Hybrid Cloud Security with DevSecOps: Transforming Data Security

As hybrid cloud environments promise more opportunities for both military and private applications, their setups are growing increasingly complex, presenting unique challenges. SealingTech’s implementation of DevSecOps principles is at the forefront of transforming data security in these intricate environments. By leveraging infrastructure as code (IaC), continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices, and security configuration and tools, SealingTech ensures a robust, secure, and compliant infrastructure tailored to its customers’ needs.

IaC and CI/CD: The Backbone of Hybrid Cloud Security

As hybrid cloud environments promise more opportunities for both military and private applications, their setups are growing increasingly complex, presenting unique challenges.

At the core of SealingTech’s approach to hybrid cloud security is the use of IaC and CI/CD practices. IaC allows for the automated deployment of critical security tools and authentication mechanisms. Applications like Ansible and Terraform are integral to this process, enabling consistent and reliable provisioning of environments. 

Of course, these applications alone do not address the “Sec” in “DevSecOps”. SealingTech applies industry-standard security tools during its own internal development process, and similar to the IaC and CI/CD, extends the use of those tools to on-premises (on-prem) deployments of complex infrastructures. DevSecOps tools such as SonarQube and Nessus are crucial in this process, ensuring that security configurations are integrated into the infrastructure from the beginning, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities.

Further, SealingTech has created custom tools to address unique security needs in hybrid environments. This combination of existing apps and SealingTech’s enrichments and tools ensures that the infrastructure is set up correctly and securely from the outset, adhering to Department of Defense (DoD) security standards.

User Responsibilities and Customization

While SealingTech provides the foundational code and tools for deploying secure environments, users must tailor these solutions to their needs. For instance, users might need to specify the number of servers or name particular resources within their deployment. Users bring this information, and SealingTech provides the tools and configuration that take that information and creates operationally functional, secure environments tailored to meet your organization’s unique needs.

Maintaining Consistent Security Policies

A significant challenge in hybrid cloud environments lies in maintaining consistent security policies once the initial solution is implemented. SealingTech addresses this through its development of customized, comprehensive system security plans that include regular vulnerability assessments using tools like Tenable Nessus and Security Content and Automation Protocol (SCAP) scanners, and prescribe the use of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions including Security Onion. This combination of tailored plans and tools helps organizations achieve and maintain compliance.

For example, if a vulnerability is discovered, the organization might have a policy that requires remediation within a week for critical issues. SealingTech supports this process by providing mechanisms to receive updates and push them out to systems, ensuring that security patches are applied promptly and consistently across the environment. Proactive security also relies upon a properly deployed and tailored event monitoring solution creating alerts when anomalies are detected. The tools and response methodology laid out in the security plan prepare information assurance groups to address risks and threats that evolve daily.

Integrating Legacy Systems and Best Practices

Organizations with legacy systems face additional challenges when implementing hybrid cloud security. SealingTech recommends determining which components should remain on-prem versus what can be moved to the cloud. This decision is driven by factors such as cost, risk, and operational needs.

The tools and response methodology laid out in the security plan prepare information assurance groups to address risks and threats that evolve daily.

High-performance computing infrastructures, for instance, might require significant investments if maintained on-prem. On the other hand, offloading large compute operations to cloud providers can also come with a significant cost if compute demand is high. Organizations must weigh the benefits of such investments against the potential risks and costs associated with cloud providers like Amazon Web Services or FENCES in the DoD. In some cases, a hybrid approach where compute resources are kept on-prem while long-term storage is moved to the cloud might be optimal.

Achieving Feature Parity and Flexibility

A key advantage of SealingTech’s DevSecOps approach is the feature parity between on-prem and cloud deployments. This consistency allows organizations to seamlessly provision resources and applications in both environments. Whether deploying a new environment or application or updating existing ones, the same tools and processes ensure that security and compliance are maintained.

Navigating Approval and Risk Mitigation

Within the DoD, to guarantee mission success, your provider needs to include the Authorizing Officer (AO) and Security Control Assessor (SCA) at regular intervals from the start. For example, when proposing a hybrid cloud solution, organizations must present a thorough design that addresses risk mitigation. The AO’s and SCA’s approval are crucial, as they are ultimately responsible for ensuring the information system adequately protects sensitive data and meets national security requirements prior to approving it for operational use.

Potential Applications in Private Industry

While SealingTech serves a wide range of defense clients, the principles and technologies it employs have applications in the private sector. Industries such as medical research and finance face similar challenges in separating and securing data. Implementing DevSecOps in these sectors could strengthen security and compliance, echoing SealingTech’s success in the defense sector.

SealingTech’s DevSecOps approach to hybrid cloud security exemplifies how modern practices transform data security. By automating infrastructure deployment, maintaining consistent security policies, and navigating complex approval processes, SealingTech ensures that its customers are securely and efficiently managing their hybrid cloud environments.