Over the years, many companies have moved to the cloud to store, access, and manage data without compromising security. Despite making it more convenient for businesses to carry out operations on time, it comes with a set of challenges that demand your attention! That is why companies need to watch out for common security issues in cloud computing and follow preventative measures to mitigate them ahead of time. This blog entails all the information you need to prevent cloud security issues in the future. Continue reading until the end to find out!
What Are the Security Risks of Cloud Computing?
In today’s digital age, the average number of cloud security attacks per year is skyrocketing. Since most large enterprises have migrated to the cloud, subscribing to cybersecurity services has become crucial. In addition to this, organizations must protect their data, systems, and applications against the following security threats in cloud computing:
Unauthorized Access
Unlike on-premise infrastructures, the cloud allows users to access data regardless of distance from the network. While this feature benefits customers and employees, it also gives rise to multiple cloud security threats, making it easier for unauthorized users to breach an organization’s cloud resources. Compromised credentials or inadequate security configurations can provide attackers with direct access without seeking permission from the organization.
Here are some of the best ways to avoid unauthorized access:
- Monitor user activity
- Avoid using weak passwords
- Use multi-factor authentication methods
- Establish end-point security
Data Breaches
The term ‘data breach’ refers to unauthorized access to sensitive information by individuals or a group of individuals. It may occur due to insufficient security practices, human error, or targeted attacks. Since cloud service providers host a large amount of data, they are just as vulnerable to the risk of data breaches. However, it is worth noting that cloud providers follow the best practices to mitigate security risks and threats by utilizing robust tools and strategies to protect their data.
To prevent data breaches, you must follow these tips:
- Encrypt your data
- Enable multi-factor authentication
- Regularly back up your data
- Devise a disaster recovery plan
Insider Attacks
Insider attacks pose a broad range of security concerns in cloud computing, as malicious insiders already possess authorized access to the network and confidential information. Often, the attempts made by attackers to acquire access indicate their intentions. However, detecting a malicious insider can be challenging for organizations without a comprehensive security approach using the 7 layers of cybersecurity.
Sometimes, traditional security practices become less effective when organizations have limited control over the infrastructure in cloud deployments. In addition to this, when cloud infrastructure is accessed from the public internet, it becomes vulnerable to malicious insiders that can disrupt data security. In such situations, network security services can help protect your data and network from intrusions. It may include the following features:
- User ID technology
- Server-side threat prevention
- Malware prevention
- Secure branch connectivity
- DNS security
- URL filtering
- OT intelligence and IoT security
Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are among the most common cloud computing threats that breach their victim’s IT systems to steal Intellectual Property (IP) and data. They are primarily known for posing vulnerabilities by gaining access to third-party or unsecured networks, direct system hacking, or spear-phishing. While detecting and eliminating APTs can be challenging, you can effectively mitigate them by following proactive security measures, such as:
- Authorize access to trusted users only
- Train your staff and create security awareness programs
- Regularly update your software
- Enable firewalls
- Monitor devices and email servers
- Use strong passwords and change them regularly
DDoS Attack
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are malicious attempts on a targeted network, server, or service to attack its traffic. It is carried out in a way that the victim gets flooded with unexpected internet traffic, making it difficult for regular traffic to reach its destination. Moreover, it may utilize multiple compromised systems, including IoT devices, to disrupt the traffic.
To identify DDoS attacks, see if suspicious traffic is coming from the same IP range or IP address. Another way to detect them is to look for multiple users’ behavioral profiles. It may include information such as the same geolocation, device name, or web browser.
To mitigate a DDoS attack, use the following methods:
- Perform blackhole routing to drop malicious traffic from the network
- Enable web application firewall (WAF)
- Limit the number of requests accepted by the server
The Bottom Line: Reach Out to Mobiz
As more companies embrace cloud computing, knowing the top security issues associated with this technology is crucial. The primary concerns are unauthorized access, data breaches, insider attacks, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). However, organizations can mitigate these risks by implementing preventive measures and following best practices. Monitoring user activity, implementing multi-factor authentication, encrypting data, training staff, and regularly updating software are effective strategies to enhance cloud security. By taking proactive steps and staying vigilant, businesses can ensure the integrity and confidentiality of their data in the cloud computing environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common cloud attack?
Phishing is the most common type of cloud attack.
What are the different types of security attacks in cloud environments?
The different types of security attacks in cloud environments are as follows:
- Abuse of cloud services
- Account or service hijacking
- Cloud malware injection attacks
- Denial of service attacks
- Main-in-the-cloud attacks
- Side channel attacks
- Wrapping attacks
What are the major threats to cloud security?
The list of major threats to cloud security includes the following:
- Unauthorized access
- Data breaches
- Insider attacks
- Advanced persistent threats (APTs)
- DDoS attacks