Secure Hybrid Cloud Solutions

Did you know that organizations can achieve enterprise-grade AI security without abandoning their existing public cloud investments? 🔐 The smartest CIOs are discovering that the solution isn't choosing between public cloud and on-premises infrastructure - it's about strategically deploying private AI hosting where it matters most. ## Executive Summary Forward-thinking technology leaders are revolutionizing their approach to AI security by implementing privately hosted AI systems while maintaining their public cloud foundations. This hybrid strategy delivers the best of both worlds: robust security for sensitive AI workloads and continued cost predictability for standard operations. The breakthrough insight is that you don't need to migrate everything - just your AI workloads that handle regulated data, proprietary algorithms, or mission-critical processes. Standard applications can remain in public cloud environments where they operate cost-effectively, while AI systems get the enhanced security and compliance controls they require. The Future The next 24 months will see widespread adoption of this selective approach to AI infrastructure. Organizations will increasingly deploy private AI hosting for their most sensitive workloads while leveraging public cloud economics for everything else. This creates a security-first AI architecture without the massive operational overhead of full infrastructure repatriation. Expect to see more businesses achieving regulatory compliance through targeted private AI deployment, eliminating the need for expensive, comprehensive on-premises migrations that disrupt existing workflows and budgets. What You Should Think About Audit your current AI initiatives to identify which ones process sensitive data or require regulatory compliance. These are prime candidates for private hosting while your other applications continue benefiting from public cloud scalability and cost models. Consider how private AI hosting can address your specific security requirements - whether that's GDPR compliance, HIPAA regulations, or protecting proprietary intellectual property. The key is strategic placement rather than wholesale infrastructure changes. Start evaluating private AI hosting solutions that can integrate seamlessly with your existing public cloud infrastructure. This approach lets you maintain predictable costs while dramatically improving security posture for your most critical AI workloads. What sensitive AI applications are you currently running in public cloud that might benefit from private hosting? How could this hybrid approach transform your security and compliance strategy? 🤔 Source: cio

Privileged Access in Multi-Cloud There's no denying that organizations struggle with security and complexity when it comes to multi-cloud environments. This includes managing privileged access and mitigating risks associated with credential compromise. This very comprehensive paper from Mandiant (part of Google Cloud) dives deep into the topic, covering: - Risks and attack vectors associated with hybrid and multi-cloud environments using real-world observations - Attack scenarios involving domain compromise and compromises of multi-cloud workloads - A proposed tiered security model in the cloud to deal with unique multi-cloud considerations - Architecture examples across AWS, Azure and GCP This is a very robust publication covering nuances associated with privileged access protections in multi-cloud environments! #ciso #cyber #cloudsecurity

📸 After my recent presentation on cloud adoption for healthcare, one of the most frequently asked questions was about the main roadblocks hospitals are facing in the Middle East as they consider cloud solutions. The key challenges? Legacy systems and internet dependency. Here’s what hospitals are up against: 1. Legacy systems: Many hospitals run older systems that aren’t cloud-compatible, leaving a tough choice: • Upgrading existing systems initially seems like the less expensive option. But it can quickly become a costly “sinkhole” due to hidden issues and expenses. • Adopting a new cloud-based system from the start is recommended. While it requires upfront investment, data transfer and process adjustments, this approach ultimately offers a more scalable and efficient setup. 2. Internet dependency and fiber optic issues: To address these, a hybrid cloud architecture is recommended. By setting up an on-premises data center that functions as a private cloud, hospitals can maintain full control over clinical and sensitive data. This setup allows cloud bursting—using third-party cloud resources for less sensitive systems and scaling up for sensitive EMR as needed. The hybrid approach gives hospitals both security and flexibility, expanding and contracting cloud resources as required without compromising data control. This hybrid model ensures sensitive data stays protected on-premises, while less critical data and overflow can leverage the cloud, balancing security with agility. #CloudAdoption #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalTransformation #HybridCloud #DataSecurity #HealthcareIT #MiddleEastHealthcare #LegacySystems #CloudComputing #HealthTech #EMR #DataPrivacy #Cloudfirst #Vision2030

🚨NSA Releases Guidance on Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments🚨 The National Security Agency (NSA) recently published an important Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI): "Account for Complexities Introduced by Hybrid Cloud and Multi-Cloud Environments." As organizations increasingly adopt hybrid and multi-cloud strategies to enhance flexibility and scalability, understanding the complexities of these environments is crucial for securing digital assets. This CSI provides a comprehensive overview of the unique challenges presented by hybrid and multi-cloud setups. Key Insights Include: 🛠️ Operational Complexities: Addressing the knowledge and skill gaps that arise from managing diverse cloud environments and the potential for security gaps due to operational siloes. 🔗 Network Protections: Implementing Zero Trust principles to minimize data flows and secure communications across cloud environments. 🔑 Identity and Access Management (IAM): Ensuring robust identity management and access control across cloud platforms, adhering to the principle of least privilege. 📊 Logging and Monitoring: Centralizing log management for improved visibility and threat detection across hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures. 🚑 Disaster Recovery: Utilizing multi-cloud strategies to ensure redundancy and resilience, facilitating rapid recovery from outages or cyber incidents. 📜 Compliance: Applying policy as code to ensure uniform security and compliance practices across all cloud environments. The guide also emphasizes the strategic use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to streamline cloud deployments and the importance of continuous education to keep pace with evolving cloud technologies. As organizations navigate the complexities of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, this CSI provides valuable insights into securing cloud infrastructures against the backdrop of increasing cyber threats. Embracing these practices not only fortifies defenses but also ensures a scalable, compliant, and efficient cloud ecosystem. Read NSA's full guidance here: https://lnkd.in/eFfCSq5R #cybersecurity #innovation #ZeroTrust #cloudcomputing #programming #future #bigdata #softwareengineering

