The 10 Biggest Security Threats in Cloud Computing

While there’s no denying the myriad benefits of cloud computing for businesses, there’s also no denying how many cloud computing security threats exist out there in the infinitely wide world of the internet (and the cyber criminals waiting to prey on businesses with inadequate security tools ).

In 2020 a whopping 79% of companies experienced at least one cloud data breach (which has gone up to 98% since then). Evidently, cloud cyber crime is a prevalent issue.

But, considering how complicated and fast-changing the world of cloud computing actually is, how does anyone successfully manage to protect their sensitive data by preventing cyber criminals from gaining access to their cloud infrastructure ?

Well, don’t worry too much. Because in this blog we’re going to explain the 10 top cloud security threats that most businesses are dealing with today (and how you can avoid or mitigate them).

What Are Cloud Security Threats?

Cloud security threats are a range of different types of cyber attacks that are specifically designed to target cloud computing systems. These threats can be targeted at the infrastructure, applications, or data stored on cloud platforms, and can come in many different forms. 

The Top 10 Security Threats in Cloud Computing You Need to Know About (and How to Protect Yourself Against Them)

1. Malicious Insiders

This is one of the most common cloud security threats, and it’s basically where a malicious employee or contractor accesses the company’s cloud infrastructure with the intention of stealing or damaging data.

The best way to protect against this is to have a comprehensive access management policy in place that includes rigorous background checks for all employees, and to ensure that all employees are fully aware of the security policies and procedures in place.

2. Unsecured Cloud Storage

A lot of businesses use cloud storage services like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive to store sensitive business data. But many of these services don’t offer adequate security features, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks. 

To protect yourself from data loss , make sure you only use secure cloud storage services that offer strong encryption, access control and authentication features.

3. Brute Force Attacks

These are attacks where a hacker tries to guess the login credentials for a cloud service account by trying different combinations until they find the right one. 

The best way to protect against this is to use strong passwords that are difficult to guess, enable two-factor authentication for all cloud accounts and ensure there are no cloud misconfigurations on your system that hackers could exploit.

4. Denial of Service Attacks (DDoS Attacks)

A DDoS attack is when a hacker sends large amounts of bogus traffic to a target website or server in order to overload it and bring it down. 

The best way to protect against this is by using DDoS protection services that can filter out bad traffic and keep your website or server online.

5. Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are when a hacker sends fraudulent emails purporting to be from a trusted source (like your bank or credit card company) in order to trick you into revealing your login credentials or other sensitive information. 

A great way to protect against this is by being aware of the telltale signs of a phishing email, and never clicking on any links or opening any attachments in such an email.

6. Malware

Malware is software that is designed specifically to damage or steal data from computers. It can be installed through malicious websites, infected attachments, or Trojans disguised as legitimate software. 

One method to protect against malware is by using anti-virus software security solutions and keeping them up-to-date, and by being careful about which websites you visit and which files you download.

7. SQL Injection Attacks

SQL injection attacks are when a hacker uses specially crafted SQL commands to gain unauthorized access to database files stored on a cloud server. 

To protect against this cloud security threat , you must ensure that your cloud applications are up-to-date and adhere to the SQL security best practices, and by carefully monitoring all database activity to identify suspicious activity.

8. Unpatched Software Vulnerabilities

A lot of cloud security threats arise from unpatched software vulnerabilities in applications used to access cloud resources.

Protect against this cloud computing security threat by keeping all software up-to-date, and performing regular vulnerability scans of your environment to identify malicious actors in your systems..

9. Weak Passwords

Using weak passwords or reusing passwords across multiple accounts is one of the most common mistakes that businesses make when securing their cloud infrastructure.

Defend your business against this cloud security threat by using strong, unique passwords for each of your cloud accounts, and enabling multi-factor authentication whenever possible.

10. Human Error

Many cloud security threats arise from user error or negligence, such as employees leaving sensitive data unprotected on cloud servers, or clicking on malicious links in phishing emails. 

Safeguard against human error by educating your employees about the specific security risks and precautions associated with your cloud environment, and by putting rigorous security policies and procedures in place to minimize risk and ensure accountability.

Getting iTBlueprint’s Help to Protect Your Business Against Cloud Security Threats

Cloud technologies continue to advance and develop at neck-breaking speeds, but that also means that the number of security vulnerabilities associated with the cloud environment continue to increase.

If you’re looking for expert guidance on how to protect your business against the many cloud security threats that are out there, look no further than iTBlueprint. With our comprehensive suite of security services and solutions, we can help you not only identify and address any existing vulnerabilities in your cloud environment, but also keep your data safe from new threats as they emerge. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help secure your business’s cloud infrastructure.