Nasuni Security Best Practices

Last Updated on December 11, 2024 by Satyendra

Nasuni is well-known for its cloud-based file storage and data management solution, which offers a dependable, scalable service to businesses worldwide. Its architecture enables businesses to store large volumes of unstructured data while making it available from several places, employing cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

However, as data transfers to the cloud, the necessity for reliable security measures becomes increasingly important. In an age of more complex cyber threats, organizations must take extra precautions to protect their cloud storage. Ensuring important files are secure while remaining freely available is a delicate balancing act that enterprises are responsible for in order to protect their data from illegal access, breaches, and other threats.

In this article, we’ll go over fundamental best practices for securing a Nasuni system, from encryption to compliance. Each practice is intended to strengthen security while keeping your data safe, recoverable, and in compliance with requirements.

Before going into security measures, it’s necessary to grasp Nasuni’s fundamental structure. Nasuni’s service is built around UniFS, the company’s proprietary global file system. UniFS is a cloud-native, distributed file system that combines all of your organization’s unstructured data into a single cloud-based architecture.

This data is saved in the cloud, while on-premises edge equipment cache frequently visited data to speed up retrieval. Whether you use AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, Nasuni integrates smoothly, offering the agility of cloud storage while retaining edge performance.

The problem, however, is to secure data as it travels between different platforms. Cloud-based storage environments, by definition, have larger attack surfaces. You have more entry points, more infrastructure, and hence more risk factors. With this in mind, consider how companies might reduce these risks by following a set of best security practices.

1. Data Encryption

One of the first and most important stages in securing any cloud environment, including Nasuni, is to ensure strong encryption methods are in place. Data in Nasuni is kept across the cloud, thus it must be protected at all times, whether at rest or in transit.

• Data at Rest Encryption: Nasuni uses AES-256 encryption by default, ensuring that any data stored in the cloud is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access.

• Data in Transit Encryption: Nasuni also offers TLS encryption to secure data during transmission between Nasuni edge appliances and cloud provider data centers.

It is also necessary to combine Nasuni with cloud encryption solutions like as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud to add an extra degree of protection. Rotating encryption keys on a regular basis and employing key management services (KMS) provided by your cloud provider can help to reduce risk even further.

2. Access Control and Identity Management

Unauthorized access is one of the most common sources of breaches in cloud file storage solutions. Limiting access is vital for preventing internal and external threats from escalating. Nasuni employs Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), which enables administrators to provide unique access to various users based on their roles. This guarantees that users only have access to the information they require.

For enhanced security, it is recommended as follows:

• Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): By asking users to produce two forms of identity, MFA adds an extra layer of security, lowering the risk of illegal access. This is especially significant in administrative accounting.
• Regular Audits of User Roles: It is common to underestimate the need of keeping user roles and access controls up to date and accurate. Remove inactive users, evaluate permissions, and conduct frequent audits of who has access to sensitive data.

3. Network Security

Network security in a Nasuni system protects data transiting between on-premises appliances and the cloud from interception and other threats. The key network security recommended practices include:

• Using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): VPNs establish secure communication channels between users and Nasuni edge equipment, encrypting data as it travels across public networks.
• Network segmentation: It allows you to isolate distinct components of the infrastructure. This is crucial for mitigating breaches, restricting the breadth of prospective assaults, and securing various settings inside your firm.
• Configuring Firewalls: Ensure that the firewalls that safeguard your network only allow necessary traffic. Regularly examine firewall policies and close any superfluous open ports or services.

4. Data Backup and Recovery

Nasuni’s system is based on versioning and snapshots, making it easier to recover from inadvertent deletions, ransomware attacks, and data corruption. However, it is important to have a comprehensive backup strategy in place to supplement Nasuni’s built-in capabilities.

The primary approaches include:

Protecting Snapshots: To protect against regional failures, keep snapshots in different geographical regions. It is also necessary to maintain immutable snapshots to keep ransomware assaults from damaging backups.

Disaster Recovery Planning: Regularly test your disaster recovery plan. In the event of a ransomware attack or other disaster, recovery time and accuracy are important.

5. Monitoring and Auditing

Monitoring activity in your Nasuni environment is vital for detecting and responding to security risks. Nasuni offers the Analytics Connector, which integrates with SIEM systems to track and analyze security events in real time.

• Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits of access logs to ensure that no illegal access attempts or questionable behavior exist. It is advised that this process be automated whenever possible, with warnings set up for any unexpected activity.
• Review Logs: Make a habit of reviewing file activity logs. Identify trends that may suggest future security breaches or permissions abuse.

6. Patch Management and Vulnerability Assessments

Keeping software and hardware up to date is one of the simplest ways to avoid security flaws. Nasuni distributes updates and fixes for its appliances on a regular basis, thus staying up to date is imperative.

• Apply Updates Frequently: Establish a strong process for applying patches and updates as soon as they become available. Delays in implementing updates can cause severe vulnerabilities in your system.
• Perform Vulnerability Scans: Scan your environment on a regular basis for possible vulnerabilities to assist prevent the exploitation of old or misconfigured systems.

7. Physical Security Considerations

While Nasuni is mostly cloud-based, there are some physical components, particularly on-premises edge appliances. To avoid tampering, ensure that these devices are physically secure.

• Physical Access Controls: Use security controls like biometric scanners, key cards, or locked cabinets to limit who has access to the physical appliances.
• Securing Cloud Data Centers: Although cloud providers often provide strong physical security, it is always prudent to check that your service level agreements (SLAs) with these providers fulfill your organization’s physical security criteria.

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When operating in different areas or industries that handle sensitive data, it is critical to follow regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX. Nasuni facilitates compliance by offering encryption, auditing, and reporting features.

You will also need to maintain data sovereignty, which means ensuring that data is housed in the proper locations in accordance with local legislation. Nasuni’s ability to identify storage sites by area assists businesses in meeting their legal duties.

For businesses running hybrid cloud installations, combining Nasuni’s storage solution with on-premises infrastructure necessitates additional planning and security.

• Encrypt Communications: Ensure that any data transmitted between your on-premises systems and the cloud is encrypted.
• Safeguard the Perimeter: It is important to secure the network perimeter, preventing unauthorized external access while valid data flows safely between on-premises and cloud components.