Top security concerns in cloud computing

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing lets businesses and individuals use internet-based cloud servers to store, manage, and process data, moving away from local servers. It’s flexible, scalable, and cost-effective – users can easily adjust resources and pay only for what they use.

Types of cloud computing

Cloud computing comes in four flavors: public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud. Each has its own advantages and works best for different customer needs.

• Public cloud. In public models, cloud services are delivered over a public network, making them accessible to multiple clients. Examples include Amazon Web Services , Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Public clouds are known for their scalability and cost-efficiency, which is great for businesses that want to expand resources quickly and pay as they go.
• Private cloud. A private cloud is built for a single organization and either hosted on-site or managed by an outside provider. This setup offers more control and customization and works best for companies with specific needs or a preference for closer oversight. While a private cloud requires a higher investment, it creates an exclusive environment tailored to the company’s operations.
• Hybrid cloud. Hybrid clouds combine elements of public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to move between them. This setup is popular for its flexibility — it lets organizations use private clouds for core operations and public clouds for extra storage or processing power when needed.
• Multi-cloud. A multi-cloud setup uses multiple cloud service providers. This approach lets businesses pick and choose services from various providers, optimizing resources across platforms. While a multi-cloud is harder to manage, it’s great for organizations with diverse needs.

Security issues in cloud computing

Cloud computing may seem secure by default, but it’s not. While it offers major advantages for storing data, cloud computing systems also have specific security and privacy issues. And with the majority of corporate data being cloud based, these platforms are prime targets for cybercriminals, making cloud security a constant priority. Here’s a look at the key cloud security risks businesses should be aware of.

Misconfiguration

Misconfigurations in cloud security settings are among the leading causes of cloud data breaches and are often due to human error. Mistakes like incorrect storage settings, weak permissions, or flawed security controls leave data vulnerable. Even major companies have been hit by breaches because of these oversights. That’s why it’s essential to have strong access controls and perform regular security audits of cloud computing infrastructure.

Unauthorized access

Cloud-based setups, unlike on-premises infrastructure, are open to the public internet, extending beyond traditional network boundaries. While this accessibility boosts user and customer engagement, it also increases the risk of unauthorized access by malicious actors or unauthorized users to sensitive data and systems. In cloud environments, strong identity and access management controls are essential for keeping sensitive data and systems safe from unapproved users.

Data loss

Cloud-based infrastructure is exposed to the public internet, often unsecured, and packed with valuable data. Data loss, or a data breach, is a serious threat in a cloud computing environment. It happens when someone accesses or takes sensitive information from an organization without permission, and its leading cause is human error.

Whether through accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyberattacks, data breaches can be catastrophic for organizations. Strong backup strategies and redundancy plans are key to minimizing potential damage.

Insider threat

Insider threats may seem unlikely, but they’re a real risk for organizations using cloud-based services. Employees with authorized access to company resources can misuse sensitive data, including client accounts and financial information.

Insider cloud security threats aren’t always malicious – mistakes or negligence can also lead to security breaches. Protecting sensitive data in the cloud requires strong access controls, regular employee training, and ongoing monitoring.

Account hijacking

Account hijacking is a serious cloud security threat, especially as organizations increasingly depend on cloud-based infrastructure and applications for core business functions. If an attacker gets into a cloud account, they can use it to steal data, run malicious activities, or launch further attacks within the cloud environment. Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication are basic defenses against this issue.

Zero-day exploit

The cloud is essentially “someone else’s computer.” But as long as you’re using software — even if it runs in another organization’s data centers — you’re still exposed to the threat of zero-day exploits.

Zero-day exploits take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities in popular software and operating systems. They’re dangerous because, even with a secure cloud setup, an attacker can use these vulnerabilities to break into your environment.

Insecure APIs

Cloud security practices often depend on the cloud service provider. Application programming interfaces (APIs) are integral to cloud functionality but can also introduce vulnerabilities if not designed securely. An insecure API can expose sensitive data or allow unauthorized access, letting attackers gain access to cloud accounts and steal sensitive data like financial records, passwords, and health data.

While APIs offer considerable customization benefits, businesses must implement robust security measures to protect against the risks that insecure APIs can bring.

Shadow IT

Shadow IT refers to IT systems, software, and services employees use without the organization’s approval. It creates significant security blind spots, making it hard to monitor and secure all cloud-based applications. As shadow IT grows, so does the potential for data leakage and other security risks. Effective cloud security needs to cover every access point, making sure that employees don’t put the entire organization at risk by logging in where they shouldn’t.

Denial-of-service attacks

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack floods a server or network with traffic, disrupting services for legitimate users. Since cloud services are online, they’re frequent targets. Distributed DoS (DDoS) attacks are even more damaging because they involve multiple sources in a coordinated attack.

Read more about DoS vs DDoS for further insights.

