8 Major Cloud Security Risks & How to Mitigate

It is essential to be aware of cloud security risks and the reasons for their rise. Enterprises are shifting toward cloud computing as it offers various benefits, including adaptability, flexibility, and prowess. However, it has some weak points. Hence, while using the cloud, several security concerns must be addressed. In this blog, we discuss cloud computing security risks, why and how they arise, and how to mitigate them.

Evaluating cloud security risks helps enterprises determine and address the internal vulnerabilities in the cloud environment. As businesses count on cloud infrastructure to reserve their sensitive data, the key risk with cloud computing is data loss.

1 Areas Where Cloud Security Risks Might Rise

Enterprises use multiple cloud services and resources to facilitate their business operations. Those are the areas where cloud security risks might rise if organizations do not have any potent security strategy. Some of the major cloud components and resources are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), Data as a Service (DaaS), and Stakeholders (users like employees, customers, or partners).

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

It is a cloud-computing model that helps enterprises use virtualized computing resources such as storage, servers, and networking infrastructure on demand. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure (based on use case), and Google Compute Engine (GCE) are some of the prime examples of IaaS.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS is a cloud environment that helps enterprises develop, deploy, and test applications quickly and cost-efficiently. Some famous examples of PaaS are Microsoft Azure App Services, Google App Engine, and Heroku.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS refers to application software hosted and can be used over the internet via a mobile app or a web browser. There is no need to install SaaS on any device to use it. Popular examples of SaaS are Salesforce CRM and Microsoft Office 365.

4. Data as a Service (DaaS)

Data as a Service is a cloud computing model that helps enterprises get data and information on demand from external cloud data sources. Google's BigQuery and Amazon Redshift are the prime examples of DaaS.

5. Stakeholders - Employees, Customers, or Partners

Stakeholders include the overall users of the enterprise's cloud computing environment, such as employees, customers, or partners.

Now, let's understand the prominent security risks of cloud computing.

2 Major Cloud Security Risks (with Reasons & Real Case)

As the majority of enterprises across the world use cloud computing, it is essential to understand the threats related to it. Here, we have explained the significant security risks of cloud computing, along with some real-life cases.

1 Data Breaches

There are a variety of security risks in cloud computing. However, data breaches are the most typical because they can occur in every type of cloud computing, whether it be DaaS, IaaS, SaaS, or with the various parties that use it. Reasons for data breaches in cloud computing differ by component.

● DaaS - Due to insecure data transfer; It can also occur due to insecure data storage; Inadequate network monitoring.

● IaaS - Due to incorrect configuration of the cloud service provider's Infrastructure.

● SaaS - Because of loose access controls; Due to poor encryption of stored information.

● Stakeholders - Poor authentication measures can cause data breaches; Weak passwords can also make data breaches happen

2 Identity and Access Management (IAM) Risks

Poor Identity and Access Management increases security risks in the cloud, mainly in PaaS), SaaS, and DaaS, due to flawed security policies, unsafe authorization mechanisms, poor access controls, or insufficient evaluation of access to data. Here are some examples defined as insufficient identity and access management:

● PaaS: Multiple users share one same account; poor user authentication; inadequate access controls over different parts of the system.

● SaaS: Weak password policies; flawed user lifecycle management; inadequate session management.

● DaaS: Weak data encryption; lack of auditing; unauthorized recovery; weak access controls.

3 System Vulnerabilities

System Vulnerabilities are another common cloud computing security risk. They mainly occur in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) or Platform as a Service (PaaS). Some of the typical system vulnerabilities that can impact your cloud security are:

● Configuration Errors: Misconfigurations of the cloud settings, such as unsupported storage buckets or breaches of security group rules, are a risk to cloud security.

● Outdated Software: The cloud environment becomes more susceptible to problems due to outdated software versions.

● Insufficient Network Controls: Poor network controls, such as flawed firewall configurations or weak network segmentation, result in the appearance of vulnerabilities within a cloud environment.

