15 Apr Data Security Dangers in the Cloud
Data Security Dangers in the Cloud
Everything is safer in the cloud … or is it? Organizations have migrated massive amounts of corporate data to cloud environments in the past year, and they show no signs of stopping. After all, cloud computing enhances collaboration, efficiency, and – as many agree – data security.
Yet, as with any technology, the cloud has its vulnerabilities. Often businesses are more focused on operational continuity than cloud security. They want to transfer their data quickly and easily as possible, putting security second. Let’s take a look at the top security threats in the cloud.
Top 5 Cloud Computing Cybersecurity Threats
- Denial of Service
Denial of Service (DoS) on a cloud environment can cripple a business. In a DoS attack, cybercriminals overload your system with so much web traffic that your servers cannot buffer, and you cannot access your data. If you manage the bulk of your business on the cloud, a DoS could completely shut you down. - Unsecure Application Programming Interfaces
Unsecure application programming interfaces (APIs) can open the door for hackers to steal user credentials. APIs and user interfaces are often the most vulnerable components of a system. A notable example is Facebook’s 2018 breach via a weak spot in the platform’s View As feature, which jeopardized 50 million accounts. - Insider Threats
Not all data security threats lurk outside the organization. Internal threats to cloud security are just as much of a concern as external ones. Over the past couple of years, insider threats have shot up 47 percent. Even more unsettling, 60 percent of organizations incurred over 30 incidents in one year. Of course, not all insider incidents are malicious, most are the result of negligent actions, such as an employee storing passwords in an insecure location, inadvertently giving out company data or credentials, or falling for an email phishing scheme. - Account Hijacking
If a cybercriminal can infiltrate your system with stolen credentials or hack into a staff account, they have the power to access all your data living in the cloud. And because they’re using a legitimate user account, you may not even be aware until it’s too late. Many external breaches take weeks or months to detect, but when hackers user authentic log-ins, it’s much more difficult to detect. If cloud access isn’t closely monitored, a cybercriminal could have unrestricted access to your most sensitive data. - Misconfiguration and Inadequate Change Control
The cloud complexity often renders the environment more challenging to configure, and traditional controls and change-management approaches aren’t as effective in the cloud.One example is an incident with Exactis where misconfiguration allowed a database holding 230 million customers’ data to be accessible to the public. Automation and scan technologies are often needed to combat this particular risk.
MSPs Can Help Safeguard Client Clouds
Using automation and alert systems, MSPs can help protect clients against many of these threats. Click here to read our e-book and learn more about how you can expand your services and protect your clients’ cloud environments.
[Citation:]
- 11 top cloud security threats, CSO, 2020
- 2020 Cost of Insider Threats: Global, Ponemon Institute, 2020