I’m excited to share the latest episode of our Armchair Architects series! In this episode, David, Eric, and I take a dive deep into the complexities of cloud security, especially in multi-cloud and hybrid environments. 🔒 Key points covered: - The challenges of implementing consistent security policies across different environments, from mainframes to various cloud platforms. - The importance of a zero-trust model and maturity models in achieving robust security. - The difficulties of identity fragmentation and inconsistent security controls in multi-cloud setups. - Strategies for unified identity management and federated identity management. - The role of monitoring and governance in maintaining security across multiple clouds. In part two, we continue with a discussion about the dual dimensions of monitoring, understanding the evolving threat landscape, and the importance of cloud security posture management (CSPM). We share how we think about how to stay ahead of security challenges, including the concept of shift left security. As always - please share your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/g2dS54uq

🚀 Hybrid Cloud Done Right: Amazon EKS + VMware Cloud on AWS This architecture brings together the best of both worlds — cloud-native agility via Amazon EKS and legacy workloads hosted in VMware Cloud on AWS — to create a seamless hybrid application platform. Here's a breakdown of how it works: 🔹 1. Elastic Network Interface enables fast, secure connectivity between EKS pods and VMware-based database workloads. 🔹 2. Private Subnet Deployment keeps all EKS resources isolated and secure. 🔹 3. Managed Amazon EKS Cluster runs microservices (service-ui, service-app) and pods with full Kubernetes orchestration. 🔹 4. VMware Cloud on AWS hosts critical database workloads using the NSX-T overlay network and Tier-0 router. 🔹 5. Network Load Balancer exposes services through Kubernetes Ingress for external access. 🔹 6. Amazon Route 53 routes user traffic efficiently to your load balancer and backend services. 🔹 7-11. DevOps Automation Stack AWS CodePipeline automates deployment AWS CodeCommit stores code CodeBuild compiles and tests Amazon ECR hosts Docker images EKS auto-deploys updated containers seamlessly ✅ This architecture supports hybrid deployment models, modern DevOps, and secure service-to-database connectivity — all without refactoring legacy databases. 📣 If you're looking to modernize without ripping and replacing everything, this is the blueprint to start from. #HybridCloud #EKS #VMwareCloudOnAWS #Kubernetes #DevOps #CloudArchitecture #AWS #CloudNative #ModernInfrastructure #Route53 #CodePipeline #CodeBuild #GitOps #LinkedInTech #CloudComputing

Take my 20+ years of experience in 2 mins of this post! Managing data and applications in a hybrid cloud environment is both the present and the future, but people often struggle with this. Many underestimate the complexity of the hybrid cloud. It's a mix of on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud services. The challenge lies in ensuring seamless integration and data flow across this heterogeneous environment. ❌Common Mistakes: People often fail because they treat a hybrid cloud like a regular cloud, neglecting the unique demands it presents. Some common mistakes include inadequate security, poor data management, and failure to consider application dependencies. Now, here are the five areas that you need to focus on- 📌 Data Strategy: Your data is your most valuable asset. Develop a clear strategy that defines what data goes where and how it's protected. Failing to manage data effectively can lead to chaos. 📌 Security First: Hybrid cloud environments expand the attack surface. Implement strong security measures across all environments, from on-premises to public clouds, to safeguard your data and applications. 📌 Automation: Automation is your best friend. It not only streamlines operations but also minimizes human error, a common pitfall in hybrid cloud management. 📌 Team Empowerment: Your team is on the front lines. Invest in their training and give them the skills they need to navigate this complex landscape. A well-prepared team is your greatest asset. 📌 Communication and Governance: Ensure effective communication within your organization, and establish governance policies. Keep everyone aligned on the strategy, responsibilities, and unique aspects of your hybrid cloud setup. Understanding the intricacies of a hybrid cloud, avoiding common pitfalls, and implementing these key principles can be the difference between a successful journey and a challenging one.  What do you personally find the most challenging in managing a hybrid cloud? And what else would you like to add to this list from your experience? #hybridcloud #cloudcomputing #digitalbusinesstransformation #digitalsolutions

🚨 Ransomware has officially moved to the cloud. Microsoft has uncovered how the cybercriminal group Storm-0501 is exploiting hybrid cloud gaps to take full Azure domain control—without even deploying traditional malware. 🔑 How they do it: • Exploit weak on-prem Active Directory → Entra ID → Azure connections • Abuse non-human identities with Global Admin rights (often without MFA) • Exfiltrate data, wipe backups, delete storage accounts • Even use Microsoft Teams to send ransom demands 💥 The impact: Storm-0501’s approach makes traditional endpoint defenses almost useless. Once inside, they can cripple entire cloud infrastructures and destroy recovery options. 🛡️ What orgs must do NOW: • Enforce MFA across all privileged & synced accounts • Lock down Directory Sync permissions • Deploy Defender for Endpoint, Cloud, and XDR consistently • Enable resource locks & immutability in Azure • Continuously monitor hybrid environments for abnormal activity 👉 The shift from endpoint to cloud-native ransomware is here. If your hybrid cloud strategy doesn’t include identity hardening and code-to-cloud visibility, you’re already behind. #CyberSecurity #CloudSecurity #Ransomware #Azure #HybridCloud #CISO #InfoSec