Cloud computing delivers different computing services like servers, databases, storage, networking, software, etc., over the “cloud” or the internet. This helps in faster and more flexible operations and anytime data availability as everything remains available on demand. Traditionally, all organizations and individuals stored data on the servers – a process that has become inconvenient and costly for an organization.
So, organisations have shifted their data storage functions to the cloud with speedy internet and greater bandwidth. But exposure to the internet also makes them prone to many online threats. These threats can come from anywhere and result in data loss, breach of privacy and leak of sensitive information.
On that note, we discuss the ten best ways to stop cloud computing threats.
- Lack of secured cloud architecture
Cloud computing is a relatively new concept, and most companies are using it for the first time. Since they are novices in this form of computing, they are largely unfamiliar with the process of shifting from traditional modes to the cloud. Although fresh graduates possess the theoretical knowledge of cloud computing, their coursework help experts don’t always educate them about the real-life implications.
Hence, they make the mistake of replicating the traditional IT infrastructure for the cloud. This makes the servers vulnerable and allows malicious threats to attack the servers. These cyber-attacks can result in the loss of sensitive and valuable data and loss of business and reputation.
So the remedies for the same are –
- Buy solid security architecture from an authentic site before you start migrating.
- Check if the architecture you are planning to buy fulfills your business goals.
- Keep funds ready to upgrade the architecture after regular intervals and ensure global implementation.
- Poor access and control management
Most of the time, our mistakes allow hackers to prey on us. Most of the time, the executives in charge of IT infrastructure fail to change the passwords or keep easy keywords. Also, the lack of multi-factor authentication and poor management protocols allows scammers to thrive. They forget that we must maintain control management and seamless, coordinated access during cloud computing.
If your data falls in the wrong hands, that can result in losses across multiple organizational levels. It takes hackers only a few minutes to alter and manipulate information or delete vital data. They can also infuse malware and snoop on your activities without your knowledge.
Follow these steps if you want to control the hackers –
- Start by ensuring strict measures to control identity and data access.
- Implement multi-level authentication, especially for sensitive accounts.
- Change passwords regularly.
- Change your cryptographic keys randomly and frequently.
- Introduce need-based access controls and segregate accounts for enhanced security.
- Data Breach
Data breaches have become a frequent menace for many companies over the last few years. Multiple companies fall prey to cyber security attacks and suffer from data loss and unauthorized access.
A data breach is not desirable as it can dampen the organization’s reputation. Customers and investors also lose confidence in putting trust in the company following a data breach. This pushes the company to the brink of bankruptcy since they stay at risk of letting their intellectual properties to their rivals. Moreover, this also results in severe legal and audit issues.
However, being diligent and following a few simple steps can protect them from breach of data –
- Work on the existing encryption protocols. Fix any loopholes.
- Ensure focusing too much on security doesn’t hamper your system performance.
- Have an efficient response plan in place in case of any data breach.
- Easy accessibility to insiders
Identifying an insider inside a company is quite challenging. If a company allows its employees to access sensitive information easily, it can always put them at risk. Most traditional companies, which are not that familiar with online computing, rarely have any security backup. The absence of any secured network, strong password or firewall allows insiders to wreak havoc while disguised as employees.
It can impact the organization just like a data breach, compromising its integrity and resulting in financial and reputation loss. Follow these steps to ensure you don’t fall victim to an insider –
- Training the employees on how to implement security protocols so that anyone cannot get access the delicate information.
- Ensuring proper screening to check any insider or dubious individuals from getting into the organization.
- Keeping separate dedicated personnel in the task of monitoring computer networks and maintaining backups.
- Frequent training about the new phishing methods and how to stay clear of them.
- Frequent change of security credentials and passwords.
- Insufficient change controls
If the computers and networks are not properly configured, that invites hackers with a red carpet. Unconfigured and unpatched systems, non-existent or weak security controls, and improper permission protocols are highly vulnerable.
We can easily fix remedies for such insufficient controls. Understand that modern computing is not similar to traditional systems. So, you need to plan your configuration. Cloud-based computing is more sophisticated and dynamic. So, your resources should match the hardware and can operate at a deeper level of the configuration matrix.
- Interface and API inadequacies
Application programming interfaces and user interfaces are the two weakest links of any IT resource. So, while designing the interfaces, this should be kept in mind. These interfaces are highly valuable and so ensure that they are robust and secure enough. Do trail runs by hiring white hackers to ensure that none can penetrate these interfaces. A poorly designed API and UI can put you at risk of incurring severe business, reputational and financial losses.
Hence, you must –
- Use only the best APIs available.
- Do regular audits and look for any abnormal activities
- Secure the API endpoint before anything. Implement proper protective measures to secure the same.
- Avoid Cloud Abuses
Cloud computing makes our business operations faster. However, you must be careful about abusing the cloud platform. Users often mistakenly host malware on cloud services which exposes the cloud servers to serious threats. This is a major reason most cloud network services become victims of malware, phishing activities, DDoS attacks and suspicious email campaigns.
Hackers camouflage malware and viruses as genuine applications and propagate through the cloud network. Once the clients click on those links, hackers can piggyback on their clients’ financial details.
The best ways to put these risks to bed are by –
- Putting DLP or Data Loss Prevention technologies to stop data exfiltration.
- Top management must regularly monitor the employee’s cloud activity.
- Blocking suspicious links and pages from the company cloud services.
- Account Hijacking
When attackers target a cloud account, they try to get full control over that account. This is far more dangerous than a data breach. A data breach can be stopped by timely intervention, or it leaks only a part of the whole process. However, when your account gets hijacked, it compromises the total structural integrity of the account.
All the apps that rely on the account get compromised. This disrupts the entire business data, logic, and function. For a company, a data breach of this magnitude can prove catastrophic. This can lead them to total bankruptcy and other legal wrangles.
You can only stop any such thing from happening by putting IAM controls in place.
- Limited Visibility
The top management often gets ignorant about the benefits and risks of cloud computing. This can lead to limited cloud usage and visibility problem. Without proper awareness, data control goes into the employees’ hands. It results in a lack of governance and compromise of data. Inaccurate cloud service setups compromise not only current data but also put future data at risk.
So entities should properly train the employees about the cloud usage policies and protocols. CASB should be installed to analyze all outbound activities, and they can control inbound activities with web-based firewalls.
- Failure in Metastructure
Lack of a robust metastructure and poorly designed APIs can also severely affect your service quality. So, try to ensure the visibility of cloud service providers. They can also implement robust technologies on their part to stop any failure of metastructure.
Summing Up:
While choosing the cloud infrastructure, take utmost care to safeguard it against any inherent pitfalls. Cloud storage can be an excellent option to store data and retrieve it at one’s convenience. However, the threats associated with it can also put your entire entity at risk. There are numerous IT assignment help services that describe the benefits and perils of cloud computing. However, you can take the help of this blog to understand how you can overcome any obstacles while using cloud storage.