Cloud security posture management

As explained in Azure Security

Cloud security posture management is the continuous assessment of cloud workloads and configurations against security requirements, with guidance for correcting weaknesses and misconfigurations.

Cloud security posture management (CSPM) continuously assesses cloud workload configurations for weaknesses and misconfigurations, then provides security best-practice recommendations for remediation. In Microsoft Defender for Cloud, it is a core capability for maintaining security hygiene and improving an Azure environment’s overall posture. section 6.1 section 6.2

CSPM is proactive: use findings from deployed resources to correct current issues, then incorporate the guidance into organizational processes and future deployment practices so the same misconfigurations are less likely to recur. Subscriptions must be onboarded to Microsoft Defender for Cloud before using these capabilities. section 6.2

Defender for Cloud separates posture capabilities from related security functions:

• CSPM assesses configurations and supplies remediation guidance. section 6.1
• Cloud workload protection monitors for suspicious activity and generates alerts for potential compromise. section 6.1
• DevOps security management helps secure code, source repositories, and deployment templates. section 6.1

Secure score and recommendations are available without additional cost after onboarding Azure subscriptions. The paid Defender CSPM plan adds advanced capabilities, including the cloud security graph, regulatory compliance dashboard, attack paths, cloud security explorer, and security governance for assigning and tracking remediation responsibility. section 6.2.4 section 6.9

Enable the Defender CSPM plan

An Owner can enable the paid CloudPosture pricing plan on an Azure subscription with `az security pricing create -n CloudPosture --tier 'standard'`. Successful output identifies the CloudPosture pricing resource and reports a Standard pricing tier, unlocking advanced CSPM capabilities such as the cloud security graph. section 6.2.4

CSPM also supports unified DevOps posture visibility. After onboarding Azure DevOps or GitHub through Defender for Cloud, a security connector stores selected configuration preferences and enables repository assessments, such as identifying absent multifactor authentication or least-privilege practices. section 11.4.1

Figure 6.1 The three major cloud security pillars to which most of Microsoft Defender for Cloud’s capabilities can be mapped back

Use the pillar diagram to distinguish CSPM’s configuration-focused role from workload protection and DevOps security management. section 6.1

How Azure Security covers it

How deep it goes

Explains assessment, recommendations, onboarding, pricing tiers, and advanced remediation-prioritization capabilities without detailing detection internals.

Examples

Uses Azure subscription onboarding, CloudPosture plan activation, and Azure DevOps or GitHub repository onboarding through a security connector.

What it assumes

Assumes access to Azure subscriptions; enabling Defender CSPM requires the subscription Owner role.

What you can do after

Operate/configure it by onboarding subscriptions, reviewing free recommendations, enabling Defender CSPM, and tracking prioritized remediation work.

How it connects

Connects CSPM with secure score, recommendations, cloud workload protection, DevOps security management, regulatory compliance, and security governance.

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Related concepts

• security postureuses · Security posture is the overall security condition of an organization or system, including its controls, vulnerabilities, exposure, readiness, and ability to resist or respond to threats.
• Microsoft Defender for Clouduses · Microsoft Defender for Cloud is a cloud security service that assesses security posture, detects threats, and provides security recommendations for cloud and hybrid workloads.
• misconfigurationaddresses · A misconfiguration is an incorrect, unsuitable, or insufficiently restrictive system or application setting that causes unintended behavior, operational problems, or security exposure.
• best practiceproduces · A best practice is a generally accepted method or approach regarded as effective for achieving a desired outcome in a particular context.
• AWSuses · Amazon Web Services (AWS) is Amazon's public cloud computing platform, providing on-demand infrastructure and managed services over the internet.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Azure Security. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.