Ranjinni Joshe, a Senior Cloud Security Specialist at Onward Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and w3-cs (World Wide Women in Cyber Security) Bangalore Chapter Leader also volunteering for AWS Community Day Bengaluru 2024 and Security BSides Bangalore, boasts over 18 years of diverse experience in the field of cloud security and Quality Assurance across Embedded, BFSI, Salesforce Cloud and AWS Cloud. Currently, she is implementing ISA\IEC 62443 Cybersecurity standards and Compliance adherence validations for Railways and AWS Cloud Security validations for train monitoring web applications hosted on the cloud. Her expertise spans a wide range of domains, including Operational Security for IACS, Cloud Design Principles, and Cloud assessments.
In addition, she is well-versed in Functional/System quality validations with a deep understanding of all elements of the Secure Software Development Life Cycle (SSDLC) and Agile-Scrum ceremonies.
Ranjinni’s journey in the realm of cloud security commenced with a profound passion for cybersecurity and an unwavering determination to explore the potential of the cloud in reshaping the IT landscape. Recognizing that the cloud represented not only a technological advancement but also a paradigm shift in business operations, his fascination led him to delve deeper into the field.
The initial steps of her journey were rooted in the Salesforce Cloud ecosystem, where she served as a Salesforce Cloud Implementation QA Lead. In this role, her primary responsibilities encompassed ensuring the security, validations of Salesforce applications and data. This included validations of Identity and Access Management (IAM) configurations, Role and Policy assessments, Data Security, Network Security, API Security, and Application Security within the Salesforce Cloud environment. This foundational role equipped her with a robust understanding of cloud security principles, setting the stage for his future endeavors.
However, Ranjinni’s vision extended beyond the confines of Salesforce. Recognizing the growing significance of cloud security in diverse ecosystems, she embarked on a path of continuous learning and transformation. To broaden his skill set and knowledge, she pursued additional certifications and trainings in cloud security domain. These certifications covered renowned cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure, as well as the broader domain of cybersecurity and she has started #100daysofcloussecuritychallange in linkedin. By diversifying her expertise, she evolved into a versatile security professional capable of addressing security concerns across various cloud platforms. Follow her on, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjinijoshe
https://medium.com/@ranjinnijoshe
https://github.com/ranjinnijoshe
As a speaker, she has given a talk on AWS Cloud Security at Cloud Security Bangalore Chapter, St. Joseph College Chennai, Day Of Security Conference held at India. She was invited for LTIMIndtree as AWS external expert for LTIMindtree global employees.
She has been awarded as “Cloud Risk Champion” at the CSA Bangalore Chapter Annual Awards Excellence 2023 recently honored as “WomenTech Global Ambassador” by WomenTech Network (US).
Her life journey has been recognized as “SheRises Impactfully: Growth Mindset 2023” from SkillCollectance (Dubai) https://lnkd.in/gBXaQ_wS
Impact of Cloud Security Expertise on Business Resilience and Security
According to Ranjinni, expertise in cloud security is crucial for ensuring the resilience and security of businesses in the digital age. Cloud security professionals help organizations navigate the complexities of the cloud, protect their assets, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.
Here’s how her expertise in cloud security can make an impact and ensure the resilience and security of businesses in the industry:
- IAM Policies implementation
- Data Protection
- Compliance and Regulations
- Risk Management
- Incident Response
- Security Training and Awareness
- Security Architecture
- Continuous Monitoring
- Cost Efficiency
- Innovation Enablement
Core Values and Culture in Cloud Security Organizations
Ranjinni highlights that Cloudnloud Tech Community is driven by a set of values and culture that align with the best practices in cloud security:
- Security-First Mindset: A fundamental value in cloud security organizations is a commitment to putting security first in all aspects of their work. This includes the development of products and services, operational practices, and decision-making processes.
- Customer-Centric: Many cloud security companies prioritize the needs and concerns of their customers. They work closely with clients to understand their unique security requirements and provide tailored solutions to address those needs effectively.
- Continuous Improvement: The rapidly evolving nature of cybersecurity and cloud technologies demands a culture of continuous improvement. Cloud security organizations often foster a culture of learning, staying updated on the latest threats and technologies, and adapting their strategies accordingly.
