Cloud Migration Security

Cloud migration security isn’t just about securing data in transit or ensuring compliance (those are foundational parts of a successful migration). It’s about mitigating deep, systemic risks that arise when shifting workloads from on-prem to cloud. That means that cloud migration security is not a one-time checklist but a strategic shift in visibility, control, and threat models. We’re breaking down the challenges, from maintaining visibility into hybrid and multi-cloud environments to incorporating both shit left and right security to ensure secure workloads. 

What is Cloud Migration Security?

Cloud migration security is the practice of defending critical files and other data during the process of transitioning from legacy on-premises infrastructure to a cloud environment. 

It addresses risks like:

• Data exposure
• IAM misconfigurations
• Navigating security blind spots as assets move

Secure cloud migration requires end-to-end encryption, zero-trust access controls, and continuous monitoring to prevent breaches.

Why make the transition? Acceleration spurred by the pandemic saw more and more assets make the shift, where they could be  used by remote teams. The trend has only amplified in the years since.

Further, migrating to the cloud comes with copious benefits for organizations. Applications and data are available to distributed employees with a username and password, operations teams can continuously monitor for performance, and companies have access to real-time analytics. Whether it’s a public, private, or hybrid cloud, performance benefits drive continued adoption.

“We expect to see a shift in cloud strategies toward cloud migration, security, operations, value planning, and DevSecOps…as well as a retraction of cloud-native, container, and serverless initiatives”

— Deloitte, from “The Future of Cloud-Enabled Work Infrastructure”

Cloud migration security is similarly vital, especially given the security risks that organizations face during the process of moving applications and data to the cloud. 

The Security Risks of Cloud Migration

Migrating to the cloud is not without risk. 

As part of shifting to the cloud, organizations need to understand that the security of their cloud environment is the responsibility of their internal team as well as that of the cloud provider. Commonly called the “shared responsibility model,” what this means is that the cloud service provider — AWS, Microsoft, GCP, or other provider — is in charge of securing cloud infrastructure, network infrastructure, hypervisor and virtualization security, and hardware. 

But other models exist. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) providers handle hardware, hypervisor, and networking security while customers take over OS, workloads, and IAM settings. Platform as a Service (PaaS) clients get security coverage from providers on application runtime, databases, and development tools. Software as a Service (SaaS) providers secure the full stack, including their applications, though customers must manage identity and access control and data privacy settings.

During a cloud migration, organizations must identify their responsibilities and move to secure these assets. Start with the following understanding of key risks:

Data Security in Transit and at Rest

Cloud providers encrypt data at rest in managed services (e.g., AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage). But customers must encrypt data before migration, secure encryption keys, and provide for end-to-end encryption during transit (e.g., TLS 1.2+). They risk data leaks during transfer if resources are improperly encrypted or exposed due to misconfigured access controls.

IAM and Access Controls Shift

Cloud providers offer IAM tools (AWS IAM, Azure AD, Google IAM). But customers must configure least privilege access, prevent privilege creep, and ensure no excessive permissions are inherited from on-prem environments. They risk exposing entire workloads if IAM policies are misconfigured, unlike on-prem where access is typically more siloed.

Application and Workload Security

Cloud providers secure the hypervisor, virtual machines, and container orchestration layers for managed services. From that point, customers must secure workloads inside their VMs, containers, or serverless functions, including patching vulnerabilities, hardening OS configurations, and securing APIs. They risk introducing pre-existing vulnerabilities if migrating an unpatched application.

Visibility and Monitoring Challenges

Cloud providers log and monitor cloud platform activity (e.g., AWS CloudTrail, Azure Security Center). But customers must configure SIEM tools, cloud security monitoring, and anomaly detection for workloads and runtime security. They risk log misconfigurations during migration, which can create visibility gaps, making it difficult to detect attacks in hybrid or multi-cloud environments.

Misconfiguration Risk Increases

Cloud providers offer security defaults and best practice frameworks (e.g., AWS Well-Architected Framework). But customers must ensure cloud misconfigurations are avoided, particularly in IAM, storage permissions, networking (VPCs, security groups), and API exposure. They risk breaches, as misconfigurations are the #1 cause of cloud security failures, often leaving storage buckets, databases, or serverless functions publicly accessible.

