Shifting to Proactive Cloud Security With Policy-as-Code

As cloud infrastructures expand, cybersecurity management becomes more complex. Hybrid and multi-cloud models increase the attack surface, but traditional solutions can rarely address the speed and flexibility demanded by the cloud. Policy-as-code adoption can be a solution to this problem, as it automates and ensures consistent security policies in dynamic environments.

“We are dealing with dynamic environments in the cloud, where everything is constantly changing. Policy-as-code enables the maintenance of security, agility, and control over all services in an integrated and simultaneous manner,” says Yami Hagg, Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity LATAM, Mondelez International.

The lack of real-time visibility into security configurations and policies is a significant problem within cloud environments. This is compounded when organizations deploy multiple cloud providers, making it difficult to manage security policies consistently. In addition, according to Microsoft, reactive security models, based on incident detection rather than incident prevention, remain prevalent in many enterprises, leaving vulnerabilities that can be targeted.

“One of the most promising solutions to address these challenges is the adoption of policy-as-code, an approach that automates the implementation and enforcement of security policies within cloud environments through code,” says Diego Valverde, Journalist and Industry Analyst, Mexico Business News. This model allows security policies to be treated as code within development pipelines, ensuring that security policies are integrated from the earliest stages of infrastructure creation and not just after it has been implemented.

This approach reduces human risk and ensures that policies are consistent and uniformly applied across the cloud infrastructure, regardless of the complexity of the architecture. The methodology not only improves security, but also increases operational efficiency by enabling faster and more accurate security audits, Check Point reports.

However, implementing policy-as-code is not without its challenges. “The obstacles are not only technical but also financial and strategic. Some companies still view security as an expense rather than an investment, which limits their ability to develop a comprehensive organizational strategy,” says José Antonio Goyri, Chief Information Security Officer, Totalplay.

Another obstacle is the  lack of adequate training for the teams implementing these solutions. The transition from manual to automated policies requires advanced technical skills, which can generate resistance in organizations with less technological maturity.

“Strategic plans must consider processes, technology, and people. Risks need to be understood in order to mitigate, transfer, or accept them. These are corporate decisions that must be aligned across the organization,” says José Arriaga, CIO, Tokio Marine Mexico.

In addition, there are risks associated with full security automation, such as generating automated responses that may not be appropriate for all situations. For that reason, it is crucial for organizations to implement an automated policy review system that ensures that responses to security events do not cause more harm than good.

“Striking a balance between planned actions and understanding the business helps prevent mistakes. Every decision should be a collaborative effort,” says Hagg.

In the long term, experts say that policy-as-code will become a standard for security management in the cloud. Automation is only expected to grow in the security arena, and cybersecurity will continue to be a priority as organizations become more reliant on the cloud. The evolution of multi-cloud architectures and container platforms will further drive the need for automated solutions that manage security policies consistently and effectively.

“If implemented as part of a comprehensive governance strategy, policy-as-code will support the business in becoming more agile, enhancing customer satisfaction, improving resilience, reducing costs, and increasing operational efficiency,” says Goyri.