Cloud security refers to a wide range of policies, procedures, and/or technologies used to protect data, applications, and infrastructure hosted or stored in cloud environments.

Organizations are increasingly shifting to cloud-based storage for their digital information because this system allows ubiquitous access to company data through the internet. This shift to cloud environments is also known as "cloud migration." While cloud technology enables enterprises to increase productivity, they are also at risk of new forms of cyber-threats aimed at information stored in the cloud.

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Cloud computing is a computational service provided by a third-party ISV to help organizations run their business operations. Shifting to cloud-based operations allows enterprises to offload tasks that are time-consuming for their IT teams. Popular cloud computing services:

IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service)

laaS provides on-demand infrastructure resources via the cloud. In this model, users manage their own operating systems, applications, and data. This approach benefits businesses that value flexibility and want to avoid large capital expenditures.

PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service)

PaaS includes operating systems, database management, and development tools developers need to build and run applications.  

SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)

In the SaaS service models, the delivery application allows users to access data and conduct work activity by providing access to the complete application via the internet.

As the digital threat landscape continues to change and evolve, organizations shift from on-premises ecosystems to on-demand cloud computing alternatives. It is essential to understand the security requirements needed to keep information secure from internal and external threats. This remains true during the migration process and after consequent deployment since accountability and responsibility of cloud-asset security could remain in the hands of the organization and not the third-party cloud computing provider.

Security may be difficult to manage in hybrid or full cloud environments. Unfortunately, the implications of cyber-breaches related to the cloud could be critical, especially if they are associated with sensitive client data, for example. Although third-party providers may offer a list of best security practices and may regularly update their security posture, organizations should remain vigilant and proactive in their cybersecurity perspective.  

Reduced visibility and control

Since organizations may offload some of the management of services to third-party providers, they may lose visibility and control of those assets and operations. Regardless, organizations should continuously monitor their cloud-based solutions to ensure that a high standard of security practices is in place.

Shadow IT

‍Shadow IT is the exposure of an organization's digital systems, like software, devices, and applications, outside the control or knowledge of the IT department. Because digital activity in the cloud takes place outside the organization's network, cloud shadow IT poses a threat to business continuity, given that these services can be accessed anywhere through the internet.

Compliance violations

Utilizing cloud services could add an additional layer of complexity to compliance regulations. Since identifying and overseeing all cloud-based assets could be more difficult, all cloud-based assets, organizations might lose track of the controls, permissions, and documentation pertinent to each asset.  

Misconfiguration

‍These are vulnerabilities in your systems, such as unpatched networks that an attacker can use to breach your systems. Misconfiguration accounts for a significant amount of security breaches in cloud environments. Common cloud misconfigurations include leaving unrestricted inbound or outbound ports, disabling monitoring or logging, and opening ICMP access.

External sharing of data

‍When data is shared with third-party service providers, data has the potential to be intercepted or compromised. Encryption of sensitive data and appropriate data management tools will allow organizations to accommodate any risk external data sharing poses to their organizations.  

Insecure APIs

Since cloud computing occurs via the internet, cloud service providers may utilize application program interfaces (APIs) to allow organizations to connect and manage their cloud deployment. Unfortunately, these APIs could be exposed to the internet. Additionally, just like any software, it may contain defects, bugs, and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by threat actors.

When organizations move their data to cloud environments, they create a new landscape with respective vectors for cyber criminals to attack. Having visibility on these cloud systems is paramount to reducing the risk of a successful cyber-attack.  

Account takeover

‍Account takeover, which is also called account compromise or account takeover fraud, occurs when a threat actor gains control of a valid corporate account. This happens when a cyber criminal obtains an individual's login credentials successfully. Account takeover can be highly detrimental to any business organization's operations and can be hard to detect. If attackers operate from a legitimate account, they can operate undercover with a stamp of authority and credibility, depending on whose account is compromised.

Insider threat

‍Insider threats are individuals within an organization that pose a threat to cybersecurity. This can also take the form of human error through unintentional insider threats, such as accidental data leakage. Threats like these make it crucial to be aware of user activity and have incident response procedures in place.

Misconfiguration

Vulnerabilities in your systems, such as unpatched networks, can be used by attackers to breach your systems. Misconfiguration accounts for a significant number of security breaches in cloud environments. Common cloud misconfigurations are leaving unrestricted inbound or outbound ports, disabling monitoring or logging, and opening ICMP access.

