Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Download Mastering Cloud Security Posture Management Cspm Secure Multi Cloud Infrastructure Across Aws Azure And Google Cloud Using Proven Techniques 1St Edition Qamar Nomani online ebook texxtbook full chapter pdf
Download Mastering Cloud Security Posture Management Cspm Secure Multi Cloud Infrastructure Across Aws Azure And Google Cloud Using Proven Techniques 1St Edition Qamar Nomani online ebook texxtbook full chapter pdf
https://ebookmeta.com/product/multi-cloud-administration-guide-
manage-and-optimize-cloud-resources-across-azure-aws-gcp-and-
alibaba-cloud-1st-edition-jeroen-mulder/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/azure-cloud-security-for-absolute-
beginners-enabling-cloud-infrastructure-security-with-multi-
level-security-options-pushpa-herath/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/cloud-native-security-cookbook-
recipes-for-a-secure-cloud-1st-edition-josh-armitage/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/cloud-native-development-with-
google-cloud-daniel-vaughan/
Cloud Native Infrastructure with Azure: Building and
Managing Cloud Native Applications 1st Edition Nishant
Singh & Michael Kehoe
https://ebookmeta.com/product/cloud-native-infrastructure-with-
azure-building-and-managing-cloud-native-applications-1st-
edition-nishant-singh-michael-kehoe/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/cloud-security-automation-get-to-
grips-with-automating-your-cloud-security-on-aws-and-
openstack-1st-edition-prashant-priyam/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/practical-spring-cloud-function-
developing-cloud-native-functions-for-multi-cloud-and-hybrid-
cloud-environments-1st-edition-banu-parasuraman/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/practical-spring-cloud-function-
developing-cloud-native-functions-for-multi-cloud-and-hybrid-
cloud-environments-1st-edition-banu-parasuraman-2/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/infrastructure-leaders-guide-to-
google-cloud-lead-your-organizations-google-cloud-adoption-
migration-and-modernization-journey-1st-edition-jeremy-lloyd/
Mastering Cloud Security Posture
Management (CSPM)
Copyright © 2024 Packt Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, without
the prior written permission of the publisher, except
in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical
articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this
book to ensure the accuracy of the information
presented. However, the information contained in
this book is sold without warranty, either express or
implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing or
its dealers and distributors, will be held liable for any
damages caused or alleged to have been caused
directly or indirectly by this book.
Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide
trademark information about all of the companies
and products mentioned in this book by the
appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt
Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this
information.
Group Product Manager: Preet Ahuja
Publishing Product Manager: Prachi Sawant
Book Project Manager: Uma Devi
Senior Editor: Sayali Pingale
Technical Editor: Nithik Cheruvakodan
Copy Editor: Safis Editing
Proofreader: Safis Editing
Indexer: Rekha Nair
Production Designer: Shankar Kalbhor
Marketing Coordinator: Rohan Dobhal
First published: January 2024
Production reference: 1100124
Published by
Packt Publishing Ltd.
Grosvenor House
11 St Paul’s Square
Birmingham
B3 1RB, UK
ISBN 978-1-83763-840-6
www.packtpub.com
To my wife, Lubna. Thank you for your patience,
your kindness, and your friendship. Most of all,
for your unwavering support in the new country
and throughout. I couldn’t have asked for more.
This book is dedicated to you with deepest
gratitude and love.
Foreword
As a fellow cyber practitioner, friend, and former
colleague, I am honored to introduce this pivotal
book by Qamar Nomani, a remarkable cybersecurity
architect and previously an integral part of the
product security team I led at Sophos. Qamar’s
expertise was instrumental in securing the cloud
infrastructure that supported our extensive cloud
product portfolio, which safeguarded over 500,000
customers worldwide. When it comes to high-stake
cloud environments, he knows what to do.
This book is a treasure trove of insights for cloud
security professionals. It meticulously unpacks the
complex landscape of Cloud Security Posture
Management (CSPM), offering practical strategies,
techniques, and best practices for securing multi-
cloud infrastructures. Its comprehensive content
spans from fundamental cloud security concepts to
advanced topics such as CSPM tool selection and
implementation, vulnerability and compliance
management, and future trends in cloud security.
