Main takeaways from this article:
Top cloud security risks include data breaches, poor IAM, and weak cloud configurations.
Major threats include account hijacking, insider threats, and cloud malware.
Key challenges in cloud security include regulatory compliance, limited visibility, a shortage of security experts, and evolving attack surfaces.
Mitigating risks requires strong IAM, secure data practices, continuous monitoring, and compliance efforts.
Cloud computing security: risks vs. threats vs. challenges
Cloud environments are abundant with unique risks, threats, and challenges. Understanding the nuanced differences among the three is critical to resource allocation, response tactics, risk management, and informed decision-making.
Cloud security risks refer to potential vulnerabilities in a particular cloud environment that might lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, and compliance violations.
Cloud security threats are potential malicious acts, either internal or external, that aim to exploit a cloud vulnerability.
Cloud security challenges encompass the operational difficulties and complexities that organizations encounter while implementing and managing effective security measures in cloud environments. Examples include complex cloud architectures, ensuring data privacy and compliance, and sharing security responsibilities with cloud service providers (CSPs).
Top seven cloud security risks
The most common cloud security challenges include:
Data breaches
Inadequate identity access management (IAM)
Insecure APIs
Insufficient cloud configuration management
Shared infrastructure vulnerabilities
Shadow IT
Human error
Learn how each risk works, including examples and mitigation strategies, below.
1. Data breaches
Cloud environments typically store huge amounts of sensitive data, including personally identifiable information (PII) and personal health information (PHI). Data is often the most valuable target for threat actors, so it’s essential to take vulnerabilities seriously.
Data breaches can occur for many reasons, including:
Weak authentication protocols
Misconfigured permissions
Insider threats
Social engineering attacks
Ransomware
Information like company emails or internal documents can be leveraged to sabotage a company’s reputation and inflict financial damage.
Example
In 2018, Uber suffered a huge data breach that affected more than 57 million of its customers and drivers when a misconfigured Amazon Web Services (AWS) storage bucket exposed their sensitive information.
Hackers identified that the bucket was improperly configured and lacked encryption or authentication. They exploited this to access the buckets containing confidential customer information such as email addresses, names, and contact numbers. After this security incident, Uber faced legal consequences and regulatory oversight.
Mitigation strategies
Protect data at rest and in transit by implementing a encryption mechanism.
Enforce strong authentication methods through techniques like multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorized access.
Regularly audit access controls and permissions to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.
Leverage data loss prevention (DLP) tools to monitor and prevent the unauthorized transfer of sensitive information.
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2. Inadequate identity access management (IAM)
IAM, or inadequate identity access management, is a set of policies used to control what users are allowed to access which resources. Because improperly configured IAM rules and policies can result in unauthorized access to cloud resources, identity access management can present critical risks to cloud security.
Excessive permissions, lack of role-based access control (RBAC), and weak authentication mechanisms can lead to security breaches, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of your data and cloud systems.
Example
In 2017, Equifax fell victim to one of the biggest security breaches ever. Hackers identified and exploited a known vulnerability in an open-source software module used in Equifax web applications. They gained unauthorized access to important customer records containing details of about 147 million individuals.
Irregularities and inconsistencies in IAM controls led to the breach that allowed hackers to act as legitimate users and navigate undetected through Equifax's systems for months, resulting in severe financial losses, regulatory scrutiny, and damage to Equifax's reputation.
Mitigation strategies
Implement a comprehensive IAM framework and enforce the principle of least privilege using role-based access control.
Review permissions regularly and update them whenever necessary to ensure that users’ privileges reflect their changing roles at your organization.
Utilize centralized identity management solutions to streamline user authentication and authorization processes.
Continuously monitor user activity logs for any suspicious behavior and revoke access for compromised accounts.
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3. Insecure APIs
Application programming interfaces (APIs) play a significant role in communicating with the cloud services offered by cloud providers. APIs define the protocols and methods for requesting and exchanging data, allowing applications to access various cloud resources such as storage, computing power, and databases. Insecure APIs can be easily attacked by hackers, and sensitive data can be exposed, leading to data leaks, account takeovers, and service disruptions.
Example
In 2018, Facebook faced severe scrutiny when it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, accessed the personal data of millions of Facebook users without their consent. The root cause of this breach was an insecure API that allowed third-party developers to access users' data beyond what was necessary.
Cambridge Analytica exploited this vulnerability to gather information for targeted political advertising during the 2016 US presidential election. It galvanized Facebook to implement stricter API controls and enhance data protection measures to prevent future breaches.
Mitigation strategies
Conduct thorough security assessments, deep vulnerability scans, and code reviews before integrating third-party APIs into any software.
