Businesses today want apps that can be accessed from any computer, anywhere along with protecting their data. Cloud computing technology makes it possible but there are inherent cloud computing security problems to overcome.
The question that arises here is what can enterprises do to take advantage of cloud technologies while maintaining a safe environment for confidential data? Recognizing the problems is the first step toward discovering viable solutions. The next step is to choose the appropriate tools and vendors to address the cloud security issues.
Security in the cloud is a problem that should be addressed from the board level down to new hires in today’s technology-driven world. Now have a look at some of the more pressing issues that can arise, as well as why you should avoid unauthorized access at all costs.
DDoS and Denial of service attacks
Cloud services are becoming a bigger target for malicious attacks as more enterprises and operations shift to the cloud. DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks are more widespread than they have ever been. During the first quarter of 2015, IT services, cloud platforms (PaaS), and SaaS were the most frequently targeted industries as per the reports.
A DDoS attack aims to overload website servers, preventing them from responding to legitimate user requests. A successful DDoS attack can make a website unusable for hours, if not days. This can lead to a drop in sales, as well as a loss of consumer confidence and brand authority.
Complementing cloud services with DDoS security is no longer nice to have; it’s a requirement. Websites and web-based applications are critical components of 21st-century enterprise, necessitating cutting-edge cybersecurity.
Data Breaches
According to reports, there were 738 known data breaches in the United States in 2014, a new high, and hacking was (by far) the leading cause. That’s a staggering figure that just highlights how difficult it is to protect sensitive data.
IT practitioners have traditionally had extensive control over network infrastructure and physical hardware used to protect confidential data. Some of those security controls are relinquished to a trusted partner in the cloud (in all cases including private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud situations), which means cloud infrastructure will raise security risks. To overcome this obstacle, you must choose the right vendor with a proven track record of implementing strong security measures.
Data loss
It’s natural to be worried about the protection of business-critical data when it’s transferred to the cloud. Losing cloud data, whether by human error, malicious tamperings such as malware installation (i.e. DDoS), or a natural disaster that takes down a cloud service provider, may be catastrophic for an enterprise company. A DDoS attack is often used as a ruse to conceal a more serious threat, such as an attempt to steal or remove data.
To meet this challenge, it’s critical to have a disaster recovery plan in place, as well as an integrated framework to protect against malicious cyberattacks. Furthermore, a cloud security solution should protect any network layer, including the application layer (layer 7).
Insecure access control points
One of the most appealing features of the cloud is that it can be accessed from any location and on any computer. But what if the interfaces users interact with, especially the application programming interfaces (APIs), aren’t secure? If given enough time, hackers can find and gain access to these types of vulnerabilities, as well as exploit authentication through APIs.
HTTP requests to a website are examined by a behavioral web application firewall to ensure they are legitimate traffic. This always-on device helps secure web applications and APIs in cloud environments and off-premises data centers from security breaches.
Notifications and alerts
Cryptography and Network security, as well as cloud storage security, is built on awareness and proper communication of security threats. A comprehensive data protection and access control strategy should include notifying the relevant website or server administrators as soon as a threat is detected. Rapid threat reduction depends on consistent and timely communication so that the appropriate agencies can take action and the threat’s effect is reduced.
Security problems and obstacles in cloud computing are not insurmountable. Enterprises will take advantage of cloud technology with the right cloud service provider (CSP), technology, and forethought.
Organizations must have highly skilled cloud security professionals. This is the reason that there is a huge demand for these professionals. So, the professionals looking forward to starting their career in the industry can do so by choosing the right certification for this field. Various cloud security certifications can help Cloud security professional showcase their expertise. uCertify is among the leading platforms which provide comprehensive courses to prepare for these certification exams. Go through our extensive library and choose the best-suited course and accelerate your career trajectory.
