Cloud Security Configuration & Best Practices

Objectives:

• Equip students with skills to securely configure cloud services.
• Reduce vulnerabilities in cloud deployments.
• Ensure compliance and security controls are in place.

Curriculum:

• Designing Secure Cloud Architectures
• Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Configuring Secure Network Boundaries
• Data Encryption & Key Management in Cloud
• Monitoring & Logging Cloud Resources
• Harden Cloud Infrastructure & Resources
• Automating Security & Compliance Checks
• Cloud Incident Response Planning

12-Week Cloud Security Configuration & Best Practices Curriculum

Week 1: Designing Secure Cloud Architectures

Begin with principles of secure cloud design, including defense-in-depth, network segmentation, and architecture review. Discuss how to leverage cloud-native security services to build resilient, compliant environments.

Week 2: Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Focus on deploying MFA across cloud platforms to secure access. Practicals include configuring MFA for administrator and user accounts using cloud provider MFA services, and understanding MFA best practices. Week 3: Configuring Secure Network Boundaries Cover creating secure network boundaries using Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), subnets, NAT gateways, and private links. Labs involve setting up security groups, firewall rules, and private connectivity options for isolation. Week 4: Data Encryption & Key Management in Cloud Discuss encryption principles at rest and in transit: utilizing TLS, encryption keys, and vault services. Hands-on exercises in configuring cloud-native key management tools like AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, or GCP Cloud KMS.

Week 5: Monitoring & Logging Cloud Resources

Learn to enable and configure logging and monitoring tools such as AWS CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, and GCP Operations. Practice setting up alerts, analyzing logs, and establishing incident detection mechanisms. Week 6: Hardening Cloud Infrastructure & Resources Use security benchmarks and checklists (e.g., CIS benchmarks) to harden cloud virtual machines, containers, and storage. Apply security best practices via scripts and manual configurations to reduce attack surfaces. Week 7: Automating Security & Compliance Checks

Introduce infrastructure as code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, and deployment pipelines for automated security checks.

Practice writing scripts for automated vulnerability scanning and compliance validation.

Week 8: Cloud Incident Response Planning

Develop a cloud-specific incident response plan that includes identification, containment, eradication, and recovery strategies. Incorporate cloud logging, early detection, and automated response workflows.

Week 9: Practical Configuration Exercises with Major Cloud Platforms

Hands-on labs configuring multi-factor authentication, network security rules, security groups, and access roles across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Use cloud-native dashboards like AWS Security Hub, Azure Security Center, GCP Security Command Center for assessment.

Week 10: Cloud Hardening & Security Checks

Follow security hardening checklists and scripts for virtual machines, containers, and storage objects. Audit configurations against best practices and automate compliance scans with cloud provider tools.

Week 11: Automating Compliance & Security Audits

Implement automated audits leveraging tools like AWS Config, Azure Policy, and GCP Forseti. Practice setting policies to enforce security standards and generate compliance reports.

Week 12: Final Lab & Best Practices Review

Wrap up with a comprehensive lab where students review, verify, and improve a pre-configured cloud environment to meet security and compliance standards. Conduct a scenario-based assessment and reinforce continuous security improvement principles.

Labs/Tools/Simulations:

• AWS Security Hub, Azure Security Center, GCP Security Command

Center

• Configuring IAM roles, policies, and permissions
• Security Group & Firewall Rule setups
• Cloud Hardening checklists & scripts
• Automated Compliance & Security Audits

Internships & Projects:

• Design & implement a secure cloud environment
• Conduct cloud security reviews
• Create incident response playbooks for cloud

Certifications:

• AWS Certified Security – Specialty
• Azure Security Engineer Associate
• Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer

Job Readiness Program:

• Real-world case studies
• Cloud security role play exercises
• Resume & interview prep for cloud security positions