When we use cloud services, our data isn't on-premises anymore. It is stored on servers that could be anywhere in the world. This expands the landscape of data breaches and other cyber threats exponentially.

While it’s essential to understand how to keep your information safe when using cloud services, cloud security is an evolving field. The key, therefore, is knowing the tools at your disposal and how to use them effectively. Just as crucial is knowing the type of threats your systems are exposed to when you work, communicate, and store your data in the cloud.

Data breaches in cloud security

According to research by Thales, 39 percent of businesses experienced a cloud-related data breach in 2023. This is alarming when you consider that 75 percent of companies store sensitive data in the cloud. 

The magnitude of some of the data breaches we have witnessed over the years offers a glimpse of the threats corporate networks face in cloud environments.

Facebook

Facebook was breached before August 2019 but infamously failed to notify the over 530 million affected users until April 2021. The stolen data included phone numbers, full names, and locations, which were later posted to a public database. 

This breach significantly harmed Facebook’s reputation. Founder Mark Zuckerberg had to settle a privacy case with the Federal Trade Commission, which included a $5 billion penalty.

Alibaba

In November 2019, the Alibaba-owned Taobao shopping platform was attacked over eight months. A hacker scraped sensitive personal data from the accounts of over 1.1 billion users. 

The intruder accessed user IDs, mobile phone numbers, and customer comments. Although passwords weren’t compromised, the breach forced Alibaba to alert the police, emphasizing the need for better monitoring systems.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn faced a massive data scraping breach in 2021. This attack exposed data from 700 million profiles. While LinkedIn argued that no private data was exposed and that the data was public, the stolen information included email addresses, phone numbers, and geo-location records. All this was posted on dark web forums, showing how even seemingly harmless breaches can pose serious risks.

Sina Weibo

Sina Weibo, one of China’s largest social media platforms, was also a victim of a massive data breach. In June 2020, details of more than 538 million users were leaked. This included real names, usernames, gender, and location, with phone numbers for 172 million users. 

‍

Even though the stolen data didn’t include passwords, the hacker put the data up for sale for just $250, highlighting how cheaply personal data can be sold.

Accenture

Accenture also got hit hard. They fell victim to a ransomware attack by the LockBit group in August 2021. The hackers claimed to have stolen six terabytes of data and demanded a ransom of $50 million. 

‍

Despite this, Accenture managed to restore its systems from backups without major disruptions, a testament to the importance of robust backup solutions.

Cognyte

Cyber analytics firm Cognyte made headlines in June 2021 for failing to secure a database that exposed five billion records. This included names, email addresses, and data sources related to previous incidents. The database remained unprotected and accessible online for four days, providing a treasure trove of information that could be exploited for future attacks.

Toyota

Toyota, one of the world’s largest carmakers, faced a breach in June 2023 involving a misconfigured cloud environment that exposed data of about 260,000 customers. 

The exposed data included vehicle IDs and map data updates, accessible externally from February 2015 to May 2023. Although this breach didn’t spill sensitive data en masse, it underscores how simple misconfigurations can lead to significant vulnerabilities.

These examples illustrate the complexities and challenges of protecting data in the cloud. From delayed breach notifications to large-scale data scraping, each incident teaches us vital lessons in securing cloud environments.

Cloud security threats corporate networks face

Denial of Service (DoS) attacks

Denial of Service (DoS) attacks overwhelm a service with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users. It might involve flooding your cloud servers with millions of requests per second. 

Unable to handle the load, your servers might crash. During this time, your customers can't log in, make purchases, or get support. It can cause major chaos. Some attackers go even further by targeting specific vulnerabilities in cloud applications. They exploit weaknesses in protocols to amplify their attacks. 

Indeed, the cloud is supposed to be scalable and resilient. Cloud providers often offer built-in defenses, like rate limiting, but they aren't foolproof. Sophisticated attackers can still find ways to exploit vulnerabilities. 

To add another layer of complexity, DoS attacks can be mixed with other tactics. Attackers might use ransomware to encrypt data while launching a DoS attack to distract the IT team.

The human side of these attacks is also a factor. Employees get frustrated when tools and services are down. It disrupts their workflow and can lead to mistakes. Burned out from the stress of dealing with continuous DoS attacks, your IT team can feel like they are trying to hold back an ocean with a broom.

Malware and ransomware

Malware and ransomware pose significant threats when guarding your corporate network in the cloud. Malware includes any malicious software designed to infiltrate, damage, or steal information from your systems. In the cloud, this can be particularly disastrous. 

For instance, attackers might deploy malware through phishing emails, tricking employees into clicking malicious links or downloading infected files. Once inside, the malware can spread quickly, compromising sensitive data stored in cloud services like AWS or Azure.

Ransomware is a type of malware that takes control of your data and demands payment to release it. Imagine coming to work one day to find all your company files encrypted and inaccessible. 

A notorious example is the WannaCry ransomware attack, which exploited vulnerabilities in outdated software to infect computers globally. In a cloud environment, a similar attack could cripple your operations by locking you out of essential data and applications stored on platforms like Google Cloud or Microsoft 365.

