Safe in the Cloud: Navigating Cloud Security Challenges

One of the most common cloud security challenges out there is misconfiguration. Unfortunately, this challenge is often overlooked when companies plan cybersecurity strategies. 

Since cloud apps are typically quick and easy to sign up for, the user often assumes that they don’t need to worry about security because it’s handled.

It couldn’t be further from the truth, because cloud security is a shared model. While the cloud provider handles securing the backend infrastructure, the end user is responsible for configuring security settings in their account properly.

Cloud misconfiguration is the number one cause of cloud data breaches. It’s also an unforced error. 

So, what is a misconfiguration? In essence, a misconfiguration means that a company has made a mistake by not adequately securing its cloud application.  

Maybe they gave too many employees administrative privileges, or, they may have neglected to turn on a security function to prevent unauthorized users from downloading cloud files. 

Misconfiguration covers a wide range of negligent behavior when it comes to cloud security challenges. It all has to do with cloud security settings and practices. 

The State of Cloud Security 2021 report shed light on how common this issue is, with 45 percent of organizations experiencing between one and 50 cloud misconfigurations per day. 

Some of the main causes of misconfiguration are:

• No adequate cloud environment monitoring.
• Negligent insider behavior.
• Not enough expertise in cloud security.
• Lack of adequate oversight and controls.
• A team lacking security awareness.
• Too many cloud APIs to manage.

Use the tips below to reduce your risk of a cloud data breach and effectively navigate cloud security challenges.

Enable Cloud Infrastructure Visibility

Are you familiar with all the different cloud apps employees are using at your business? No? You’re not alone. 

It’s estimated that shadow IT use is approximately 10x the size of known cloud use. 

When an employee uses a cloud app without authorization, it’s considered “shadow IT.” This is because the app is “in the shadows,” so to speak, outside the purview of the company’s IT provider.

So, how can you protect something you don’t know about? 

You can’t. That’s why shadow cloud applications are so dangerous and why they often result in misconfiguration data breaches.

Our advice? Gain visibility into your entire cloud environment, so you know what you need to protect. Use a cloud access security application. 

Restrict Privileged Accounts

Let’s do some simple math: The more privileged accounts you have, the higher the risk of a misconfiguration. There should be very few users who can change security configurations. 

You don’t want someone who doesn’t know better to accidentally open a vulnerability. The simple act of removing a cloud storage sharing restriction could make your entire environment a sitting duck for hackers.

Audit privileged accounts in all cloud tools, then reduce the number of administrative accounts to the “least needed” to operate.

Avoid Cloud Security Challenges: Implement Automated Security Policies

Automation helps mitigate human error, so automating as many security policies as possible helps prevent cloud security breaches.  

If you use a feature like sensitivity labels in Microsoft 365, you can set a “do not copy” policy. It will follow the file through each supported cloud application. 

The best part? This tip is a “set and forget” action. Users don’t need to do anything to enable it once you put the policy in place.

Use a Cloud Security Audit Tool (Like Microsoft Secure Score)

How secure is your cloud environment? Are you aware of how many misconfigurations there might be right now? 

It’s important to know this information so you can correct issues to reduce risk.

Use an auditing tool, like Microsoft Secure Score, to scan your cloud environment and let you know where problems exist. It should also be able to provide recommended remediation steps. 

If you’re unfamiliar with or uncomfortable with trying out a piece of technology you haven’t used before, reach out to an expert managed service provider like us, or get a free cyber vulnerability assessment performed.

Set Up Alerts for Configuration Changes

Once you get your cloud security settings right, they won’t necessarily stay that way. Several things can cause a change in a security setting without you realizing it, including:

• An employee with elevated permissions accidentally changes them.
• A change caused by an integrated third-party plug-in.
• Software updates.
• A hacker compromises a privileged user credential.

Be proactive by setting up alerts. You should have an alert for any significant change in your cloud environment. 

When the setting to force multi-factor authentication gets turned off, that should be a HUGE red flag.

If an alert is set up, then your team knows right away when a change occurs to an important security setting. This allows them to take immediate steps to research and remedy the situation. 

Have a Cloud Specialist Examine Your Cloud Settings

Business owners, executives and office managers aren’t cybersecurity experts. No one should expect them to know how to configure the best security for your organization’s needs.

It’s best to have a cloud security specialist from a trusted IT company check your settings to make sure you’re not only secure but also meeting IT compliance requirements. We can help ensure they are set up to keep your data protected without restricting your team. 

Eliminate Cloud Security Challenges

Nowadays, most work is done in the cloud, and companies store data in these online environments. Don’t leave your company at risk by neglecting misconfiguration. Schedule a quick consultation today to set up a cloud security assessment.