Both data at rest, which refers to stored data, and data in transit, which pertains to data being transmitted, require robust security measures to ensure their security in the cloud. Implementing these safeguards is essential for protecting sensitive information effectively.
Step 1: Encrypt Data at Rest
It protects stored data on disks or storage systems.
Encryption standards such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) are installed, which encrypts data into unreadable formats. Only authorized keys can decrypt the data.
Step 2: Encryption in Transit
Encrypt data in motion.
Encryption protocols such as TLS (Transport Layer Security) make data unintelligible to any unauthorized user while in transit.
Step 3: Key Management
Safely manage the keys used for encrypting and decrypting.
Use robust key generation, storage, rotation, and destruction policies. Tools to be used: Use Key Management Services (KMS) offered by cloud providers.
Step 4: Access Controls
Ensure limited access to data.
Use role-based access control (RBAC), multifactor authentication, and auditing logs to monitor and enforce access constraints.
Step 5: Integrity Checks
Ensure the data has not been altered.
It checks integrity using cryptographic hash functions (like SHA-256) and digital signatures.
Step 6: Tokenization and Masking (Optional)
Replace sensitive data with tokens or mask part of the data.
For example, in a credit card application, only the last four digits are viewable; the rest are masked.