Compliance and Regulatory Considerations

Cloud providers offer compliance certifications (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR-ready infrastructure) for their infrastructures. In this case, customers are responsible for making sure migrated workloads maintain regulatory compliance and proper data residency, audit logging, and encryption policies. They risk legal and security consequences if sensitive data is migrated without proper compliance mapping.

Ultimately, migration creates new gaps and lapses in security processes. Risks differ throughout the migration process, so let’s dive deeper on each phase and what teams can do to protect their resources at every stage.

Pre-Migration Security Planning

Before migrating to the cloud, organizations need to engage in security planning that involves assessing their current security posture, identifying critical data, selecting a cloud provider, and implementing data protection strategies like encryption. This process should include defining access controls and developing a migration plan with built-in security measures. 

The goal is to keep critical data and applications protected while the operations team shifts everything over to the cloud environment. This can sometimes take an extended period of time, which is why pre-migration security planning is vital. Here’s the checklist:

Security Control	What to Do	Team Goal
Assess Systems for Critical Data	Identify and categorize sensitive data based on privacy and compliance needs. Resolve security gaps before migration.	Avoid compliance violations and data leaks post-migration.
Evaluate Compliance Needs	Review industry regulations and cloud provider compliance certifications to ensure they meet organizational security needs.	Stay compliant with industry and government regulations like GDPR and HIPAA at every stage.
Choose a Cloud Provider	Assess security features, data center locations, access controls, and incident response procedures of cloud providers.	Select a secure provider that meets current and future tech goal requirements.
Design a Security Architecture	Develop a security-first cloud architecture, including network segmentation, encryption, and IAM strategies.	Prevent misconfigurations and enhance cloud security posture.
Implement Access Controls	Enforce strong password policies, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and assign least privilege access based on roles.	Prevent unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and insider threats.
Encrypt Important Data	Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit using strong encryption algorithms and key management strategies.	Prevent interception and theft of data during migration and storage.
Configure Network Security	Review and configure cloud security settings, including firewalls, security groups, and network segmentation.	Protect workloads from unauthorized access or external threats.
Manage Vulnerabilities	Conduct vulnerability scans on both on-premises and cloud systems to identify and mitigate security weaknesses.	Prevent exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities.
Plan for Incident Response	Develop an incident response plan tailored for cloud security threats, covering identification, containment, and remediation.	Reduce downtime and prevent incidents from escalating.
Train Employees on Security Awareness	Train employees on cloud security best practices, phishing risks, and secure handling of sensitive data.	Prevent social engineering and phishing threats.

Security Controls During Active Migration

The actual cloud migration process can be sensitive and time-consuming. Making sure it runs smoothly from start to finish means protecting data in transit, managing access controls, and monitoring security events. 

Here’s the checklist:

Security Control	What to Do	Team Goal
Enforce Strict Access Controls	Apply least privilege access for migration teams, restrict admin roles, and enable MFA for all privileged users.	Prevent unauthorized access and privilege escalation during migration.
Monitor Data Transfers in Real Time	Use cloud-native logging and consider SIEM tools to track data movements, flag unusual transfer volumes, and detect anomalies.	Detect and respond to unauthorized or unexpected data transfers.
Encrypt Data During Transfer	Ensure end-to-end encryption (TLS 1.2+ for transit, AES-256 for storage) to protect sensitive data from interception.	Prevent data leaks and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
Secure API and Integration Points	Validate API security policies, implement rate limiting, and enforce strong authentication for cloud integrations.	Block unauthorized API access and prevent data leaks through weak endpoints.
Harden Migration Tools and Scripts	Secure automation scripts and migration tools by restricting permissions, rotating credentials, and disabling once complete.	Prevent attackers from exploiting misconfigured migration tools.
Apply Network Segmentation	Isolate migration environments using dedicated VPCs, subnets, and firewall rules to minimize exposure.	Limit lateral movement and reduce blast radius in case of a breach.
Scan for Vulnerabilities Continuously	Perform real-time vulnerability scanning on migrated workloads before exposing them to production.	Detect and remediate security weaknesses before deployment.
Ensure Logging and Auditing is Enabled	Configure full-stack logging across cloud services, IAM actions, and workload behaviors to maintain traceability.	Maintain forensic visibility and accountability for all migration activities.
Establish an Incident Response Protocol	Define cloud-specific escalation paths, containment actions, and rollback plans for migration-related security incidents.	Minimize downtime and recover quickly in case of a security event.
Communicate Security Expectations to Teams	Conduct just-in-time security training for migration teams on cloud security risks and best practices.	Prevent social engineering and phishing attempts targeting migration personnel.

