Which of the following is a security reason to implement virtualization?
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Hypervisor security is the process of ensuring the hypervisor, the software that enables virtualization, is secure throughout its life cycle. This includes during development and in implementation. Common security practices for hypervisors include limiting the users in a local system, limiting attack surfaces and keeping all systems updated. Show
A hypervisor is a software process which will separate a computers operating system (OS) from underlying physical hardware. Virtual machines (VMs) can be created and managed by system administrators through a hypervisor such as Hyper-V Manager and VMware vSphere. In a VM, a hypervisor will emulate hardware such as CPUs, memory and RAM. The emulated hardware can be shared numerous times to create multiple instances of the VM. However, having multiple VMs on a single server has its downsides because security with hypervisors can become a large concern. For example, if an attacker gains unauthorized accesses to the hypervisor, virtual machine monitor (VMM) or the software which orchestrates the virtual environment, then they would have access to every VM under the hypervisor's control. The attacker could then gain access to all the data stored in each VM. Additional points of vulnerability include shared hardware caches, the network, as well as access to the physical server. Implementing hypervisor security will help security professionals and administration ensure the protection against such intrusions during development, implementation, provisioning, managementandde-provisioning. Hypervisor security techniques and best practicesNumerous methods exist to help protect hypervisors, including practices such as using additional monitoring and network security tools, minimizing attack surfaces, setting access privilege, updating the hypervisor and keeping the physical server out of reach from unauthorized individuals. Using monitoring and network security tools will allow administrators to monitor their virtual environments and detect any unusual behavior early on. Monitoring tools from vendors such as SolarWinds Inc. and VMware can help monitor and detect attacks. Administrators can use additional tools such as firewalls for network security tools. Minimizing potential attack surfaces will make it more difficult to access a virtual system by decreasing potential access points. Many operating systems or hypervisors will have additive features that an organization may not need or use which will increase the attack surface of a VM. To minimize threat surfaces, administrators should disable unnecessary services and only allow services needed for successful operation. This includes disconnecting unused physical hardware from host systems. A system administrator should also set restrictions to who can have remote and console access to the hypervisor. This practice will also limit who can control the settings of the hypervisor and will prevent unauthorized users from changing or accessing information. Most hypervisor platforms allow multiple access types, including SSH, RDP, specialized management client and server connectivity. Installing patches and updates to the hypervisor as the vendor releases them is another way to ensure hypervisor security. Updates released by the hypervisor’s vendor may contain security patches or additional security features. Automatic updates are a setting available to most hypervisors for users. Blocking access to physical servers is another best practice, as access to the physical server is a relatively easy way to access the hypervisors. Implementing these techniques will help ensure a secure hypervisor and all fall under the term of hypervisor security. IBM Cloud offers a full complement of cloud-based virtualization solutions, spanning public cloud services through to private and hybrid cloud offerings. You can use it to create and run virtual infrastructure and also take advantage of services ranging from cloud-based AI to VMware workload migration with IBM Cloud for VMware Solutions.Virtualization has evolved rapidly to become a necessary part of cloud security strategies. A recent Gartner study states that over 30% organizations across the globe will implement virtualization tools for their data requirements by 2020-end. Virtual machine infrastructures have been the most adopted powerful technology in recent years, despite the related risks such as man-in-the-middle and DoS attacks. Endpoint security remains an oxymoron concept while being the holy grail for organizations worldwide. As cybercriminals grow more and more sophisticated, security tools are evolving in tandem, with virtualization technology enabling operating system isolation and enhancing safety. This has made virtualization the best approach to cloud security, helping organizations keep sensitive information safe. How Virtualization Drives Cloud SecurityOrganizations are leveraging virtual machines in several ways for enhancing their cloud security, which include operating system virtualization, application virtualization, and virtual desktop infrastructure. While the last two address a small part of the vulnerability landscape, operating system virtualization removes cloud security issues inherent in application and VDI virtualization software. The operating system virtualization enables organizations to protect critical information against every attack vector. Also, in contrast to other approaches it ensures them to realize the performance expected and sought in professionals. With this, the end-users of an application can install, work, and access resources as and when required, without security barriers or worrying about compromising sensitive data. Key Cloud Security Benefits with VirtualizationBy adopting virtualization in their cloud environment, organizations can realize the following security benefits. 1. FlexibilityOrganizations have the flexibility to share systems without essentially having to share critical information or data across the systems. 2. Data ProtectionThey can prevent loss or damage to critical data, in cases where the system is compromised owing to malicious activities. 3. Security against attacksThey have the ability to reduce the risk of multiple attacks in case of an exposure by methodically isolating applications and virtual machines. 4. Cost EffectivenessIt improves the physical security of organizations by reducing hardware requirements, thereby leading to fewer data centers. 5. Better Access ControlA higher level of access control is offered to system and network administrators, which separates responsibilities and improves the system’s efficiency. A key consideration that organizations must take into account is that their system must be appropriately set up or configured to leverage virtualization for cloud security effectively. Modern organizations must safeguard their virtual environments against the growing plethora of threats. Some of the key considerations in protecting a virtual environment include keeping software updated, following configuration best practices, and utilizing AV software. While some risk of threat remains even with some defenses, it is essential for organizations to implement security tools to track changes and maintain throughput security. The Way AheadVirtualizations is a viable solution for organizations that focus on strengthening their cloud security. To ensure a robust security posture, multi-layered protection must be put in place and followed thoroughly. Organizations need to strategize and have better preparedness and understanding of handling the security issues in virtual infrastructure and its components. Virtualization must be a top priority, not an afterthought, for organizations that look to strengthen their cloud security. Share this post ABOUT THE AUTHOR  Pratyaksha RawalPratyaksha Rawal heads development at Cloudlytics. An accomplished backend lead, she is certified in AWS and Azure, she has a deep grasp of all things cloud. Which can be a security benefit when using virtualization?Application Isolation: A key security benefit of virtualization is the ability to isolate applications from one another on the network. Keeping apps isolated can protect data from being shared across them, or from malware or viruses that may have infected other parts of the system.
Why is virtualization security important?It provides protection across multiple data centers and in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments, allowing an organization to take advantage of the full benefits of virtualization while also keeping data secure.
What are the reasons virtualization is for?As mentioned above, virtualization allows an organization to create multiple virtual machines—each with their own operating system (OS) and applications—on a single physical machine. A virtual machine can't interact directly with a physical computer, however.
What is virtualization security?Virtualization security is the collective measures, procedures and processes that ensure the protection of a virtualization infrastructure / environment. It addresses the security issues faced by the components of a virtualization environment and methods through which it can be mitigated or prevented.
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