Implement strong authorization and authentication mechanisms like OAuth or API keys to secure publicly accessible APIs.
Perform regular scans to monitor API activity for unauthorized access attempts.
Transmit data via APIs in an encrypted format to avoid any malicious interception or tampering.
4. Insufficient cloud configuration management
Misconfigurations in cloud infrastructure and services create vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to obtain unauthorized access and disrupt operations. Errors in the setup or management of cloud applications or services, such as firewall rules and IAM policies, may inadvertently expose sensitive data or grant undue privileges. Attackers leverage these misconfigurations to breach security controls, compromise systems, and disrupt services.
Example
Capital One, one of the largest credit card issuers, suffered a massive security breach that exposed the personal information of more than 100 million people, including their social security numbers and financial records.
The breach occurred because of insufficient or improper cloud configuration management: A former employee exploited a misconfigured open-source web application firewall (WAF) in the cloud infrastructure, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive customer data stored on an AWS server.
Mitigation strategies
Adhere to cloud security best practices and guidelines to configure services securely.
To mitigate these risks, follow configuration management practices, including automation with infrastructure as code, standardization of configurations, monitoring and logging for visibility, and formal change management processes.
Use automated configuration management tools to enforce consistent security configurations across cloud environments.
Perform regular audits of cloud configurations to detect and resolve misconfigurations promptly.
Deploy network segmentation and access controls to mitigate the impact of misconfigurations.
5. Shared infrastructure vulnerabilities
Public cloud environments involve shared infrastructure where multiple users can use the same physical hardware and resources simultaneously. Vulnerabilities in this shared infrastructure can potentially expose all tenants to data leaks or security breaches, highlighting the importance of powerful isolation and segmentation mechanisms.
Example
In 2018, a configuration change triggered a cascading failure across multiple Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services, including Google App Engine, Cloud Storage, and Cloud Datastore, affecting numerous users and services worldwide. The outage disrupted critical business operations for various organizations relying on Google's cloud services.
This incident highlighted the interconnected nature of cloud infrastructure, which means a single configuration error can impact multiple users and services. It also emphasized the importance of implementing redundancy measures and monitoring systems to mitigate the risks associated with shared cloud infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies
Implement isolation mechanisms such as virtual private clouds (VPCs) or network segmentation to prevent cross-tenant attacks.
Perform regular updates and patching to hypervisors and underlying infrastructure components to boost security.
Use intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPSs) to monitor and block malicious activities within a shared cloud infrastructure.
Encrypt all data in shared storage to prevent unauthorized access.
6. Shadow IT
Shadow IT refers to any data that isn’t under the stewardship of an enterprise's IT or security teams. It is a natural byproduct of agile environments where developers and teams bypass bureaucratic processes to commission IT resources on the fly.
Example
In 2019, an employee at a healthcare organization began using an unauthorized file-sharing service to share documents more efficiently with colleagues. Unfortunately, this application lacked proper security measures, leading to the exposure of sensitive patient data. The incident was discovered only after patients reported unusual activity related to their personal information. As a result, the organization faced severe regulatory fines and a loss of patient trust.
Mitigation strategies
Establish guidelines that outline which cloud services and applications are approved and encourage employees to follow these procedures.
Utilize cloud access security brokers (CASBs). These tools provide visibility and control over shadow IT activities by monitoring and managing the use of cloud services within the organization.
Review and assess the cloud applications and services used across the organization regularly to identify and address any unauthorized usage.
Raise awareness about the risks associated with shadow IT and the importance of using approved resources, creating a culture of compliance and cybersecurity mindfulness.
7. Human error
Human error is one of the leading causes of cloud security failures. These errors often stem from a lack of unified cloud strategies, inadequate training, and insufficient cloud security measures.
Example
In 2017, an AWS S3 bucket configuration error exposed sensitive data from millions of Verizon customers. The misconfiguration was due to human error, as access settings were incorrectly set to public. This lapse allowed unauthorized parties to access customer names, phone numbers, and account details.
Mitigation strategies
Regularly educate all employees about cloud security best practices and specific system configurations they interact with.
Develop and enforce a unified cloud security strategy to ensure all departments align with consistent security practices.
Maintain comprehensive logs of actions and changes in the cloud environment to track and investigate security incidents effectively.
Implement role-based access controls (RBAC) and the principle of least privilege to minimize the risk of unauthorized actions.
