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An estimated 70% of businesses are using the cloud [1]. Therefore, cloud computing threats should be a concern for every business. Of course, cloud computing offers a flexible model for simplified remote access, IT management, mobility, and cost-efficiency. However, with more critical applications migrating to the cloud, security and data privacy are becoming a growing concern for businesses.

Simply moving web applications to the cloud does not make them inherently secure. You must also address the different security risks associated with cloud computing. In this article, we will explore the top cloud computing threats and how you can dodge them.

What Are Cloud Security Threats?

There are various benefits to attain from cloud computing, including efficiency and speed. However, there are a host of potential cloud security threats as well access management, data breaches, data loss, and insecure APIs.

Cloud computing risks are on the rise, reiterating the importance of protection against cloud security threats.

Security Risks Associated with Cloud Computing

There are a host of different security risks associated with cloud computing. The following are some of the most important ones.

Top Cloud Security Threats

Now that you know the different threats and risks associated with cloud computing, let us discuss the top cloud security threats and how you can mitigate them.

Access management is one of the major cloud computing threats. Both small and large businesses are moving all their data to the cloud, but in most cases, they do this without thinking through their access policies.

One way to protect your business from this cloud computing threat is to limit access. Implement a rigorous access policy and avoid offering access to an employee when it is not required. Moreover, conduct regular audits of the level of access certain employees have and remove unnecessary privileges if any. Deploy the most secure identification and authentication tools to make your cloud more secure.

Data breaches have become more frequent in cloud computing systems than those managed in-house because of the large volume of data flowing between cloud systems and employees, which can be intercepted by hackers, thus resulting in cloud computing vulnerabilities.

One of the best ways to mitigate data breach threats is through securing the data. Make use of encryption for both messages and email servers. Ensure that all employees access the cloud services securely from anywhere in the world, and use a secure VPN service for this purpose.

Data loss is another significant cloud incident for which you need to have an incident response plan. When you start moving data to the cloud, it can grow in size very quickly, making data backups both costly and difficult.

Therefore, rather than waiting for cloud incidents to take place, adopt a proactive approach and implement a rigorous backup system, thus setting up your business for proper incident management.

APIs are the primary tools that your employees use for interacting with cloud storage systems. However, most of these APIs are still vulnerable, thereby giving storage providers undue levels of access to your data.

One way to mitigate this cloud computing threat is to choose the cloud storage provider carefully. A quality cloud provider will always adhere to the API security guidelines and will also provide you with information on the number of attacks they have prevented.

Handle Cloud Computing Threats with ECIH Training

To gain an in-depth understanding of cloud computing threats and other looming risks, opt for a certification for you or your business that explores these topics with relevant examples and practical applications. EC-Councils Certified Incident Handler (ECIH) is a specialist program that offers skills and knowledge to effectively handle post-breach consequences by reducing the incident impact. The method-driven training uses a holistic approach to cover different concepts regarding incident handling and response.

References

FAQs

What is the biggest challenge of cloud computing?

Privacy and security of information are the biggest challenges of cloud computing. These cloud computing security issues can be overcome by employing security hardware, encryption, and security applications.

What are the benefits of cloud computing?

There are various benefits of cloud computing that businesses must consider. Some of these include reduced IT costs, business continuity, flexible work practices, and scalability.

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What Are the Top Cloud Computing Threats and How To Avoid Them? - EC-Council Blog