Five Security Best Practices for Cloud and Virtualization Platforms

Utilize intuitive management. Virtualization and cloud computing have helped expand the modern data center. Just like these systems, your security platform must be able to scale. This means utilizing one intuitive security management console for multiple data center and virtualization points. Using permissions, administrators can have specific access to authorized security areas. This unified console allows for improved visibility into the complete virtual layer as well as the workloads accessing virtual resources.

Create security efficiency. One misconception is that security is just an extra layer creating additional overhead. The reality is that it doesn’t have to be. Better integration at the hypervisor layer, improved resource utilization, and even agentless technology are all improving how your security platform integrates with your data center. Security can help improve efficiency by allowing administrators to deploy solid policies while still maintaining VM density.

Integrate security scalability. Modern cloud and virtualization environments now span multiple locations. In the same respect, your security platform must be able to scale as well. Whether you have instances in public, private, or hybrid cloud, your security must be able to handle new types of requirements. Scalable security means the capability to handle high-density multi-tenant cloud and virtualization environments. So, if you’re spanning multiple cloud types and data centers, make sure to utilize a security solution that can span as well.

Be proactive! Imagine being able to capture malicious attacks before they even hit your VM or to enforce policies while a virtual workload is only being provisioned. Creating security intelligence and automation allows administrators to focus on new types of deployment methodologies while allowing the security engine to operate. As attacks against the modern data center continue to evolve, your security infrastructure will need to stay proactive and agile.

Integrating compliance and regulation. For those organizations bound by compliance and regulations, cloud infrastructure can be a bit of a challenge. With that in mind, you can still deploy security platforms which will enforce PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and security standards. These security platforms go far beyond standard AV services. Compliance-ready security platforms will utilize integrated firewalls, intrusion detection services, and even ensure complete traffic control and isolation between virtual workloads.