The cloud adds complexity to managing these threats because cloud environments often integrate multiple services and platforms. Each has its own security protocols and potential vulnerabilities. For example, a misconfigured Amazon S3 bucket could inadvertently expose your data to cybercriminals, who then exploit this to plant malware or launch ransomware attacks.

To combat malware and ransomware in the cloud, you need robust security practices. Regularly updating software and enforcing strict access controls are crucial. Ensuring multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accessing cloud services can also prevent unauthorized access. 

Additionally, employing advanced threat detection tools provided by cloud service providers, such as Azure Security Center or AWS GuardDuty, helps identify and mitigate threats before they cause significant damage.

Real-time monitoring and regular security audits are also key in identifying potential vulnerabilities. By staying vigilant and proactive, you can minimize the risk of malware and ransomware infiltrating your cloud environments.

Account hijacking

Account hijacking is a serious issue in cloud security. It involves someone sneaking into your account and impersonating you. This isn't just about losing access to a favorite app. If a malicious actor gets into your corporate cloud account, they can steal sensitive data, alter information, and even bring business operations to a halt.

Hackers often use phishing attacks to trick users into giving up their credentials. You might get an email that looks like it’s from your cloud service provider, asking you to log in to fix a supposed issue. When you click the link and enter your login details, boom – they have access to your account. 

For example, an attacker might send an email that appears to come from Amazon Web Services (AWS) support, requiring urgent action. If you fall for it, they can get into your AWS account and access your company’s critical infrastructure.

Another common method is exploiting weak passwords. If your password is something like "password123", it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Brute force attacks can easily crack such passwords, giving attackers a free pass into your account. It’s like leaving the front door of your house wide open.

Then there’s the issue of token theft. Many cloud services use tokens for authentication, especially for APIs. If a hacker manages to steal an authentication token, they can access your cloud services without needing your username or password.

Session hijacking is another trick up the attackers' sleeves. They can intercept session cookies during a user’s session and gain access to the account. It’s like someone eavesdropping on your conversation and then jumping in pretending to be you. 

For example, if you’re using an unsecured Wi-Fi network, a hacker could capture your session cookie and hijack your session to impersonate you on your Microsoft Azure account.

To protect against these threats, it’s crucial to be vigilant. Always verify the source of any email requesting login details, use strong, unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and be cautious when using public Wi-Fi. These are simple steps but can make a huge difference in securing your cloud accounts.

Insider threats

Insider threats come from employees, contractors, or anyone with internal access. It's not just about malicious intent; negligence can be just as damaging.

For instance, consider an employee who uploads sensitive documents to a personal cloud storage account. They might do this for convenience, but it's risky. These personal accounts often lack the robust security protocols of corporate cloud services. If their personal account gets hacked, your sensitive data is exposed.

Another example is disgruntled employees. They might intentionally leak confidential information. A case that comes to mind involves a system administrator who purposely deleted critical files after learning about their impending termination. This kind of insider attack can be devastating due to the person's deep access and knowledge of the system.

Even contractors can be a threat. They can have access to your cloud environments for specific projects. An instance occurred where a contractor, after completing their project, failed to secure their access credentials. These credentials were later exploited by cybercriminals to breach the company's cloud infrastructure.

Human error is also a big factor. Misconfiguration of cloud settings can expose data. For example, a well-meaning IT staff member might accidentally set cloud storage permissions to public instead of private. This oversight can make sensitive information accessible to anyone on the internet.

To manage these risks, you need stringent access controls and continuous monitoring. It's vital to have systems in place that can detect unusual activities by insiders. By being proactive, you can minimize the impact of insider threats and protect your cloud security.

How to protect your data in corporate cloud environments

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Identity and Access Management (IAM) helps you manage who has access to your data and tools, ensure they are who they say they are, and keep track of their actions. In the cloud, it offers control, security, and convenience.

IAM lets you set up user permissions and access levels. For example, it lets you assign roles that limit access based on job function. You can also enforce policies like multi-factor authentication (MFA). This means even if someone gets hold of a password, they’ll still need another form of verification to gain access.

One of the best features of IAM in cloud environments is the ability to automate access management. For instance, AWS IAM allows you to create policies that automatically grant and revoke access as employees join or leave the company. 

IAM also supports single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. This allows users to log in once and gain access to multiple systems without having to log in separately to each one. It's like having a master key that opens several doors. For instance, if you use Google Workspace, employees can log in once and access Gmail, Google Drive, and other services without entering their credentials again and again.

In addition, IAM lets you track and log user activities. This allows you to see who accessed what and when. If something suspicious happens, you can quickly investigate. 

Most cloud providers offer detailed logging capabilities. For example, Azure AD logs can show you login attempts and any changes made to user accounts. This kind of visibility is crucial for auditing and compliance.

Firewalls and VPNs

In the cloud, we use virtual firewalls. They work just like physical ones but are designed to protect cloud environments. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has its own firewall service called AWS Firewall Manager. It helps users manage their firewall rules across different AWS accounts. 

