Google Cloud Security: 6 Tools and 4 Security Tips

If you use Google Cloud to store and manage data, it’s important to adopt Google’s pioneering approaches to enterprise security through tools, insights, and partnerships. Google Cloud provides a secure-by-design foundation equipped with frameworks, best practices, controls, and capabilities to meet your digital sovereignty requirements.

To better understand Google Cloud security and its benefits, let’s explore some of Google’s tools and what teams can do to bolster security. 

What is Google Cloud Security?

Google Cloud security is a set of tools and frameworks that ensure data is protected at every angle. Traditional security models are insufficient for protecting today’s cloud-based workforce, which is why Google Cloud enables teams to implement a zero-trust approach to protect their teams and data. With zero trust, users and resources must continuously establish credibility to ensure verification and safe practice.

The Google Cloud Platform also implements security controls like automated encryption, secure data disposal, and secure service deployment to protect its users.

How is Google’s Cloud Infrastructure Secured?

Let’s explore how Google Cloud’s resources and infrastructure are secured:

• Secure Service Deployment - The Google Cloud uses tactics like firewalls to ensure secure service deployment. Firewalls use filtering at key network junctions to prevent IP spoofing.
• Safeguards From Privileged Access Attacks - Google has security measures to prevent privileged access attacks that target the operating system. To ensure protection, Google uses various components from different vendors in its infrastructure for maximum security.
• Data Disposal Features - Google’s data disposal process wipes disks and storage devices so they can be inspected. This process is carefully logged and stored, and when it's complete, all wiped drives are sent for reuse and damaged hardware is retired. Each week, Google’s data disposal facilities undergo an audit for extra security.
• Encryption of Data - Google’s data encryption applies to data that is both at rest and in transit. This process is automated so users and admins can trust their data is continuously secured.
• Secure Internet Communication - When a service must be available on the Internet, it can register with the Google Front End (GFE). The GFE ensures all transport layer security (TLS) connections are terminated with correct certifications and follows best practices to prevent attacks and bolster network security.
• Operational Security - The Google Cloud practices operational security through various means, including machine learning analysis that analyzes data and enhances threat intelligence by alerting the Google team to possible issues.

6 Google Cloud Platform Security Tools

To better understand how the Google Cloud Platform practices security, let’s take a look at some of the tools that are used:

1.  Google Cloud KMS - Google’s key management system (KMS) allows you to manage encryption keys on Google Cloud. This system delivers scalable, centralized key management that helps satisfy and maintain compliance and security needs. This system also applies hardware security modules to your most sensitive data.
2. Google Cloud IAM - Google’s Identity and Access Management lets administrators authorize who can take action on specific resources, giving them control and visibility as they centrally manage their Google Cloud environment. 
3. Google Cloud Identity - Google Cloud Identity as a Service (IDaaS) centrally manages users and groups. Teams can configure Cloud Identity to federate identities between Google and other identity providers, such as Azure Active Directory.
4. Stackdriver Logging - Google Cloud’s operations suite (formerly known as Stackdriver) integrates security monitoring, logging, and trace-managed services for systems and apps running on Google Cloud and beyond.
5. Google Access Transparency - Google’s secure access transparency and approval expands visibility and control over your cloud provider with admin access logs and approval controls. Under this system, customer data is not accessed for any reason other than to fulfill contractual obligations. 
6. Google Cloud Compliance - The Google Cloud holds industry-leading certifications, documentation, and third-party audits to support your compliance. Learn more by visiting Google’s Cloud compliance resource center.
   
   

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4 Best Practices to Keep Google Cloud Secure

To better understand how the Google Cloud Platform practices security, let’s take a look at some of the tools that are used:

1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication - Multi-factor authentication, also called 2-step verification, requires users to verify their identity through something they know (like a password) plus something they have (like a physical key). To deploy this method in the Google Cloud, you can use many methods, including security keys, backup codes, or the Google Authenticator app.
2. Configure Inbound Traffic Properly - Protect inbound traffic and ports by enforcing virtual private cloud (VPC) firewalls that allow or deny traffic from virtual machines in a VPC network based on port number, tag, or protocol.
3. Use Key Rotation Techniques - To better utilize Google’s key management system, regularly rotate your keys for symmetric encryption.
4. Manage Cloud Logging and Monitoring - Logging and monitoring keeps systems secure. Logs give teams a history of changes made to systems or apps and help troubleshoot and improve security. View Google’s monitoring and logging guides to understand better the best ways to perform these practices.

In addition to following best security practices, companies should work alongside a Google partner to continuously improve infrastructure, identify security issues, and craft solutions.

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As a certified Google partner, Promevo helps organizations navigate Google technology to maximize value. From Google Workspace asset management to cloud services, our in-house experts work closely with you to identify your pain points and create solutions. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Google Cloud security?

Google Cloud security refers to the practices Google uses to ensure its cloud platform is safe. This includes following a zero-trust model and automating encryption and other processes to protect against threats.

How do I protect data in Google Cloud?

To further protect your data in Google Cloud, follow practices like multi-factor authentication and key rotation techniques. In addition, you can work with a Google partner to create solutions for your unique security needs.