Cloud technology is one of the latest advancements in data technology. There are several benefits to using cloud technology. However, those benefits come with new challenges. Today, let’s tackle these challenges. Afterward, let’s see what actions you can take to solve them.
Challenges of cloud technology
There are several challenges when faced with such a complex technology. It can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. Some concerns include:
More Avenues of Attack
The cloud’s size inherently lends itself to vulnerability. With such a large cloud environment, it’s an attractive target for hackers. They take advantage of weaknesses in the cloud’s ports. Once inside, they can access, steal and disrupt large chunks of data.
Hard to Navigate
While you may have full control of the cloud’s infrastructure, its size and several sub-parts make it difficult to navigate. This lack of control only worsens with bigger cloud storage. Customers and owners alike have difficulty finding their cloud assets. In addition, this inaccessibility can make a human error all too common.
Constant Workload
The cloud is online 24/7. This means it needs constant upkeep. This can get difficult as cloud technology is dynamic in both scale and function. The traditional methods of cybersecurity simply do not apply here. The flexibility of cloud technology makes it difficult to secure. Though you are offered versatility, so do potential hackers.
Hard to Patch
Organizations must make sure their cloud protocols are well in place. This also applies to security tools. The complexity of cloud technology makes it difficult to work around once it is released. Implementing security changes after release takes a long time. Even longer than if security protocols were put in place before the cloud was released to an organization. During major changes such as rebranding your business, this is time you cannot be wasting.
Careless Access
Cloud users are given roles far above what is needed of them. For example, many make the mistake of giving a role with admin functions to an untrained new worker. This has led to several security incidents. Users can change permissions at will, or even access data that are not meant for their eyes.
Difficult Compliance
The use of cloud technology means you are responsible for its compliance. You must follow the protocols for cloud technology. However, the difficulty in navigating, dynamic nature of cloud technology, and overall complexity make compliance hard. A 100% correct auditing process is near impossible without the proper tools. These tools are often more resources.
Strategies to tackle cloud security challenges
While the scale of cloud security challenges is intimidating, there is a bounty of ways to resolve them. Here are some of the best ways to get your cloud setup secured:
End-to-End Security
Cloud technology can’t be protected with just any old anti-virus software. Internal security processes won’t be sufficient against hacking and breaches either. You need the right technology, a knowledgeable team, and constant vigilance. There is no way to see any of the issues with your system without research and expert advice.
Businesses today make use of end-to-end security. To do this, they need competent cyber threat intelligence, a tech stack for detection, and an advanced monitoring system. Threat modeling should be based on intelligence gathered from real-life attacks. Without a reliable intelligence model, your team would never spot suspicious activity.
Hire a Cloud Security Expert
You need a specialist. There is no getting around that. They ensure the security of your cloud technology and prevent data breaches. Right now, cloud technology is young and needs a lot of attention to shine. You can’t have one of your IT generalists dealing with such a high-effort project. The expense for a new IT cloud analyst is nothing compared to the expense lost if your cloud gets compromised. Work with a professional who is on call anytime during business days.
Centralize Security Management
Cloud security is complex. This comes as no surprise given the technology involved. Multiple parameters such as roles, storage, operating systems, and cloud computing services acting on different fronts are worrisome. Cloud providers often give you a built-in security hub, your best choice is to use a 3rd party tool. Centralizing all your security options is key to easier management.
A central security hub has several benefits, which include:
- Broader Functionality: A good security hub should be able to cover a lot of functions. Instead of going to different parts of your cloud to manage different things, a security hub lets you control all of it from one interface. The problem with multiple solutions is how chaotic it can get. Each point solution would require specific staff, integration, and upkeep. A central security hub minimizes these problems.
- Better Visibility: Visibility is important since you can’t secure what you can’t see. Despite being “open”, cloud software has a lot of blind spots. Cloud technology runs so many resources that individually keeping track is near impossible. A centralized security hub allows you to take action on issues as they arise. AI can assist you in broadening your range even further. Hackers often find backdoors into your system. A centralized security hub lets you know what breaches to plug up.
Simulate Every Possibility
The best defense is practicing your enemy’s offense. With a white hat hacker, start running simulated attacks on your cloud system. Disaster recovery is the norm in modern IT. Conduct regular stress attacks on your system to ensure its reliability. With the ever-changing landscape of cloud technology, you must be quick to adapt to any new attacks.
Zero Trust Policy
Security must not play favorites. Regardless of a system, person, or device’s reliability, assume that something will go wrong. Create security parameters around each avenue of attack. Give users access only to what they need. Do not give a user more permissions than they need. One forgotten admin account can be the backdoor of your next malware attack.
About The Author:
Chatty is freelance writer from Manila. She finds joy in inspiring and educating others through writing. That’s why aside from job as a language evaluator for local and international students, she spends her leisure time writing about various topics such as lifestyle, technology, and business.