This centralized control is crucial. Imagine having to update security settings one by one. It's a nightmare. Microsoft Azure offers a similar service called Azure Firewall. It allows users to set application and network rules, and also filter traffic by geographic location.

VPNs (virtual private networks) create a secure tunnel between your devices and the cloud. This tunnel encrypts all the data that passes through it. VPNs are particularly important for remote work. When your employees are working from home or traveling, they can connect to cloud resources securely using a VPN.

There are different types of VPNs you might use. For instance, AWS has something called AWS Client VPN, which allows users to securely connect their on-premises network to their AWS resources. On the other hand, Azure offers a service called Azure VPN Gateway, designed to send encrypted traffic between an Azure virtual network and an on-premises location over the public Internet.

Combining firewalls and VPNs will provide a strong defense for your cloud networks. For example, you can use a VPN to ensure that your remote workers' connections are encrypted. Then use cloud firewalls to control the traffic that comes through those VPN connections. This layered approach makes your security robust.

Intrusion detection and prevention systems

Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) are useful for monitoring network traffic and identifying suspicious activities. Using both will create a robust cloud security perimeter for your corporate network. 

An IDS alerts you when it detects unusual behavior, such as a spike in traffic or suspicious login attempts. On the other hand, an IPS takes it a step further. It can automatically block malicious activities, like stopping a potential hacker in their tracks.

You may also use a Unified Threat Management (UTM) device, like a Fortinet appliance, which combines IDS and IPS functionalities. It's a Swiss Army knife for network security. These devices can handle multiple security tasks simultaneously, increasing your defense efficiency.

Implementing IDPS isn't just about installing the software or hardware. You must also fine-tune the systems to minimize false positives. Getting bombarded with alerts for harmless activities isn't helpful. Configure your IDPS to recognize normal patterns specific to your network, making it more effective at spotting genuine threats.

You can also set up honeypots—decoy systems that mimic your real network—to lure attackers. These honeypots can help you understand the tactics used by potential intruders. When an attacker interacts with a honeypot, your IDPS alerts you, allowing you to study and block the attack method.

Regular updates are crucial to keeping your IDPS effective. Threat landscapes evolve, and so must your defenses. Make sure to frequently update the signatures and databases that your IDS and IPS rely on to identify threats.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system. 

SIEM solutions, like IBM QRadar or ArcSight, aggregate data from various sources. They not only provide real-time analysis of security alerts but also help in long-term trend analysis. This way, anomalies are easier to detect. 

For example, if an employee’s account starts accessing sensitive files at odd hours, the SIEM will flag it for further investigation.

There are several SIEM solutions on the market, one of which is LogRhythm. LogRhythm offers comprehensive visibility across cloud environments, which means you can monitor your cloud workloads just as easily as your on-premises systems. 

LogRhythm's machine-learning capabilities are particularly impressive. They help to identify anomalies by learning your normal operations and flagging anything out of the ordinary.

Another solid choice is SolarWinds Security Event Manager. This tool provides real-time event correlation and automated responses to security incidents. One of SolarWinds' best attributes is its simplicity and ease of deployment, especially for smaller teams. It also integrates well with various cloud platforms, which makes it versatile.

Splunk is another solid choice, which is almost synonymous with SIEM. Splunk’s Cloud platform offers powerful analytics and a highly customizable dashboard. It’s excellent for large enterprises that need to keep track of vast amounts of data. Splunk also offers extensive integration options, allowing you to pull in data from virtually any source.

Then, there's IBM QRadar. It shines in its ability to provide deep insights through its AI-driven analytics. If you are dealing with complex cloud environments, QRadar can give you a detailed view of potential security threats and help prioritize them based on severity.

Microsoft’s Azure Sentinel is worth mentioning, too. Fully integrated with the Azure ecosystem, it offers scalability and robust analytics. One of Sentinel’s strong points is its community-powered threat detection, providing insights from Microsoft's vast security network.

Shared responsibility model in cloud security

The Shared Responsibility Model in cloud security is crucial and yet, often misunderstood. This model clarifies the roles of both cloud service providers (CSPs) and their customers. 

As a cloud customer, it's crucial to know that your cloud provider isn't solely responsible for securing everything. They take care of the infrastructure security. This includes the physical security of data centers, ensuring network security, and protecting storage systems. Think of it as them providing a secure, locked vault.

However, the contents of that vault—your data, applications, and anything else you store there—are your responsibility. You need to ensure that these are properly secured, which means implementing encryption, managing access controls, and applying regular security updates to your operating systems and applications.

Take containerized applications. While a provider like AWS manages the underlying container orchestration, you must ensure your containers are free from vulnerabilities and properly configured. This includes regular updates and patches. 

When using storage services like AWS S3, the data's physical security relies on AWS. However, it's up to you to configure bucket policies correctly and encrypt data. If you misconfigure these settings, no cloud provider can protect your data from unauthorized access or breaches.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) is another area of shared responsibility. Providers like Azure offer robust IAM tools, but you have to set up proper user roles and permissions. Mismanagement here can lead to compromised accounts and data breaches.