Cloud environments are hosted by third parties that have their own security posture. However, it is still vital for organizations to develop a monitoring system that allows them to keep track of user accounts and other digital assets that might be at risk of a cyber-attack in the cloud and throughout their digital ecosystem. To do this, choose a security solution that provides integration capabilities to your desired cloud infrastructure, which provides visibility of your digital assets and can detect and incorporate response capabilities for threats aimed at your cloud environment.

Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer resources (such as software, data storage, and computing power) over the internet. It provides organizations with flexibility and ease of scalability, typically because organizations completely or partially allow a third-party provider to manage the cloud infrastructure, software, or service. The three most common cloud computing services are:

• SaaS (Software as a Service)
• PaaS (Platform as a Service)
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

Cloud security aims to provide a framework and/or technologies, among other solutions, that can be used to protect these cloud-enabled assets.

Each organization faces its own set of unique problems according to the size, complexity, and scale of its cloud environment. Because of that, they should consider the scope of their deployment and understand that each cloud security solution may look different.

NIST (National Information Technology Library) has a list of guidelines and FAQs that can guide organizations in developing their cloud security posture. Some of the guidelines, written by the Federal Trade Commission, essentially advise organizations to:

• Take advantage of the security features offered by cloud service companies.
• Take regular inventories of what is kept in the cloud.
• Not store personal information when it is not necessary.
• Understand that security is your responsibility.

Furthermore, holistic security guidelines, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, can also be applied to cloud computing. This framework highlights five primary pillars organizations should consider when managing and developing their cybersecurity life cycle: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Their website mentions, "These five widely understood terms, when considered together, provide a comprehensive view of the life cycle for managing cybersecurity risk over time."

Learn more about how different uses of AI can help make protecting data in the cloud easier for security teams in the white paper "The CISO's Guide to Cloud Security."

Organizations can identify and mitigate human-related security breaches in the cloud by:

Conducting regular security audits

‍These may help organizations identify vulnerabilities and quickly deploy suitable patches.

Offering security awareness and training

‍Having a security-aware workforce may help employees understand the steps necessary to mitigate human-prone cyber-risks.

Establishing an identity and access management (IAM) discipline

‍IAM could allow organizations to keep unauthorized access to specified assets to a minimum. It attempts to ensure that the right people access the right resources at the right time.

Leveraging encryption and key management

‍Proper encryption of data should be utilized. Furthermore, organizations should leverage strong encryption and ensure proper management of encryption keys to keep data secure.

Each organization's cloud architecture is unique and has its own set of individual considerations. With that in mind, organizations should consider the following common factors when selecting cloud security solutions and providers:

Certifications & Standards

Technologies & Service Roadmap

Data Security, Data Governance, and Business policies

Contracts, Commercials & SLAs

Reliability & Performance

Migration Support, Vendor Lock-in & Exit Planning

Business health & Company profile

Organizations increasingly use cloud platforms, so safeguarding sensitive information against possible breaches and vulnerabilities is essential. Cloud security in cybersecurity includes a range of technologies, policies, and controls intended to protect data, applications, and infrastructures related to cloud computing. It addresses challenges such as reduced control and visibility, compliance issues, and misconfiguration inherent in cloud environments.

Effective cloud security systems must ensure that cloud services meet regulatory standards while remaining diligent and safeguarding information from cyberattack threats. Best practices to enhance cybersecurity in cloud-based systems include implementing a zero trust network approach and proactively reviewing and updating security measures to adapt to the dynamic cloud environment.

Cloud cybersecurity deviates from traditional cybersecurity practices in several key areas. Since cloud-based systems often involve third-party service providers, the focus is on proactive monitoring and risk management to protect data while preventing compliance violations and cyber-attacks.

Explore the differences between cloud-based cybersecurity and traditional cybersecurity:

• Increased accessibility over the internet exposes cloud computing to a more extensive range of risks.
• The deployment and management of cloud computing means that security is shared between customers and providers, which can be a risk for organizations.
• Loss of visibility and control in cloud systems makes continuous monitoring critical.
• Increased risk of misconfiguration is possible within cloud settings.
• Additional complexities make it more challenging to maintain regulatory compliance in cloud systems.

Cybersecurity measures must continuously adapt to the changing landscape to maintain a secure cloud operating environment. Darktrace/Cloud incorporates tools, including self-learning AI, to proactively detect and protect cloud-based systems from cyber-threats.

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• Continuous Visibility: Achieve context-aware monitoring of your cloud assets for real-time detection and response.
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• Actionable Strategies: Equip yourself with effective tactics to enhance compliance, visibility, and resilience.

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