All You Need to Know About Top 10 Security Issues in Cloud Computing

By Veritis

All You Need to Know About Top 10 Security Issues in Cloud Computing

Almost every company has used cloud computing to varying degrees in its operations. To protect against the biggest threats to cloud security, the organization’s cloud security strategy must address the cloud adoption issues and everything else that follows the integration.

Many firms are moving workloads to the cloud to improve efficiency and streamline workloads. In contrast, cloud computing can give businesses a competitive edge. However, it’s crucial to be cautious when implementing it without fully comprehending the hazards. When relocating operations to these dynamic environments, a company may fail due to a lack of awareness of cloud risks.

There are various particular security concerns and difficulties with cloud computing. For instance, a third-party supplier keeps data in the cloud and accesses it online. This implies that there is limited visibility and control over the data. The issue of how it can effectively be secure is also raised. Everyone must be aware of their responsibilities and the security risks cloud computing poses.

Cloud computing is still changing how companies function internally and offer their customers. Organizations may now implement remote working environments more efficiently than ever, thanks to the adoption of cloud computing architecture. It also gives teams the information and resources they need to work together. Businesses also gain from transitioning from an on-premises data solution to a cloud computing environment because doing so results in cost savings, increased efficiency, and scalability. Cloud computing security issues and challenges are various. Unsecure access control points, inadequate threat notifications, alerts, and security system misconfigurations are some of the security concerns cloud technology brings along.

Consult our Cloud Consulting Expert

Businesses must consider the different security threats associated with cloud computing in addition to the many advantages. Companies who move their data and operations to the cloud without a clear plan considering the potential drawbacks leave themselves exposed to issues later, say experts. In addition, high-profile cloud security breaches negatively affect a company’s bottom line and reputation.

Cloud service providers treat risks and challenges related to cloud security concerns as a shared responsibility. The security of the customer’s cloud storage of data is their responsibility. At the same time, the cloud service provider is entirely responsible for the security of the cloud itself. Every cloud computing security issue user is always in charge of protecting their data from security risks and managing access to it. Whether the service is infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or software-as-a-service (SaaS) such as Microsoft Office 365.

Most security threats in cloud computing are connected to cloud data security. Most concerns are related to the data that consumers upload to the cloud. Whether it be because of a lack of visibility into data, an inability to regulate data, or data theft. As we implement cloud technology, several security issues in cloud computing need to be considered, as well as mitigation strategies.

Useful link: What is Cloud Computing?

Top 10 Security Issues in Cloud Computing

Top 10 Security Issues in Cloud Computing

1. Misconfiguration

Incorrectly configured cloud security solutions settings frequently cause cloud data breaches. In addition, many enterprises’ cloud security posture management methodologies do not adequately protect cloud-based infrastructure.

Various things influence this. Because cloud infrastructure is intended to be user-friendly and to facilitate simple data exchange for businesses, ensuring that data is only available to authorized parties can be a concern. Therefore, enterprises adopting cloud based infrastructure must rely on the security measures provided by their cloud service provider (CSP) to establish and secure their cloud installations. Organizations using cloud-based infrastructure also need complete visibility and control over their infrastructure.

It is simple for a security lapse or misconfiguration to leave an organization’s cloud-based resources vulnerable to attackers because many organizations lack experience protecting cloud infrastructure and frequently deploy multiple clouds, each with a unique set of vendor-provided security controls.

2. Unauthorized Access

Cloud-based installations are outside the network perimeter and immediately reachable from the public Internet, in contrast to an organization’s on-premises infrastructure. However, this makes the infrastructure more accessible to users and customers. It also makes it simpler for attackers to access a company’s cloud-based services without authorization. An attacker may be able to get direct access without the organization’s knowledge if security is improperly configured or credentials are compromised.

3. Data Loss

In cloud computing, one of the problems is data loss. This is often referred to as a data leak. Insiders such as employees and business partners have access to sensitive data. Therefore, it’s feasible that hackers will gain access to our private information or sensitive data if the security of a cloud service is breached.

Enterprises using cloud computing security issues must cede part of their control to the CSP. Due to this, someone outside your IT department may oversee protecting some of the most critical data in your company. Your company will lose its data and intellectual property and be held liable for any ensuing damages if the cloud service provider is breached or attacked.

According to a report by the international intelligence agency IDC, within 18 months, 79 percent of firms had at least one or two cloud data breaches. Data loss can occur due to various issues, including lost or damaged data, hardware issues, loss of access due to natural disasters, and malware attacks for which the cloud service provider (CSP) is unprepared.