Malware injections

Malware can infiltrate cloud services to compromise data or give attackers control over cloud-based resources. It often targets vulnerable applications or injects harmful code into cloud software, potentially leading to data breaches and other cloud security issues.

Restricted access to network operations

Cloud computing limits direct control over network infrastructure, which can reduce visibility and slow down incident response. This lack of control makes it harder to monitor and address network security issues in cloud computing platforms, requiring alternative approaches to keep cloud security strong.

Insufficient due diligence

Moving to the cloud without proper planning can lead to various risks. Skipping due diligence — like evaluating a provider’s security, training staff, or checking compliance requirements — can leave an organization exposed. A thorough risk assessment upfront is the best way to avoid surprises down the road.

Data-security non-compliance

One of the biggest challenges in cloud data security is staying compliant. Standards like the GDPR and HIPAA require organizations to strictly control access to sensitive data like credit card details or healthcare patient records. Failing to meet regulations carries legal consequences and can damage a company’s reputation for failing to protect customer privacy. Meeting regulatory compliance standards is especially challenging for large companies operating across different regions.

Without a reliable process for vetting cloud service providers or configuring security systems for regulatory compliance, organizations risk hefty fines and a damaged reputation.

Abuse of cloud services

Cloud-based resources are sometimes exploited for malicious purposes, like running spam campaigns, hosting malware, or supporting large-scale attacks. The scalability of the cloud makes it an attractive target for such abuse. That’s why organizations need to closely monitor for any unusual activity that could signal a security compromise.

Lack of cloud security strategy and skills

Traditional data center security doesn’t work in the cloud. Administrators need new strategies and skills tailored to cloud environments.

While the cloud offers agility, it also creates vulnerabilities for organizations that lack the knowledge and expertise to tackle cloud-specific security challenges. Poor planning often leads to confusion around the shared responsibility model, which divides the provider and user security roles. Misunderstanding these roles leaves critical security gaps open to exploitation.

How to defend yourself against cloud computing security issues

While cloud computing brings its own set of security challenges, various strategies can effectively reduce the risk of incidents. Cloud security covers technologies, applications, controls, and policies for protecting people, data, and infrastructure from the cyber threats and compliance risks of cloud computing platforms. In this section, we’ll look at the key ways to handle cloud security challenges.

Encryption

A key cloud security practice is to encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit. Encryption scrambles data so that it becomes unreadable without the right decryption key. While most reputable cloud service providers offer encryption services, understanding the basics of cryptography will help you make informed decisions about data security.

Multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) improves security by adding extra verification steps beyond a password. MFA is a simple yet powerful defense against account hijacking and unauthorized access.

Data backups

Regular data backups are a cloud security best practice for recovering from a data-related incident. They should be performed regularly and kept in a secure location separate from primary data storage. Besides helping you recover from a data loss, backups support regulatory compliance and help maintain business continuity.

Regular audits and penetration testing

Routine security audits and penetration tests help spot potential weaknesses before they can be exploited. They allow you to fix vulnerabilities, improve access controls, and align with cloud security best practices.

VPN

A VPN adds an extra layer of security for accessing cloud-based resources from unsecured networks. It encrypts your internet connection, preventing connection manipulation or eavesdropping by malicious actors.

How service providers can enhance cloud security

Companies adopting cloud computing have to rely on their cloud service provider for certain data security tasks. This setup makes it challenging for their security teams to clearly define where the provider’s responsibilities end and their own begin. Those gaps are among the key reasons leading to the security risks of cloud computing.

By adopting best practices and continuously improving cloud security measures, providers can protect their clients against many common cloud computing security risks. Here are some essential steps they should take.

Strong access control

Controlling who can access the cloud is key to avoiding cloud security issues. The ability to access sensitive data and critical resources should be on a strict “need-to-know” basis. Robust cloud security platforms often have identity and access management (IAM) solutions to enforce the principle of least privilege. It reduces the risk of unauthorized access and restricts the potential damage from compromised accounts.

Role-based access control can help ensure that employees only have access to the resources necessary for their job functions. Organizations can implement the designed roles within the cloud provider’s IAM service.

Regular cloud infrastructure updates and patches

Outdated systems and software are easy targets for attackers. Keeping cloud-based environments secure means regularly updating and managing patches to guard against known vulnerabilities. Providers should focus on patching critical components and work with third-party vendors to quickly close any security gaps.

Employee education

Each employee plays a role in maintaining security. To reduce risks from negligence, providers should invest in cloud security training that covers phishing scams, credential management, and handling sensitive cloud data. Employees aware of potential threats are less likely to fall for common traps and can play a proactive role in preventing breaches.

Monitoring for suspicious activity

Real-time monitoring is the only way to spot and address threats as they arise. Cloud providers should use advanced tools like intrusion detection systems (IDS) to catch unusual or suspicious activities. Continuous monitoring helps detect early warning signs and enables quicker responses to incidents.