Post-Migration Security Validation

As part of ensuring that cloud migration has been successful, organizations need to conduct post-migration security validation. This process of verifying the security posture of an application or system once it’s been migrated to the cloud ensures that all necessary protective measures are implemented and the application is functioning properly. Post-migration validation includes checking data protection, access controls, and compliance with relevant regulations. 

Here’s what to do:

Security Control	What to Do	Team Goal
Data Integrity Checks	Verify that all transferred data is complete, accurate, and accessible. Perform checksum validation and compare datasets for inconsistencies.	Prevent data corruption and ensure all critical data is intact post-migration.
Access Control Validation	Audit user roles and permissions to confirm least privilege access. Ensure IAM policies are correctly enforced and revoke unnecessary privileges.	Prevent unauthorized access and reduce insider threat risks.
Network Security Review	Assess firewall rules, security groups, and network segmentation. Validate that no unintended exposure exists.	Minimize attack surface and prevent lateral movement within the cloud environment.
Encryption Assessment	Verify that data remains encrypted at rest and in transit using strong encryption standards (AES-256, TLS 1.2+).	Prevent unauthorized data access and interception in cloud storage and communications.
Compliance Audit	Conduct a full security compliance review against industry regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2). Ensure proper logging, access control, and data residency policies are met.	Maintain regulatory compliance and avoid legal or financial penalties.
Vulnerability Scanning	Perform continuous vulnerability assessments on cloud workloads, configurations, and dependencies. Patch identified weaknesses immediately.	Detect and remediate security flaws before attackers can exploit them.
Logging and Monitoring	Enable full-stack logging and SIEM integration. Continuously monitor for anomalies, failed authentication attempts, and unusual data access patterns.	Detect security incidents early and enable rapid response to cloud threats.

Multi-Cloud Security Considerations

Multi-cloud implementations come with their own special considerations. 

1. Identity and Access Fragmentation

Cloud providers don’t speak the same language when it comes to identity and access management (IAM). AWS IAM roles, Azure AD permissions, and Google Cloud IAM policies all work differently, and those differences can lead to misaligned access controls during migration. If a privilege is too broad in one cloud but too restrictive in another, attackers, or even internal users, could end up with unintended access to sensitive systems.

2. Cross-Cloud Data Protection and Encryption Consistency

Like identity and access management, encryption standards aren’t uniform across cloud platforms, and key management systems (KMS) don’t always integrate smoothly. A file properly encrypted in AWS S3 might not be handled the same way in Google Cloud Storage, especially if data is moving between them. Without enforcing consistent encryption policies across environments, sensitive information can become vulnerable in transit or stored in an unprotected state.

3. Network Security & Inter-Cloud Traffic Control

Moving to multiple clouds introduces gaps in network security, especially when workloads communicate across cloud providers. Each cloud has its own firewall rules, security groups, and traffic routing logic, and those settings don’t always translate neatly from one platform to another. If inter-cloud traffic isn’t locked down properly, attackers can exploit weakly configured service endpoints to move laterally between cloud environments.

4. Security Tooling Gaps and Visibility Challenges

If a cloud workload is breached and there’s no unified monitoring, security teams may not even realize an attack is happening until it’s too late. Account for the fact that logs, SIEM integrations, and threat detection platforms often need extra configuration to avoid leaving gaps in cloud environments.

Upwind Helps Secure Your Cloud Migration

Upwind’s runtime-powered CNAPP provides many of the core pieces to secure cloud migrations. With visibility, compliance enforcement, runtime protection, and misconfiguration protection, teams can see some of the biggest issues before, during, and after migration to make sure apps are secure in the cloud. A CNAPP can’t replace security best practices, network controls, and secure data transfer, but it can show teams that all your planning and tools are working together, providing alerts for critical issues. And with automated remediation, issues get caught early and fixed faster.