4. Malware Injections

Malware injections are scripts or pieces of code that are added to cloud services. And pose as “legitimate instances” while running as SaaS from cloud servers. This implies that malicious code can be introduced into cloud services and be perceived as a component of the program or service operating on the cloud servers themselves.

Attackers can eavesdrop, jeopardize the integrity of private data, and steal data once the malware injection has been completed. And the cloud has started working in conjunction with it. The East Carolina University Report on security threats on cloud computing vulnerabilities examines the risks of malware installations on cloud security breaches issue. And concludes that “malware injection assault has become a key security concern in cloud computing systems.”

5. Restricted Access to Network Operations

Lack of visibility into network operations is a significant disadvantage of switching from an on-premises data storage architecture to a cloud based infrastructure. Businesses provide CSPs with varying degrees of control over their IT infrastructure in return for advantages like cost savings and easy scalability with on-demand storage provisioning. Another essential security concern associated with cloud computing security issues is the lack of visibility.

The kind of service model determines how much control CSPs have and what data security obligations enterprises have. However, the lack of insight into cloud environments poses an ongoing threat to the companies that depend on them for mission-critical data management, regardless of the shared responsibility model.

Useful link: What You Should Know About Containers Threats in Cloud Computing

6. Insecure APIs

Application programming interfaces (API) allow customers to personalize their cloud experience.

However, the very nature of APIs may pose threaten cloud security issues. They authenticate, grant access, and implement encryption, enabling businesses to tailor the features of their cloud based infrastructure services to suit their business requirements.

Security threats increase when API infrastructure expands to offer better services. APIs give developers the tools to create their programs and integrate them with other mission-critical software. For example, developers can use YouTube as a well-known and straightforward example of an API to include YouTube in their websites or applications.

An API’s vulnerability is in the communication that occurs between apps. Even though this can benefit organizations and programmers, it leaves them vulnerable to security threats.

7. Insufficient Due Diligence

Most of the problems we’ve discussed thus far are technical. However, this particular security flaw arises when a company has a clear strategy for its objectives, resources, and cloud security solutions. It’s the people factor, to put it another way.

Additionally, rushing a multi cloud deployment migration without adequately planning for the possibility that the services will live up to consumer expectations might put a business at risk for security issues in cloud computing.

This is crucial for businesses that manage client financial data or whose data is subject to regulations like FERPA, PCI, PCI-DSS, and PII.

8. Abuse of Cloud Services

Both small and enterprise-level firms may now readily hold enormous volumes of data thanks to the growth of cloud-based services. However, because of the cloud’s unheard-of storage capacity, malicious software, unauthorized software, and other digital goods. It can now be hosted and distributed by authorized users and hackers.

In some instances, both the cloud service provider and its client are impacted by this practice. For instance, privileged users may violate the service provider’s terms by increasing security risks directly or indirectly.

9. Hijacking of Accounts

Account hijacking has become a whole new set of problems because of the expansion and adoption of the cloud in many enterprises.

Attackers can now remotely access sensitive data stored in the cloud using your (or your workers’) login details. They can even change and falsify data using credentials that have been hijacked.

Other hijacking techniques allow attackers to quickly and frequently steal credentials without being noticed, such as scripting flaws and reused passwords. For instance, Amazon encountered a cross-site scripting flaw in April 2010 that targeted customer credentials. Threats from phishing, keylogging, and buffer overflow are all comparable. Tokens used by cloud services to validate individual devices without requiring logins with each update and sync are stolen in the most significant new threat, the Man in the Cloud Attack.

10. Insider Threat

Although an attack from within your company may seem implausible, the insider threat does occur. Employees with authorized access to a company’s cloud-based services may misuse or gain access to sensitive data such as client accounts, financial forms, and other information.

Additionally, it’s not even necessary for these insiders to be nasty.

Conclusion

A completely new realm for storage, access, flexibility, and productivity has been made possible by the cloud. But unfortunately, it has also given rise to further security concerns. By being aware of these top 10 cloud computing security challenges, you and your team may develop a multi-cloud deployment security strategy to safeguard your company.

Therefore, working with a cloud solutions provider like Veritis, the Stevie Award winner, is the most efficient way to secure your cloud-based systems with advanced security, whether you’re moving to the cloud or are already there.

Veritis, a US-based provider of cloud consulting services, offers highly efficient and dependable cloud computing solutions that let businesses adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

Explore Cloud Services Got Questions? Schedule A Call

Additional Resources: