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The Top Threats to Cloud Infrastructure Security and How to Address Them
Cloud computing has become a critical technology for businesses of all sizes. It offers many benefits, including cost savings, scalability, and flexibility. However, the security of cloud infrastructure is still a concern for many organizations. As cloud infrastructure grows in popularity, so do the risks and threats. This blog post will discuss the major cloud infrastructure security issues, the top threats to cloud infrastructure security, and the best practices to protect sensitive data.
What is infrastructure security in Cloud Computing?
Infrastructure security refers to the protection of physical and virtual components that make up a cloud computing environment. This includes the network, servers, storage, and applications that are hosted in the cloud. Cloud infrastructure security is critical to ensuring that sensitive data is protected from cyber threats.
Also Read: Unlocking the Four C’s of Cloud-Native Security
Major Cloud Infrastructure Security Issue
The major cloud infrastructure security issues include a large attack surface, lack of visibility, and complexity of environments.
Large attack surface
The cloud infrastructure has a larger attack surface as it is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes it vulnerable to cyberattacks, such as DDoS attacks and data breaches. Attackers can target any part of the cloud infrastructure, from the network to the applications, making it challenging for organizations to protect their data.
Lack of visibility
Cloud infrastructure security is challenging because organizations have less visibility and control over their cloud environment. They may not know who is accessing their data or where it is stored. This lack of visibility makes it difficult to detect and respond to security incidents.
Complexity of environments
The cloud infrastructure is complex, which makes it harder to manage and secure. Organizations may struggle to implement effective security controls across their cloud infrastructure. Cloud environments can be distributed across multiple regions, making it difficult to manage security policies and ensure consistent security across the entire infrastructure.
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Top Cloud Infrastructure Security Risks You Need to Know About
There are several threats to cloud infrastructure security, including account compromise, social engineering, shadow IT, unintentional insider activity, and malicious insider activity.
Account compromise
Account compromise occurs when an attacker gains access to an account by stealing login credentials or exploiting vulnerabilities in the cloud infrastructure. This can result in data theft, data loss, or data manipulation. Attackers can use stolen credentials to access sensitive data or systems, making it critical for organizations to protect user accounts and credentials.
Social engineering
Social engineering is the practice of manipulating people to divulge sensitive information or to perform actions that can compromise cloud infrastructure security. Attackers use phishing emails, fake websites, and phone calls to trick employees into providing access to their accounts. Social engineering attacks can be challenging to detect, making it critical for organizations to train employees on how to identify and avoid these attacks.
Shadow IT
Shadow IT is the use of unsanctioned cloud services that are not approved by the organization. This can lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and security risks. Organizations must have rules and procedures in place to avoid the use of unauthorized cloud services since shadow IT can be difficult to detect and regulate.
Unauthorized insider activity
Unauthorized insider activity occurs when employees accidentally or unknowingly cause security incidents. This can include misconfigured cloud services, accidentally sharing sensitive data, or falling victim to social engineering attacks. Organizations can reduce the risk of unintentional insider activity by providing training and resources to employees on how to handle sensitive data and identifying potential security risks.
Malicious insider activity
Malicious insider activity occurs when an employee intentionally causes a security incident, such as stealing sensitive data, sabotaging systems, or deleting important files. Organizations can reduce the risk of malicious insider activity by implementing access controls, monitoring employee activity, and implementing policies and procedures to prevent data theft.
Also Read: Cloudy with a Chance of Risks: Top Strategies for Tackling Cloud Security in 2023
Best practices for cloud security to safeguard sensitive data
To protect sensitive data in the cloud, organizations should implement the following best practices:
Encryption
Encrypting sensitive data is one of the best practices to protect it from unauthorized access. It converts the plain text data into ciphertext that can be read only by authorized users with the decryption key. Encryption should be applied to data both in transit and at rest in the cloud infrastructure.
Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
A security solution called a cloud access security broker sits in between a company’s internal infrastructure and the infrastructure of the cloud provider. CASB provides visibility and control over cloud applications and data. It can also protect against data breaches and other security threats in the cloud.
Regular Backups
Backing up critical data is essential for recovering from data loss or a security breach. Regular backups should be taken of all sensitive data stored in the cloud, and the backups should be stored offsite to protect against natural disasters or other physical damage.
Implementing a strong password policy
A strong password policy should be implemented to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. The policy should require the use of complex passwords, password expiration, and two-factor authentication to protect against brute-force attacks.
Implementing Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
A SIEM solution can help detect and respond to security incidents in real time. It collects security-related data from multiple sources and uses advanced analytics to identify security incidents, such as a compromised account, data leakage, or malicious activity.
Regular Security Audits
Regular security audits should be conducted to identify security vulnerabilities in the cloud infrastructure. The audits should be conducted by an independent third-party auditor to ensure objectivity and compliance with industry standards.
Implementing Least Privilege
Least Privilege is the practice of providing users with the minimum privileges required to perform their job functions. It can significantly reduce the attack surface of the cloud infrastructure, limit the scope of any potential security breaches, and minimize the damage caused by any security incidents.
Summing it up
It’s important to recognize the top threats to cloud infrastructure security to take appropriate steps to prevent them. These threats include insider threats, external attacks, data breaches, compliance violations, and more.
To address these threats effectively, it’s important to have the right team in place. This is where services like PeopleActive Consulting and On-Demand Talent Hiring can make a real difference. By partnering with these services, you can gain access to highly skilled professionals with the expertise necessary to identify and mitigate security risks in your cloud infrastructure. These experts can help you implement best practices for security, including regular security audits, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and more. They can also help you stay up-to-date with the latest security trends and technologies, ensuring that your cloud infrastructure is always protected against emerging threats.
In short, partnering with PeopleActive Consulting and On-Demand Talent Hiring services can be a smart way to enhance your cloud infrastructure security and keep your sensitive data safe. Don’t wait until a security breach occurs – take proactive steps today to protect your cloud infrastructure and safeguard your business.
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*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from PeoplActive authored by Dariel Marlow. Read the original post at: https://peoplactive.com/unveiling-the-primary-challenges-to-cloud-infrastructure-security-and-effective-countermeasures/