Cloud security can be complex. But it doesn’t have to be.
As organisations move towards cloud environments, it is often uncertain what security measures need to be taken, or indeed how processes should be introduced. A change in Cloud configurations and administration means that there are many new opportunities for adversaries to detect vulnerabilities, and to exploit misconfigurations in Cloud environments.
“(31%) of 4,332 global enterprise cloud decision makers ranked “cybersecurity” as a top investment priority for their organization in 2023”- Google, Cloud Brand Pulse Survey, Wave 5, 2022
Top 3 Vulnerabilities in Cloud to Watch Out for
There are multiple vulnerabilities within your cloud environment. Identifying them must be a top priority.
1. Unauthorized Access
The first challenge is that most Cloud offerings are designed with one thing in mind: accessibility. While ease of access is fundamental, this can cause issues with unauthorized access. With the ability to access Cloud data from multiple locations, devices, and accounts, this data is left more vulnerable than ever.
“By 2027, more than 50% of enterprises will use industry cloud platforms to accelerate their business initiatives.”- Gartner
2. Insider Threats
The second challenge is that when it comes to ease of access, one great feature of Cloud platforms is the ability to create multiple links between teams, and platforms, but that can leave an organisation more vulnerable. Insider threats, across all platforms, is one of the greatest threats to an organisation’s cyber security posture.
3. Data Exfiltration
The third challenge is that with Cloud security there are multiple devices, including mobiles, that can become compromised. Remote access, as well as data downloading and access to 3rd parties, means that data may be displayed.
What to Hunt for in Your Cloud Environment
To solve the above three challenges, Threat and Risk Intelligence, and Threat Hunting is crucial. You need to know what to hunt for within your environment, and to be proactive rather than reactive to your security measures.
- Indicators of Compromise
Malicious activity presented in the form of Indicators of Compromise. IOCs can include malicious file names, hash values, IP addresses or registry key edits. IOCs are normally identified through research or Threat Intelligence platforms.
- Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs)
TTPs are the patterns of activities or methods associated with a specific threat actor or group of threat actors. Without an IOC, we can hunt for different TTPs and identify any suspicious activity.
- Anomalies in the Environment
It can be the case that a Threat Hunt reveals no new IOC’s or attacker TTPs, however we may discover other anomalies within our environment that need to be investigated and remediated.
- Unknown Insider Threats
An insider might be able to circumvent security controls. Threat Hunting enables us to detect potential insider threat activity.
Next Steps Toward a Simplified Cloud Security
- Work towards having a “Single Pane of Glass” view by establishing comprehensive visibility across your estate. This should be consistent for on-prem, endpoints, Cloud, or a mixture of different type of assets. This can be done using log-based analytics and API-driven integrations on a SIEM. Improve Digital Risk controls based on measurable metrics (SOC KPI’s, tickets generated/resolved and service SLA’s) and risk assessments.
- Ensure that Managed Detection & Response (MDR) is in place for complete visibility of your digital world. Visualise and understand malicious or anomalous activity. Analyse, prioritise and respond to threats in rapid time. Safeguard your data, people, and processes.
SecurityHQ takes away the confusion and the heavy lifting of threat hunting, to save you money, time, and prevent stress, so that you can get on with what you do best, hassle free.
To learn more about Threat and Risk Intelligence here, download the datasheet here. Or, to speak with an expert, contact the team here.