- Transparency: Transparency is crucial in cloud security. Organizations aim to provide clear and honest communication with customers about security measures, incidents, and vulnerabilities. This builds trust and ensures that clients are well-informed.
- Innovation: Staying ahead of emerging threats and vulnerabilities requires a culture of innovation. Cloud security companies often encourage employees to think creatively, explore new solutions, and adopt cutting-edge technologies to enhance security measures.
- Collaboration: Collaboration both within the organization and with external partners, such as other security firms, threat intelligence providers, and industry organizations, is essential. Sharing knowledge and insights helps in collective defense against cyber threats.
- Compliance and Regulatory Adherence: Cloud security organizations often prioritize compliance with relevant industry standards and regulations. They ensure that their solutions and practices align with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Accountability: A strong sense of accountability is essential in cloud security. Teams are responsible for their actions and decisions, and accountability extends to incident response, where organizations take responsibility for addressing security breaches swiftly and effectively.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Many organizations in the field of cloud security emphasize diversity and inclusion as part of their culture. Recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences can lead to more robust security strategies.
- Customer Education: In addition to providing security solutions, cloud security organizations often prioritize educating their customers about best practices and security awareness. They see informed customers as a crucial component of a secure cloud environment.
Ranjinni believes that these values and cultural aspects collectively contribute to the success of cloud security organizations in protecting data, applications, and infrastructure in the cloud. It’s important to note that specific companies may have unique values and cultural elements that distinguish them in the competitive cloud security landscape.
Key Areas of Innovation in Cloud Security
Ranjinni emphasizes that to stay at the forefront of technological innovations in cloud security, organizations in this space typically invest heavily in research and development, threat intelligence, and partnerships with technology leaders to ensure they provide robust and resourceful security solutions for their customers. Here are some key areas of innovation in cloud security:
- Advanced Threat Detection: Cloud security solutions are continuously evolving to incorporate more advanced threat detection mechanisms. This includes machine learning and AI algorithms that can identify and respond to emerging threats in real-time.
- Automation and Orchestration: Automation plays a crucial role in cloud security. Innovations in this area involve the development of tools and technologies that can automatically respond to security incidents, reducing the response time and minimizing human error.
- Cloud-Native Security: As more organizations move their infrastructure and applications to the cloud, security solutions are adapting to provide cloud-native protection. This includes securing serverless computing, containerized applications, and cloud-specific services.
- Zero Trust Security: The Zero Trust security model is gaining popularity, emphasizing the need to verify identities and validate devices and applications attempting to connect to resources in the cloud. Innovations in this space focus on enhancing identity and access management.
- Compliance and Governance: Innovations in cloud security also address compliance and governance requirements. Solutions are being developed to help organizations maintain compliance with industry-specific regulations while operating in the cloud.
- User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA): UEBA tools are becoming more sophisticated, using behavioral analysis and machine learning to detect anomalous user and entity behavior that could indicate a security threat.
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): CSPM solutions are advancing to provide comprehensive visibility into an organization’s cloud infrastructure, along with automated remediation capabilities for misconfigurations and vulnerabilities.
- Secure Access Service Edge (SASE): SASE solutions combine network security and wide-area networking capabilities, providing a more integrated and secure approach to connecting and protecting cloud-based resources.
- Collaboration with Cloud Providers: Cloud security companies often collaborate with major cloud service providers to ensure their solutions are tightly integrated with cloud platforms, enhancing overall security.
Tailoring Cloud Security Strategies
Ranjinni’s perspective is that the specific strategies and preparations for enhancing cloud security will indeed vary depending on the organization’s size, industry, and unique security requirements. Here are some potential strategies and preparations that companies may consider based on their individual circumstances:
- Zero Trust Security: Companies may focus more on implementing Zero Trust frameworks and technologies to enhance cloud security. This approach involves verifying user identities and devices before granting access to resources, regardless of their location.
- AI and Machine Learning: Companies may invest in AI-driven security tools that can autonomously detect and mitigate threats in the cloud environment. These tools can analyze vast amounts of data to identify suspicious activities and respond in real-time.
- Container and Serverless Security: Companies might enhance their cloud security strategies to specifically address the unique challenges posed by containers and serverless architectures. This includes securing containerized applications and serverless functions.