What sets this book apart is Qamar’s hands-on
experience and deep understanding of real-world
challenges in cloud security. He skillfully bridges the
gap between theoretical knowledge and practical
application, making this book a must-read for
cybersecurity managers, security leads, cloud
security architects, and professionals at all levels. By
incorporating vendor-neutral perspectives, Qamar
ensures that the content is educational and highly
applicable in diverse cloud environments.
Reading this book will empower you to improve your
organization’s security posture, ensure compliance,
and stay abreast of the ever-evolving cloud security
landscape. It is an essential guide for anyone
committed to mastering cloud security and shaping
the future of this critical domain.
Julie Davila
Technology and Cyber Security Practitioner
I have had the privilege of working with Qamar
Nomani, an esteemed cybersecurity expert who
draws from his extensive experience securing cloud
environments to guide readers on an illuminating
journey of CSPM.
As cloud computing has become ubiquitous, its
convenience and flexibility have also introduced new
vulnerabilities that many organizations are ill-
equipped to address. With sensitive data and vital
applications migrated to the cloud, a robust and
proactive security strategy is essential to safeguard
these critical assets.
This definitive guide equips cybersecurity managers,
cloud architects, and DevOps engineers with the
practical knowledge to comprehend the unique
threats posed by the cloud landscape and implement
robust CSPM tools and solutions to minimize risk
exposure.
Methodically organized in four parts, this book
establishes the CSPM fundamentals, evaluates
leading products against pertinent criteria, supplies
technical deployment blueprints tailored for
organizations of varying sizes, and provides
actionable direction on inventorying cloud assets,
harnessing infrastructure-as-code, configuring
policies-as-code, and integrating security across the
development life cycle.
The chapters provide detailed CSPM product
evaluation criteria, security capability features, and
technical deployment designs that are appropriate
for organizations of any size. They cover a practical
framework for onboarding cloud accounts and
containers, discovering cloud asset and inventory
management, and infrastructure-as-code examples.
Most importantly, this book will be super helpful for
cloud security administrators and security engineers
in configuring security policies as code and enabling
the CSPM configurations and deployment
architecture. For DevOps and DevSecOps
practitioners charged with enabling continuous
compliance, this book covers policy as code
automation blueprints and remediation workflows
that accelerate integrating security across the
development life cycle.
With insightful analysis of the evolving threat
landscape and innovative approaches to cloud
security controls, this definitive guide provides
indispensable direction to advanced cloud security.
I’m confident this book will establish itself as vital
reading for anyone serious about protecting critical
assets residing in the cloud.
Rehman Khan
Security Architecture and Engineering Executive,
CISSP, and CCSP
Contributors
About the author
Qamar Nomani is a cybersecurity expert and
Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). He is currently
working as a cloud security architect for one of the
world’s leading mobility companies from their Paris
office. With over 10 years of experience as an IT
professional in various domains, his expertise lies in
security architecting and design for multi-cloud
infrastructure. With his passion for solving complex
problems, Qamar has worked for security product
companies, financial institutions, and automotive
companies with their security teams, helping to
achieve top-notch industry-standard security
practices for multi-cloud environments.
Along with his master’s degree in computer
applications from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi,
Qamar also holds several cloud security certifications.
Being an avid learner and a passionate technology
trainer, he has trained thousands of professionals
across the globe on cloud security topics. Qamar is
an active member of various cybersecurity
communities and forums and often gets invited to
universities and NGOs to speak about cybersecurity
awareness and career guidance topics. In his free
time, Qamar writes articles on Infortified
(https://infortified.com), his personal tech blog, and
a bi-weekly LinkedIn newsletter
(https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/70505388140
62108672/)
Journey of writing a book has fulfilled a lifelong
dream, and only through the immersive
experience did I realize the depth and
comprehensiveness of this endeavor. This book is
a testament to the collaborative efforts and
unwavering support of many individuals, each
playing a vital role in bringing it to life. My
heartfelt thanks go out to those who contributed
to this project, and I express immense gratitude
for their invaluable support.
