Cloud Computing
Cloud Security Posture Management
Definition
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) is a class of security tools that are designed to identify misconfiguration issues and compliance risks in the cloud. CSPM tools work by continuously monitoring cloud environments for gaps in security policy enforcement.
Why It Matters
Misconfigurations are a leading cause of security breaches in the cloud. CSPM tools automate the process of finding these issues (like a publicly exposed storage bucket or an overly permissive firewall rule) before they can be exploited by attackers.
Contextual Example
A CSPM tool scans a company's AWS account and flags a security group that allows unrestricted SSH access from the entire internet. It alerts the security team, who can then remediate the issue.
Common Misunderstandings
- CSPM is focused on identifying risks in the cloud control plane (the configuration of the services).
- Examples of CSPM tools include Wiz, Palo Alto Prisma Cloud, and native cloud provider services.