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Top four cloud security threats
Cloud environments are constantly threatened, which can seriously compromise security and operations. Let's examine the top four cloud security threats with examples and mitigation strategies, including:
Account hijacking
Denial of service attacks
Insider threats
Cloud malware injection
1. Account hijacking
This threat is often executed using methods such as phishing attacks, exploiting software vulnerabilities, or leveraging weak passwords. Once an account is compromised, hackers can manipulate data, execute unauthorized transactions, or use the account for further attacks.
Example
In 2019, Capital One experienced a massive data breach, during which the hacker gained access to over 100 million customer accounts and credit card applications. The attacker exploited a misconfigured web application firewall, which allowed access to the sensitive data stored in Capital One's cloud environment. This incident highlighted the risks associated with account hijacking and the impact it can have on both customers and businesses.
Mitigation strategies
Implement and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of security to user accounts.
Regularly monitor account activities for unusual or suspicious behavior and respond promptly to potential security incidents.
Educate users about the risks of phishing and provide training on how to recognize and avoid phishing attempts.
Utilize modern password policies, requiring complex and unique passwords that are regularly updated.
2. Denial of service (DoS) attacks
Denial of service (DoS) attacks are severe threats in which malicious actors flood a cloud service with overwhelming traffic, causing disruptions and rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users. These types of attacks exploit network bandwidth or server resources, leading to prolonged outages and potential financial loss.
Example
In 2020, Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack that impacted many of its customers. The attackers unleashed a massive volume of traffic, which exceeded 2.3 terabits per second, making it one of the largest DDoS attacks recorded. This disruption led to service outages and highlighted the vulnerabilities even large cloud providers can face.
Mitigation strategies
Implement DDoS protection services like AWS Shield or Azure DDoS Protection to provide advanced threat defense.
Utilize rate limiting to control the number of requests users can make to cloud services within a certain time frame.
Deploy load balancers to distribute traffic evenly across multiple servers, reducing the risk of overloading a single server.
Develop and maintain an incident response plan to quickly address and mitigate the effects of a DoS attack.
3. Insider threats
These threats originate from individuals within the organization who have authorized access to systems and data but misuse this access for malicious intent. They can come from current or former employees, contractors, or business partners. The damage caused by insiders can be severe as they often have intimate knowledge of the organization's operations and security measures.
Example
A recent example of an insider threat occurred in May 2023 at Tesla, where two former employees leaked 100GB of confidential data, including employee personal information and production secrets. This breach exposed the data of over 75,000 individuals and damaged Tesla's reputation. Legal actions were taken, but the incident highlights the significant risk posed by insiders with authorized access to sensitive information
Mitigation strategies:
Implement strict access controls based on least privilege.
Continuously monitor for suspicious activities.
Regularly review and update permissions to prevent unauthorized access.
Utilize user behavior analytics to detect anomalies.
Establish a comprehensive incident response plan to handle insider threats promptly.
4. Cloud malware injection
This happens when attackers insert malicious code into cloud services, which spreads to other systems. This can lead to data theft, unauthorized access, and resource hijacking. Malware injection often exploits vulnerabilities within cloud storage, applications, or service configurations, making it a threat to cloud security.
Example
In 2017, the cryptocurrency mining malware Coinhive was injected into numerous websites through compromised cloud servers. The attackers exploited insecure configurations to inject the malware, using visitors' computing resources to mine cryptocurrency without their consent. This incident highlighted the exploitation potential of cloud infrastructure when proper security measures are not in place.
Mitigation strategies
Implement comprehensive security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate weaknesses in cloud infrastructure.
Utilize advanced malware detection tools and endpoint protection solutions to detect and block malware attempts in real time.
Adopt strict software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices and continuous monitoring to ensure code integrity throughout deployments.
Ensure regular updates and patches are applied to all software and cloud services to eliminate known vulnerabilities.
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Top six cloud security challenges
The most common cloud security challenges, with examples and mitigation strategies, include:
Complex regulatory compliance
Lack of visibility
Lack of cloud security professionals
Cloud data governance
Managing a rapidly evolving attack surface
Multi-cloud security
1. Complex regulatory compliance
Achieving compliance in the cloud is a complex task due to the varying regulatory requirements that organizations must adhere to. These regulations may pertain to data privacy, financial information, and healthcare records, among other things. Businesses face the challenge of ensuring their cloud infrastructure complies with these norms, which may change based on their geographical location and industry.
Example
In 2020, British Airways faced a hefty fine of £20 million (reduced from an initial £183 million) for failing to comply with GDPR regulations. The airline suffered a data breach that exposed the personal and financial details of over 400,000 customers. This incident highlighted the importance of ensuring regulatory compliance, particularly concerning the handling and protecting customer data.
