization Controls: Enhances security by requiring two authorized users to access key functions, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or misuse. 
  • Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other IBM Cloud services, providing a centralized solution for key management across various cloud services. 
  1. Cloud Object Storage

  • Encryption Type: Offers automatic server-side encryption for object data stored in the cloud. 
  • Data Scanning: Includes capabilities to scan stored data for sensitive information, aiding in compliance and data protection efforts. 
  • Features: Designed for scalability and durability, making it suitable for a wide range of data storage needs, from archival to active use cases. 

     4.Overall Features and Benefits 

  • Automation: IBM Cloud’s encryption services are automated, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing the risk of human error. 
  • Scalability: These services are scalable, accommodating growing data storage and security needs. 
  • Compliance Support: Particularly strong in supporting compliance needs, IBM Cloud’s encryption options are well-suited for industries with stringent regulatory requirements. 
  • Integration with IBM Cloud Ecosystem: These services are part of the broader IBM Cloud ecosystem, providing a cohesive and integrated experience for users. 

 Securing Data In Motion and Operations  

While encrypting data at rest is crucial, complementary measures are required to secure data fully: 

  • Encrypt data in transit using secure transfer protocols like SFTP, SSL/TLS, VPNs and HTTPS. 
  • Enforce encryption and key management policies to maintain governance across systems.   
  • Restrict key access to only required identities using IAM and PAM solutions. 
  • Monitor API calls, credential usage, and storage traffic patterns for anomalies indicating misuse. 
  • Validate encryption efficacy via penetration testing and audits focused on cloud storage security controls. 
  •  Encryption alone is insufficient without holistic data and identity lifecycle protections. 

Choosing the Right Encrypted Cloud Storage   

 With various solutions available, organizations should evaluate options based on: 

  • Hybrid support – Integrations with on-premises and multi-cloud systems if required. 
  • Key management – Flexibility in using provider managed-keys, customer keys or bring your own key (BYOK) capabilities.  
  • Granular access controls – Ability to enforce least privilege permissions and separation of duties for storage accounts, objects and encryption keys. 
  • Auditing – Logs capturing encryption status, key usage activity, and unauthorized access attempts for compliance and retrospection.  
  • Automated monitoring – Tooling to continuously assess encryption status across resources and provide alerts on misconfigurations or policy violations. 
  • Compliance scope – Certifications like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 that have been attained. Some solutions offer higher assurance. 
  • Budget– Total pricing models accounting for requests, capacity, data transfer, API usage, and key management based on usage volumes. 

  

Encrypted cloud data storage enables organizations to benefit from the advantages of the cloud while still securing sensitive information aligned to risk tolerance. Our Best Encrypted Cloud Storage For Organizations guide provides an impartial overview of capabilities for selecting the optimal solutions specific to your environment and objectives. For assistance navigating encryption options tailored to your organization’s needs and use cases, contact us to discuss your requirements. Our experts can help architect the ideal cloud data encryption strategy to enable your initiatives securely.

 

 

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