To learn more about Upwind, request a demo today.

FAQs

What makes cloud migration different from traditional infrastructure moves?

Cloud migration differs from traditional infrastructure moves because it requires re-architecting security, networking, and access controls for dynamic, multi-tenant environments rather than simply lifting and shifting workloads. 

Unlike moving physical servers between data centers, migrating to the cloud involves shared responsibility models, ephemeral workloads, API-driven automation, and cloud-native security risks that don’t exist in traditional IT environments. There’s the shared responsibility model to keep in mind, ephemeral and scaling workloads to secure, cloud-native security controls to set, an API-driven infrastructure to provision, and multi-cloud and hybrid complexities to navigate.

How do you maintain compliance during migration?

Maintaining compliance during migration means continuous enforcement of security policies, real-time visibility into cloud configurations, and alignment with industry regulations throughout the process.

Here are the key steps:

• Pre-Migration Compliance Assessment: Analyze the current environment and make sure your cloud providers meet regulatory requirements and security controls are mapped correctly.
• Data Classification & Protection: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit, enforce data residency policies, and prevent exposure due to misconfigurations.
• IAM & Access Control Validation: Apply least privilege access, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and audit roles to prevent unauthorized access during the migration.
• Logging & Monitoring Enablement: Enable continuous logging of security events, API activity, and access controls to support compliance audits throughout the process.
• Automated Compliance Checks: Use CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management) capabilities in a standalone tool or as part of a CNAPP like Upwind to enforce compliance guardrails and detect misconfigurations.
• Post-Migration Compliance Audit: Validate that migrated workloads adhere to data governance, encryption policies, and access control standards in the cloud.

What security controls should be in place before migration?

Since cloud environments operate under a shared responsibility model, organizations must secure data, identities, workloads, and network configurations before migration begins. 

Here are the components you’ll address before a move:

• Data Security & Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit using strong encryption standards (AES-256, TLS 1.2+).
• Identity & Access Management (IAM) Hardening: Enforce least privilege access, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and remove excessive or outdated permissions.
• Cloud Security Posture Review: Conduct a CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management) assessment to detect misconfigurations before workloads move. Are any workloads at critical risk once they’re exposed to the internet?
• Vulnerability Scanning & Patching: Identify and fix security vulnerabilities in applications, containers, and infrastructure before migrating.
• Network Segmentation & Firewalls: Configure virtual private clouds (VPCs), security groups, and firewall rules to prevent unauthorized access.
• Compliance & Policy Enforcement: Align security controls with regulatory requirements (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA) and define guardrails for cloud security.
• Backup & Disaster Recovery Planning: Make backups of critical data and configurations in case of migration failures.

How do you handle security in multi-cloud migrations?

To handle security during a multi-cloud migration, prioritize consistent security policies across all cloud providers, implement strong encryption for data in transit and at rest, conduct thorough risk assessments, manage access controls strictly, continuously monitor for threats, and leverage each cloud provider’s native security features while maintaining a centralized view of your security posture across all clouds. 

Multi-cloud moves require all the same steps as other migrations. They’ll just come with additional complexities coordinating these components across environments. 

Can security slow down cloud migration?

Yes, security concerns can significantly slow down a cloud migration process if not properly addressed, as organizations may need to spend extra time assessing their current security posture, at eerie step of the migration, handling emergencies or alerts to crop up in dynamic environments.

Embed security into the earliest migration planning phases for the best results when it can help speed migration by preventing misconfigurations, reducing post-migration fixes, and managing compliance upfront.

Be on the lookout for these prominent speed bumps:

• Manual risk and compliance reviews that identify compliance gaps late in the process.
• IAM and access control bottlenecks: Complex IAM models cause delays in permission approvals.
• Unplanned security fixes found late, when teams halt other processes to remediate.
• Inconsistent security tooling that doesn’t integrate and requires new implementations mid-migration.
• Overly restrictive security processes that block cloud-native processes, like blocking serverless and managed services or restricting IAM role assumptions without predefined roles, but don’t allow for alternatives.

Proactive security planning removes obstacles rather than creating new ones. Make sure security speeds migration rather than slows it down by planning early and standardizing controls before a migration is underway.