My heartfelt appreciation to my family, with a
special mention to my father and brother Neyaz
Nomani. Their unwavering support for my
education, even in the face of very limited
resources, touches me deeply and means the
world to me.
I express my heartfelt gratitude to all my
teachers and professors, with a special
acknowledgment to my high school gurus, Mr.
Alam Sir and the late Mr. Khusru Alam Sir for
being not only guiding lights but also being my
godfathers, playing a pivotal role in supporting
me during my transition from the village to the
city for further studies.
Special thanks to friends, colleagues, managers,
mentors, and dedicated cloud security
professionals. Your groundbreaking research has
paved the way for a deeper understanding of
CSPM. This book stands on the shoulders of
giants, and I'm grateful for the collective wisdom
of the cybersecurity community.
I would also like to thank the team at Packt
Publishing, whose commitment to excellence and
passion for disseminating knowledge have made
this project a reality. Their expertise and support
have been indispensable in giving this book life.
Finally, heartfelt thanks to readers joining this
educational journey. Your interest in cloud
security fuels my commitment to contributing to
the dynamic field of cybersecurity.
Thank you to everyone who has played a role, big
or small, in making this book possible. Your
contributions are deeply appreciated.
With gratitude and lots of love,
Qamar Nomani
Preface
Part 1: CSPM Fundamentals
2
Understanding CSPM and the Threat
Landscape
What is CSPM?
Threat landscape and the importance of
CSPM tools
Key capabilities and core components of
CSPM
How do CSPM tools work?
Common cloud misconfigurations and
their causes
Why do misconfigurations occur?
Best practices to safeguard from
misconfiguration
Are CSPM tools enough to protect the
cloud environment?
What are other cloud security
technologies and tools?
Summary
Further reading
3
CSPM Tools and Features
Technical requirements
Understanding CSPM tools
Cloud provider native CSPM tool
Third-party CSPM tool
Agent-based versus agentless CSPM
solutions
Open source CSPM tools
Understanding the Gartner Magic
Quadrant
Gartner Peer Insights
Gartner Review
Examples of CSPM tools
Cloud provider-native CSPM tools
Third-party CSPM tools
Open source CSPM tools
Summary
Further reading
4
CSPM Tool Selection
Structured thought to choose the right
CSPM tool
1. Understand your organization’s cloud
security needs
2. Identify the CSPM features you need
3. Evaluate the CSPM vendor
4. Consider the ease of use
5. Look for automation capabilities
6. Evaluate pricing and licensing
Vendor selection process checklists for
CSPM
POC for CSPM tools
What is the key outcome of the CSPM
tool’s POC?
Summary
Further reading
Part 2: CSPM Deployment Aspects
7
Onboarding Containers
Containerization overview and its
benefits
Benefits of containerization
Understanding container security
challenges
How does CSPM address these unique
security challenges?
Onboarding containers to CSPM tools
Understanding Microsoft Defender for
Containers features
Defender for Containers architecture
diagram
Enabling Microsoft Defender for
Containers for Kubernetes clusters
Onboarding roadblocks and mitigation
tips
Latest trends and advancements in
container security
Summary
Further reading
8
11
Major Configuration Risks
Workload misconfigurations overview
Malware, misconfigurations, and
vulnerabilities and their correlations
The risks associated with malware and
its vulnerabilities
Identity misconfigurations
Network security misconfigurations
Lateral movement misconfigurations
Data protection misconfigurations
Suspicious and malicious activities
Best practices and lessons learned
Best practices to mitigate network
security misconfigurations
Lesson learned and its implementation
Summary
Further reading
12
Investigating Threats with Query
Explorers and KQL
Query explorer and attack paths
overview
Understanding the security explorer
mechanism
The importance of the security explorer
in threat hunting
Building queries with Cloud Security
Explorer
Exploring built-in query templates
KQL basics
KQL statement structure
KQL practice environment
Built-in KQL in the query explorer
Custom queries in the query explorer
Best practices for effective investigation
Lessons learned from threat
investigation
Summary
Further reading
13
14
15
16
17