The shift to multi-cloud strategies has become the norm for modern businesses. Companies are increasingly relying on multiple cloud providers to run different workloads, gaining scalability, flexibility, and cost savings in the process.
But with this shift comes a hidden downside: greater complexity and new security risks. Misconfigurations, weak identity controls, and compliance blind spots can expose even well-designed cloud environments.
Did You Know?
- According to G2, 31% of enterprises have four or more cloud infrastructure providers.
- In fact, Gartner predicts that through 2025, 99% of cloud security failures will be the customer’s fault, primarily due to misconfigurations and human errors. For instance, Capital One experienced a massive data breach due to a cloud misconfiguration.
This is where Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) enters the picture. CSPM tools continuously monitor cloud environments, identify risks, and help enforce security best practices. The question, however, is not just what CSPM does—but whether your business truly needs it.
In this article…
In this blog, we’ll unpack how CSPM works, the value it brings, and the factors that determine if it’s the right fit for your organization.
What Is CSPM?
CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management) is a category of security tools that helps manage and monitor the cloud security posture for multi-cloud environments. Gartner coined the term in 2014. With the increased adoption of multi-cloud workflows, the CSPM market size is expected to grow from $2.1 billion in 2024 to $6.1 billion in 2028.
CSPM tools help identify cloud misconfigurations that can be security vulnerabilities and remediate them in real time. Moreover, CSPM tools automate security policies according to the pre-defined frameworks and ensure regulatory compliance. These tools connect with different cloud environments through APIs and facilitate 24/7 cloud infrastructure monitoring.
Get expert guidance to identify misconfigurations, close compliance gaps, and strengthen your multi-cloud security.
Types of CSPM Tools
Not all CSPM tools are the same. They generally fall into four main categories:
- Cloud-Provider Native Tools: Built into platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Good for basic visibility, but usually limited to a single cloud.
- Third-Party Standalone Tools: Independent vendors such as Wiz, Orca, or Palo Alto Networks CloudGuard offer deeper insights and work across multiple clouds.
- Integrated Security Platforms: Broader solutions like Microsoft Defender for Cloud or CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, where CSPM is one feature within a larger security suite.
- Open-Source Tools: Cloud Custodian, Prowler, Scout Suite, Open Policy Agent (OPA), and CIS-CAT Lite are free, customizable options. They can be powerful but often require technical expertise and more manual effort to manage.
What Are the Benefits of Using CSPM Tools?
Let’s explore how leading CSPM tools can enhance your business’s cloud security posture.
Enhanced Visibility
CSPM tools offer real-time visibility into the cloud environment. They help you monitor cloud assets, configurations, and users across different cloud architectures and services. In addition to misconfigurations, CSPM tools also help you identify unusual user behavior and insecure APIs, mitigating security vulnerabilities.
Compliance Assurance
CSPM tools enable businesses to manage and ensure compliance with regulations like PCI DSS and HIPAA. They help map security policies to regulatory standards and issue alerts whenever a violation occurs. These tools also provide advanced reports to support an error-free audit process.
Reduces Multi-cloud Complexities
Managing the security posture of multi-cloud environments can be challenging. CSPM tools access these cloud environments through APIs, ensuring a consolidated view of the security posture.
Optimizes Operational Efficiency
CSPM tools reduce human errors by automating critical tasks like scanning, risk prioritization, and remediation. These tools identify and fix misconfigurations, saving the internal security team time and effort.
Cost Savings
CSPM tools help you save significant costs and uphold the company’s reputation. Businesses save costs by –
- Preventing data breaches—According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach is over $4 million. Cloud Security Posture Management tools save these expenses by mitigating security incidents.
- Avoiding penalties – Businesses can incur huge penalties for non-compliance with regulations. For instance, PCI DSS fines for small businesses can range from $5000 to $10000 per month.
- Overhead Costs – CSPM tools reduce overhead IT costs by automating critical processes, helping businesses optimize cloud resources.
Do You Need CSPM?
