5 Common Cloud Security Threats and How to Defend Against Them

Cloud computing has grown in popularity in recent years, thanks to major players like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, providing cloud computing platforms. The technology has become an integral part of businesses, offering scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency.

However, with the rise in cloud adoption, the threat of cloud attacks has also emerged. A recent study showed that 39 percent of businesses experienced a data breach in their cloud environment last year, up from 35 percent the previous year. Here are some common cloud security threats and strategies to defend against them.

5 Common Cloud Security Threats

1. Security Misconfiguration

Security misconfiguration refers to the incorrect or sub-optimal setup of cloud computing assets that may leave them vulnerable to cyber threats. Lack of system knowledge or understanding of security settings can result in misconfigurations like failure to set access controls, failure to configure and secure systems and applications, and failure to regularly update and patch them.

A serious problem with misconfiguration errors in the cloud is that they can be compounded due to the scalability nature of cloud computing. One misconfiguration can have magnified ramifications across multiple systems.

Real-world incident:
Misconfigured Amazon Web Services S3 buckets belonging to McGraw Hill resulted in the exposure of 22 TB of data from 2015 to 2022. This misconfiguration meant that 100,000 students' information, as well as the education publishing giant's source code and digital keys, could have been accessed and leveraged by any threat actor with a simple web browser.

2. Zero-day Cloud Vulnerabilities

Zero-day cloud vulnerabilities is a blanket term that refers to cloud security flaws that attackers discover before vendors. Zero-day exploits are when attackers take advantage of these unknown security vulnerabilities.

Real-world incident:
This year, Google needed to resolve a series of zero-day Chrome vulnerabilities, one of which had a high severity score. Though the full details of the latest vulnerability have not been disclosed, patterns imply that other vulnerabilities and exploits may be exposed in the future.

3. Insecure APIs

Insecure APIs have vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to systems or data or disrupt API operation. Shadow APIs, APIs with improper documentation or authorization, and vulnerable API parameters can expose sensitive data and functionality to unauthorized parties.

Real-world incident:
The Optus data breach in 2022 was caused by an insecure and publicly accessible API that didn't require any authentication protocols. Sensitive records for over 10 million customers were compromised.

4. Lack of visibility

Organizations often mix and match cloud technologies from numerous providers resulting in complex, interconnected, and constantly evolving IT environments. Cloud security vulnerabilities of different proportions may be scattered across this dynamic infrastructure and a lack of visibility will make assessing the risk of these vulnerabilities virtually impossible.

Employing a Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) solution will allow centralized, context-based visibility of the entire cloud ecosystem.

Real-world incident:
A lack of visibility means that companies can be vulnerable for years without ever knowing. The personal and vehicle data of 2.15 million customers of Toyota Japan lay exposed for almost 10 years due to a cloud misconfiguration.

5. Malicious Insiders

This is one of the most common cloud security threats and it refers to the unauthorized access or misuse of cloud computing resources by individuals within the organization. Insider threats can be challenging to detect and mitigate, as they often involve individuals with authorized access and high levels of trust within the organization.

Real-world incident:
The data of 100 million Americans and 6 million Canadians in the Capital One breach was compromised by a former employee of Amazon Web Services. This insider had the technical expertise to hack Capital One’s Amazon cloud infrastructure resulting in remediation costs between $100 and $150 million.

How to Defend Against Cloud Security Threats

Defending against cloud security threats requires the implementation of effective security measures and best practices.

Encrypt All Data in the Cloud
Encryption is essential for protecting sensitive information in the cloud. It converts data into an unreadable format, ensuring that even if it is accessed by unauthorized parties, it remains secure. Implement encryption at rest, in transit, and in use to safeguard data throughout its lifecycle.

Control Access to Cloud Services
Limiting access to cloud resources reduces the potential attack surface. Grant access only to authorized individuals and enforce strict access controls. By restricting access, you can minimize the impact of successful attacks and prevent unauthorized users from compromising data or launching denial-of-service attacks.

Enforce Secure API Access
Secure APIs are vital for preventing unauthorized access to cloud applications and data. Use mechanisms such as token-based authentication, multi-factor authentication, and role-based access controls to ensure only authorized clients can access cloud applications. Validate data received from clients to prevent injection attacks and other malicious activities.

Leverage a Cloud Security Posture Management Solution
A Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) solution helps organizations manage and secure their cloud assets. It provides visibility into cloud assets, automates compliance, and detects and mitigates threats, enhancing overall cloud security.

Does your organization need a Multi-Cloud Security Strategy? Get in touch to see how we can help.