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Cloud Computing Security Risks and Prevention Strategies

gracious90

July 26, 2024

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Introduction to Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to the process of delivering various computing services over the internet, including computing power, servers, databases, networking, storage needed for software and applications. This enables users to access the services on demand (similar to pay as you use model). Cloud computing plays a vital role in modern technology, and it will continue to grow as information technology advances.
Despite its benefits, cloud computing faces security issues that antivirus, firewalls and other traditional risk management measure cannot address. Public cloud computing requires robust and unique security approaches, as traditional measures were designed for in-house Architectural purposes.

Security Challenges Facing Cloud Computing

Several articles, surveys, and publications focus on various aspects of cloud computing, highlighting security threats as a major challenge. Experts are working to improve security measures, as seen in the article “A Systematic Literature Review on Cloud Computing Security: Threats and Mitigation Strategies.” (Alouffi et al., 2021). This article reviews seven security threats, including data storage, intrusion, manipulation, and leakage. (Cloud Security Alliance, 2010) also gave some reports on some major security threats to cloud computing. Further reports (Cloud Security Alliance, 2011) on practical management measures that can help to mitigate security threats in cloud computing, cloud data, and security around cloud environment.

Data loss

Data loss is a vital security challenge in cloud computing, caused by data corruption, unintentional data deletion, malware attacks, or unauthorized intrusion, tampering, manipulation. To prevent data loss, ensure up-to-date backups, use of external backup storage, consider cloud-to-cloud backup methods, monitor cloud storage regularly, implement adequate security measure, encrypt data, and use of data loss prevention tools.

Insecure Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

Insecure APIs is one of the significant security challenges facing cloud computing. It create pathways for attackers to gain access into the cloud environments. To reduce this of risk, ensure application updates, consistent security updates, implement necessary security measures, and verify external software and applications.

Denial-of-Service (DoS)

DoS attacks in cloud computing threaten users and organizations relying on server computing, since there is a need for internet connection to access the cloud environment. The attackers use the medium to flood the website by causing traffic and deny the host operating system from running. To reduce traffic and unusual activities, filter out malicious traffic using intrusion detection and prevention techniques, restrict access to network to limit attack surface, install firewall to prevent unauthorized activity.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

APTs exploit modernized techniques to access organization websites, steal vital information or data, and target supply chains to gain access into a larger organization cloud environment. This big organizations are the major target of the attacker. To prevent these risks, ensure maximum data protection, monitor cloud resources, encryption data, implement identity management procedures, and threat detections.

Incorrect configuration

Misconfiguration leads to threats like data breaches, loss, troubleshooting issues, and downtime. It is very crucial to ensure there are proper configuration, adequate encryption security settings, software updates, sufficient monitoring, access control, and identification management.

Unstructured data

Unstructured data poses security risks, including data breaches, loss unauthorized access, financial loss and legal liabilities. Unstructured data are datas that are not in an organized format. To mitigate the security risks associated with it, implement data backup and recovery processes, use data classification methods, and adequate data encryption,

Cloud vulnerabilities

Cloud vulnerabilities allow attackers to penetrate and perform malicious activities. This type of attack can lead to other security threats such as; malware attacks, data breaches, data loss or manipulations, financial losses. Address vulnerabilities by ensuring software updates, adequate data encryption, and strong authorization.

Unreliable Cloud Service Provider (CSP)

Using unreliable Cloud Service Provider (CSP) can lead to data breaches or security threats. To prevent this kind of issue, choose a CSP with integrity and reliability. Verify CSP’S security audits and certifications, ensure CSP provides robust data encryption and access controls to protect data.

Also check “A Beginner’s Guide to Becoming a Data Analyst