Businesses today avail of multiple public cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure, or Ace Cloud Hosting, for different services. For instance, you might use Ace Cloud Hosting for application hosting, such as QuickBooks Enterprise, and AWS for database management.
When businesses work on multiple cloud platforms, there is a high chance of misconfigurations due to management complexities. Some examples of misconfiguration are –
- Insecure APIs
- Incorrect access permissions
- Publicly accessible storage buckets
- Unencrypted databases
These misconfigurations can cause security gaps, making your cloud security posture vulnerable to data breaches and compliance violations. Hence, if you work in a multi-cloud environment, deploying CSPM tools is a must.
Comparing CSPM with CWPP, CASB, CIEM, and CNAPP
| Parameters | CSPM | CWPP | CASB | CIEM | CNAPP |
| Full Form | Cloud Security Posture Management | Cloud Workload Protection Platform | Cloud Access Security Broker | Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management | Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform |
| Function | Cloud misconfiguration identification and remediation | Workload protection (VMs, containers,serverless, etc.) | Secures SaaS applications and cloud services by network filtering | Management of cloud identities, roles, and permissions to prevent theft | A complete cloud protection module that includes CSPM, CWPP, and CIEM |
| Scope | Cloud misconfiguration, compliance assurance, vulnerability management | Runtime threats, malware, and workload behavior monitoring | SaaS application visibility, traffic filtering | Identity management, access controls, risk management | Complete cloud visibility, DevSecOps integration |
| Benefits | Real-time visibility, remediation automation, compliance checks | Workload visibility, real-time threat protection | SaaS usage monitoring, unauthorized access prevention | Detects privilege escalation risks, Automates IAM governance | Complete cloud protection, advanced threat analysis |
| Use Cases | Organizations that want to strengthen their cloud security posture by minimizing misconfigurations | Organizations that want to enhance workload security | Controlling SaaS sprawl and managing access | Protecting cloud identities and managing privileges | Organizations with complex cloud postures that require total protection |
Implementing CSPM: Best Practices
To ensure comprehensive data protection across platforms, you must integrate the CSPM with your current cloud security posture. Following the steps below will help you maximize the tool’s performance.
Accessing Cloud Security Posture
Analyzing the cloud security posture helps identify vulnerabilities and bottlenecks, which can be addressed by the CPSM tool. Hence, CIOs must create a proper schedule for cloud security posture assessment, including technical reviews and automated scans. Regular assessment also enables you to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.
Prioritizing Remediation
Various security gaps can exist in the cloud posture. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize tasks based on their impact. For instance, a public-facing test bucket is less dangerous than a production database. CSPM tools can then prioritize vulnerabilities based on context to prevent high-impact events.
Continous Monitoring
With multiple cloud platforms, services, and environments, your cloud security posture keeps evolving. Hence, you must monitor it perpetually through automated tools and expert supervision to detect misconfigurations in real time.
Integrate with DevSecOps Workflows
Making CSPM a part of the development lifecycle minimizes the chances of misconfigurations during deployment. This means CIOs don’t need to spend time on bug fixes later.
Facilitate Collaboration
Businesses must involve all key stakeholders in the implementation process of the CSPM tool. This includes development, security, and compliance professionals, who must give key insights to optimize CSPM performance and ensure seamless integration into the cloud security environment.
Take this 60-second quiz to see if gaps in posture management could put your business at risk.
Strengthen Your Cloud Security with CSPM
CSPM isn’t just another security tool; it’s a safeguard against the misconfigurations and blind spots that often go unnoticed in multi-cloud environments. By giving you real-time visibility, automated remediation, and compliance assurance, CSPM helps you stay a step ahead of potential threats.
That said, every business has unique cloud architectures and security needs. Before you deploy CSPM, it’s wise to plan carefully with the right expertise.
Our Solution Consultant can guide you through the process, tailor recommendations to your specific environment, and help you maximize the benefits of your CSPM investment. Book a free consultation today!