Mitigation strategies
Understand and adhere to all relevant regulatory requirements specific to your industry and operational geography with
Implement automated compliance tools to continuously monitor and manage cloud environments, ensuring adherence to regulation.
Develop and maintain an incident response plan to address and mitigate potential compliance breaches swiftly.
2. Lack of visibility
A typical cloud environment comprises IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS components, often combined with on-premises data centers in hybrid models. The rapid proliferation of third-party applications, digital identities, and sensitive data can lead to cloud sprawl, where an organization loses control over its cloud resources.
Example
In 2017, Target experienced a major security breach due to a cloud sprawl issue. The attackers exploited vulnerabilities in Target's sprawling IT environment to access customer credit card information. The lack of comprehensive visibility slowed down Target's incident response, allowing the breach to persist and cause financial and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies
Implement centralized visibility tools to monitor all resources across multi-cloud environments.
Utilize real-time monitoring solutions to detect and address vulnerabilities promptly.
Deploy automated asset discovery tools to keep track of new cloud assets and dependencies.
Use identity and access management (IAM) solutions to control and monitor user permissions effectively.
3. Lack of cloud security professionals
A lack of cybersecurity talent and skills often leads businesses to become overworked and over-reliant on SaaS products and external security resources, which may not fully address their unique cloud-native challenges. This talent gap means companies struggle to comprehend and tackle the complex cybersecurity requirements of their cloud environments, making them vulnerable to various security incidents.
Example
In 2023, T-Mobile experienced a data breach that compromised the personal information of more than 37 million customers. This breach highlighted the severe risks associated with the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals, leading to financial losses and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies
Invest in continuous training and development programs to upskill existing staff on cloud security best practices and technologies.
Implement shift-left initiatives to empower developers to address security challenges early in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Leverage managed security services and cloud security experts to bridge the skill gap and ensure comprehensive security coverage.
Adopt a coherent cloud security strategy integrating various security measures to compensate for the talent deficit.
4. Cloud data governance
Data is one of an organization's most valuable resources. Within vast banks of cloud data are crown jewels like PII, PHI, and PCI that need vigorous governance and protection. Cloud data governance challenges include visibility across AWS, GCP, and Azure public buckets, detection of data exposure, understanding data flow and lineage, policy implementation, and ensuring compliance.
Example
In 2019, the global enterprise software company SAP experienced a data governance failure when a breach exposed the sensitive data of its cloud customers. The breach resulted from inadequate visibility and poor policy implementation across their cloud services.
Mitigation strategies
Implement comprehensive data classification and governance policies to manage data using relevant legal frameworks.
Leverage data visibility tools to monitor and manage data across multi-cloud environments systemically.
Establish automated detection mechanisms to swiftly identify and respond to any data exposure incidents.
Select a cloud service provider that offers data residency options aligned with compliance requirements.
5. Managing a rapidly evolving attack surface
One of cloud computing's most notable advantages is its economic and single-click scalability. However, the trade-off for scalability is a rapidly expanding attack surface. This expansion is due to the ever-increasing volume of cloud assets, including human and service identities, virtual machines, serverless functions, appliances, IaC services, and data. These assets are prone to security crises like overprivileged entitlements, accidental public exposure of secrets, weak credentials, and misconfigurations.
Example
In 2020, a misconfigured service in Microsoft's Azure Blob Storage exposed the data of multiple entities, including names, email addresses, and phone numbers. This incident highlighted the challenges of securing a rapidly growing cloud ecosystem where various services and data stores must be meticulously monitored.
Mitigation strategies
Implement continuous monitoring and vulnerability scanning tools to identify and mitigate risks in real time.
Enforce strong password policies and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to secure access.
Adopt a zero-trust architecture to limit the impact of potential breaches by verifying every access request regardless of its origin.
Regularly audit and update configuration settings across all cloud assets to prevent accidental exposures.
6. Multi-cloud security
Multi-cloud environments are widely adopted to enhance redundancy, optimize costs, and improve performance. However, the complexity of managing security across multiple cloud platforms exacerbates inherent challenges, including IAM management, visibility, and data protection.
Example:
In 2019, Capital One experienced a data breach affecting over 100 million customers. The breach was attributed to a misconfigured multi-cloud setup, which allowed an attacker to exploit the vulnerability. This incident highlighted the complexities and risks of inadequate IAM and misconfigurations in multi-cloud environments.
Mitigation strategies:
Use centralized IAM systems to manage access controls across different cloud platforms.
Conduct frequent security assessments and compliance audits to identify and rectify misconfigurations.
Develop and enforce consistent security policies and procedures across all cloud environments.
Leverage AI and machine learning to enhance visibility and detect anomalous activities across multi-cloud setups.
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