● Lack of Encryption: Inadequate encryption of sensitive data transmitted is also a cloud security threat.

4 API Security Risks

API security risks are more common in Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Data as a Service (DaaS). The five common risks of API integration are:

● Direct Object Reference: This could lead to an unauthorized person accessing the confined resources.

● Authentication/Authorization Issues: Authentication and authorization problems such as weak or insufficient API key management are also an aspect of cloud security threats.

● Protocols for Data Transmission: An unprotected data transmission channel is another API integration problem that causes cloud data breaches.

● Rate Limiting Issues: Insufficient management of API usage frequency can make the cloud environment vulnerable to cyberattacks.

● Input Validation Problems: Middleware that doesn't check and clean up user inputs will enable unauthorized user access to your cloud assets.

5 Data Loss

The cloud security risk of data loss occurs in components like IaaS, SaaS, and DaaS. Some of the common reasons that cause data loss are:

a. Hardware or System Malfunction: Both hardware and system malfunction can cause data loss in the components of cloud computing.

b. Software Bugs, Crashes, or Conflicts: Technical issues, bugs, and software crashes are common reasons for data loss on the cloud.

c. Virus or Malware Attacks: Virus and malware attacks on the cloud environment also compromise data integrity on the cloud.

d. Theft: Unauthorized access can lead to theft of data and, as well, data loss.

e. Human Error: Human errors like system misconfiguration are among the leading causes of data loss.

f. Vulnerable APIs: Poor API implementation can lead to unauthorized access to API data, and enterprises eventually lose it.

g. Natural Disasters: Natural disasters causing damage to the data centers can result in permanent data loss.

6 Shared Technology Vulnerabilities

You can not secure the technologies, products, and codes you have not created. Hence, there is always a chance of vulnerabilities in a multi-cloud environment as several users share identical cloud components. Some prominent aspects due to which shared technology vulnerabilities occur are cloud service providers, virtualization software, shared hosting services, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and data centers.

7 Container Risks

Containers are an option in cloud computing, like virtual machines, but much lighter. However, they also come with their own security risk factors. Main types of container risks include:

● Image Vulnerabilities: Poor container image security

● Container Isolation Breaches: Marred container isolation can compromise critical data and systems

● Insecure Container Registries: Unsecured and vulnerable repositories to store container images

8 Insider Risks

Insider Risks are quite critical issues for the cloud security of any enterprise. It depicts the threats possessed by any malicious insider, including employees, customers, or partners, as they have authorized access to a cloud environment. Some key insider risks are:

● Accidental Data Exposure: Data leak due to lack of awareness

● Espionage/Sabotage: Insiders attempting to gain unauthorized access for individual advancements & sabotage purposes

● Privilege Abuse: Abuse of access privileges for personal gains

● Third-Party Insider Risks: Threats possessed by individuals outside the enterprise, such as contractors, vendors, or temporary workers.

3 How to Mitigate Cloud Security Risks

Cloud security risks must be anticipated for enterprises increasingly storing their data on the cloud. Businesses can strengthen their cloud security with these five best to mitigate cloud security risks.

Implement Robust Access Controls

With options like AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) or Azure Active Directory (AAD), enterprises can employ potent identity and access management (IAM) solutions.

Data Encryption

Data in transit or at rest can be protected with robust encryption tools such as AWS Key Management Service (KMS) or Google Cloud Key Management Service (KMS).

Regular System Update and Patches

Enterprises can use solutions like AWS Systems Manager or Azure Update Management to constantly update software and security patches and prevent themselves from ever-evolving cloud security risks.

Risk Assessments and Audits

By performing real-time risk audits and assessments, businesses can mitigate the security risks in cloud computing.

Apt Stakeholder Training

Enterprises must provide apt training to the stakeholders, including employees, customers, and partners, to avoid any insider threat to the cloud environment.