Multi-cloud deployments spread workloads across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and smaller providers. They improve resilience, reduce lock-in, and optimize cost. They also multiply your attack surface. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) gives a standardized way to manage that risk through five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Applied to multi-cloud, these functions must be mapped across every provider, every region, and every service.
Identify: Inventory all assets and services in every cloud. Include networking, storage, compute, IAM roles, keys, and APIs. Classify data based on sensitivity and compliance requirements. Document dependencies between cloud-native services and external systems.
Protect: Enforce least privilege across all identities and roles, and use strong multi-factor authentication. Configure network segmentation and security groups per cloud to stop lateral movement. Encrypt data at rest and in transit, using provider-native tooling when possible. Maintain baseline configurations and patching policies across hybrid environments.
Detect: Implement unified logging and telemetry across all platforms. Feed logs into a centralized SIEM that can correlate events from every cloud in real time. Set alerts for anomalies in user behavior, network flows, and application performance.