Overview
Cloud Security Remediation through Patch Management (CSRM) maintains a strong security posture by addressing misconfigurations, anomalies, entitlement issues, and compliance violations. After security findings are identified and analysed, the next crucial step is remediation through patching. This process ensures that anomalies and misconfigurations are quickly resolved, reducing risk exposure and strengthening the overall stability of the organization’s cloud security.
Standard Ways to Remediate
1. Patch Task Creation (Job-based Patching): This method involves creating patch tasks when issues are detected, allowing users to schedule remediation either immediately or for a later date and time.
2. Automated Patching: In this approach, automation can be scheduled to execute “After scan” or at a set date and time, in the process streamlining security operations without the need for manual intervention.
Remediation can be initiated from one of the following:
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
- Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)
- Cloud Security Protection & Automation (CSPA)
Each patch is classified into one of the two categories:
- Predefined Patches: These are fully automated flows that do not require user input
- Custom Patches: These require user input, such as specifying allowed IPs or ports in security groups, encryption keys, etc. While CSRM aims to automate most patches, some user configurations are necessary for precise remediation.
With minimal user intervention, CSRM ensures that patching is efficient, effective, and tailored to meet the needs of cloud security.
Remediation Objectives Across Tools
| Tool | Objective | Example |
|---|---|---|
| CSPM | Fix configuration issues across cloud services | – Remove public access from storage buckets – Enforce encryption at rest/transit – Correct IAM policy misconfigurations |
| CIEM | Address excessive, unused, or risky permissions | – Remove inactive IAM users – Revoke unused cross-account access – Downscope wildcard permissions |
| CSPA | Act on behavioural anomalies or attack surface insights | – Quarantine compromised assets – Block anomalous IP addresses – Disable suspicious accounts |
[Automated Patching] Configure Patching to Run on Predefined Schedules
Users can configure automated patching tasks to run on predefined schedules such as Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. When a security scan identifies issues, patches are generated and applied automatically, without the need for manual intervention.
[Job-based Patching] Remediation Initiated from CSPM, CIEM, or CSPA
CSRM provides unified remediation guidance across Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), and Cloud Security Posture Anomaly (CSPA).
Initiate Remediation from CSPM and Get Redirected to CSRM for Resolution
Guided remediation in real-time on how the misconfiguration identified in CSPM is routed through CSRM and finally resolved.
The same flow applies to CIEM and CSPA where misconfigurations or anomalies detected in these tools are remediated via CSRM.
Initiate Remediation from CSPA
Remediation of findings from CSPA involves systematically addressing the anomalies directly from the interface with ease.
Real-time view of how users have the flexibility to initiate remediation for one or more resources:
Initiate Remediation for Different Identities from CIEM
By identifying overly permissive roles, unused accounts, and insecure policies, CIEM helps organizations proactively reduce their cloud attack surface. It supports revoking unnecessary permissions, bulk removal of unused entitlements through remediation actions, or enforcing security best practices.
Users can proceed to remediate the preferred identity types(Users, Roles, or Policies) directly from the Recommended Remediation view in the CIEM dashboard.
With just the click of a button, the application automatically redirects to CSRM, allowing to proceed with creating the patching task.
Real-time view of how the application facilitates remediation of different identities starting from CIEM:
Directly Access the Relevant Tool from CSRM for Remediation
Users have the facility to choose the relevant tool directly from CSRM and proceed with the remediation tasks.
Real-time view of how the application facilitates direct remediation from CSRM for CSPM, CSPA, or CIEM:
Reporting the Status of Remediation to Dashboard
“Reporting the status to dashboards” refers to sending the results of remediation efforts, such as identified issues, applied fixes, verification outcomes, and region applied, to a centralized visual interface where stakeholders can monitor, track, and make decisions based on the real-time security posture.
Additional Ways to Remediate from the Dashboard
View the Product-wise Patch Count and Remediate
By viewing the patch count across different products(CSPM, CSPA, CIEM) from the CSRM dashboard, you have the facility to choose the relevant tool and do a bulk remediation.
View the CSPM Patch Count by Service and Remediate
From the CSRM dashboard, gather quick insight into the patch count for different service types by moving your cursor over the bars in the graph. Just click the relevant service to open the list of remediation ids for the relevant service and begin remediation tasks.
View the Patches Available for a Region and Remediate
From the CSRM dashboard, get insight into the total number of patches across regions for CSPM and CSPA to begin remediation tasks.
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