Cloud Security Implementation Plan

1. Executive Summary:

• Objective: Ensure SWBTL LLC's transition to Microsoft Azure is secure and compliant with regulatory standards (FISMA, PCI DSS).
• Scope: Covers encryption, resource grouping, access control via Key Vaults, backup, and recovery processes.

2. Existing Environment Assessment:

• Current Challenges: Data center constraints, compliance issues, unauthorized data access post-consultant departure.
• Migration Drivers: Regulatory compliance, need for cost-efficient, scalable cloud environment.

3. Migration Goals:

• Enable Azure usage for legacy support and future scalability.
• Ensure all departments have secure, isolated environments.
• Maintain compliance with federal contracts and card transactions.

4. Security Requirements:

a. Compliance:

  - Adhere to FISMA and PCI DSS standards through measures like encryption,

access control, and regular audits.

b. Encryption:

  - Implement Azure's data-at-rest and data-in-transit encryption using

Azure Encryption or customer-managed keys.

  - Ensure all cloud servers have encryption configured upon deployment.

c. Resource Grouping:

  - Assign separate Resource Groups for Accounting, Marketing, IT with

policies to include only relevant resources.

  - Use tags to identify resources by department for easier management and

filtering.

d. Azure Key Vaults:

  - Create individual Key Vaults for each department.
  - Configure access policies to allow only departmental users (e.g., IT

support) as Key Vault Admins.

  - Use customer-managed keys or Azure-managed keys based on organizational

policy.

e. Backup and Recovery:

  - Define a backup policy with daily backups starting at 7 PM ET.
  - Implement Recovery Vaults for virtual machines.
  - Set up instant recovery snapshots (3 days retention) and retain daily

backups for 45 days.

  - Conduct regular verification of backup integrity by IT department.

5. Implementation Steps:

a. Resource Group Setup:

  - Create three separate Resource Groups: one for each department.
  - Apply Azure policies to restrict resource types (e.g., only VMs in IT

group).

b. Key Vault Configuration:

  - Deploy individual Key Vaults per department.
  - Assign Admins from each respective department for key management.
  - Use Azure Key Vault policies to enforce minimum access controls.

c. Encryption:

  - For each server or resource, enable encryption at deployment time.
  - Update existing resources with encryption configurations as needed.

d. Backup Policy:

  - Schedule and activate daily backups for each Resource Group at 7 PM ET.
  - Configure Recovery Vaults to store backup data.
  - Set retention policies: 45 days for daily backups, 3 days for

snapshots.

  - Train IT team on how to monitor and verify backup statuses.

6. Testing and Validation:

• Conduct encryption check: Ensure all sensitive resources are encrypted.
• Test access controls: Verify that unauthorized users cannot access Key Vaults or resources outside their group.
• Validate backups: Confirm that daily backups are successful and stored in Recovery Vaults.
• Perform a simulated outage to test recovery time.

7. Documentation and Training:

• Document all configurations for future reference and audit purposes.
• Provide training sessions for IT staff on backup verification, Azure security best practices, and Key Vault administration.

8. Timeline:

• Weeks 1-2: Resource Group setup, Key Vaults deployment, initial encryption configuration.
• Weeks 3-4: Backup policy implementation, testing of encryption and access controls.
• Weeks 5-6: Final validation, training sessions, preparation for full deployment.
• Week 7: Full system migration to Azure with security configurations in place.

9. Challenges and Mitigation:

• User Errors: Conduct thorough testing and provide clear documentation.
• Least Privilege: Regularly review access policies to ensure compliance with departmental needs.
• Backup Integrity: Schedule automated checks and notify IT of any issues.

10. Conclusion:

- Successful implementation will enhance security, ensure compliance, and

support future growth for SWBTL LLC's Azure environment.

This plan should address all the critical points from the COAR document, ensuring a secure and compliant transition to Microsoft Azure.

1. Resource Group Setup with Policies - Azure Resource GroupsDocumentation
2. Key Vault Configuration - Azure Key Vaults Documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/secret-managementDocumentation
3. Encryption Implementation - Azure Encryption Guide
4. Backup and Recovery Policy - Azure Backup Documentation