- Regulatory Compliance: With evolving regulations and data protection laws, companies will need to stay up-to-date with these changes and ensure that their cloud security practices align with the latest regulations in the regions where they operate.
- Cloud-Native Security: Companies may develop or invest in cloud-native security tools that are tailored to protect cloud workloads and data. These solutions are designed to work seamlessly with cloud environments.
- Cybersecurity Skills Gap: Investing in training and recruitment of qualified personnel is crucial to stay ahead of emerging threats. Building a skilled security team is essential for effective cloud security.
- Threat Intelligence Sharing: Companies may join or establish threat intelligence sharing networks to gain insights into emerging threats and vulnerabilities. Collaboration with other organizations can strengthen overall security.
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): CSPM tools help organizations monitor and manage their cloud security configurations. Regularly auditing and optimizing cloud security settings is essential for a strong security posture.
To prepare for these changes, companies should:
- Stay Informed: Stay informed about industry trends and emerging threats by actively monitoring cybersecurity news and participating in relevant industry forums and conferences.
- Continuous Assessment: Continuously assess and update their security policies and practices to adapt to evolving threats and technologies.
- Invest in Training: Invest in training and skill development for their security teams to ensure they have the knowledge and expertise to effectively protect cloud environments.
- Multi-Layered Security: Implement a multi-layered security approach that includes preventive, detective, and responsive measures to address security threats comprehensively.
By tailoring their strategies and preparations to their specific needs and risk profiles, organizations can strengthen their cloud security posture and adapt to the evolving threat landscape.
Strategies for Building a Successful Career
Ranjinni believes that by aligning her career goals with broader industry trends and continuously adapting to new challenges, she can make a significant impact in the cloud security field and contribute to the security of cloud-based systems and data. Here are some strategies to achieve this:
- Build Technical Skills: Master cloud security tools and technologies, such as identity and access management (IAM), encryption, firewall configuration, and intrusion detection systems.
- Gain Practical Experience: Work on personal projects or contribute to open-source security projects to showcase your skills. Network with professionals in the field and attend relevant conferences and workshops.
- Certifications and Specializations: Explore specific areas within cloud security, such as cloud compliance, data protection, or cloud-native security, and consider earning relevant certifications.
- Leadership and Soft Skills: Develop leadership and communication skills, as cloud security often involves collaborating with cross-functional teams and effectively communicating security concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Compliance and Data Protection: Continuously enhance compliance frameworks and data protection measures to meet regulatory requirements and safeguard sensitive information.
- Education and Awareness: Promote cybersecurity education and awareness within organizations to foster a culture of security among employees, as security is everyone’s responsibility.
- Integration and Interoperability: Enhance the integration between various security tools and cloud platforms to streamline security operations and ensure a cohesive defense strategy.
By focusing on these strategies and staying abreast of industry developments, Ranjinni aims to be a valuable contributor to the field of cloud security and help organizations effectively protect their cloud-based systems and data.
Message for Budding Entrepreneurs in Dynamic Industries
Ranjinni’s advice to budding entrepreneurs aspiring to venture into dynamic industries is as follows:
- Thorough Research: Before diving into any industry, conduct comprehensive research. Understand market trends, analyze competition, and assess the potential for growth. Ensure you have a deep understanding of the industry’s dynamics.
- Build a Strong Network: Networking is invaluable. Establish connections with professionals, mentors, and potential partners who can provide guidance and support as you navigate the challenges of a dynamic industry.
- Assemble a Capable Team: Surround yourself with a skilled and motivated team. Hire individuals with diverse skills and experiences who can contribute to your business’s success. A strong team is essential for overcoming uncertainties.
- Resilience: Entrepreneurship can be challenging, particularly in dynamic industries with numerous uncertainties. Stay resilient, learn from failures, and maintain your determination to push forward, adapting to changes as they arise.
- Regulatory Compliance: Understand and adhere to industry-specific regulations and standards. Non-compliance can lead to legal issues that may have severe consequences for your business.
- Continuous Learning: Recognize that the business world is ever-evolving. Invest in your own learning and development to stay at the forefront of industry trends. Keeping your knowledge up to date is essential for success.
By following these principles, budding entrepreneurs can better position themselves to thrive in dynamic industries and build successful ventures.
Recognition
Recognized and to be featured as Women In OT security and Cybersecurity to Watch in 2024 in US magazine.
