As a small or mid-sized business owner, you may be using cloud computing services to store your data and applications, but have you considered the security threats that come with it?
46% of all cyber breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees.
Cloud security threats can have devastating consequences for small businesses, including data breaches, financial losses, and reputation damage.
In this blog post, we will discuss the top cloud security threats for businesses and how a managed service provider (MSP) can help you mitigate these risks.
5 Serious Cloud Security Threats Businesses Are Facing Today
1. Data Breaches
Data breaches occur when sensitive data is accessed, stolen, or used without authorization. And these cloud computing security threats are becoming so common that over 45% of U.S. businesses have experienced at least one of them.
An MSP can help you reduce the risk of data breaches by implementing robust security measures that can identify potential threats and protect against them. They can also help you monitor your data in real-time to identify unusual activity and respond quickly to any potential threats.
Check out these additional resources to learn more about how an MSP can help you complete your digital transformation and secure your cloud environments.
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2. DDoS Attacks
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack overwhelms your system with traffic, causing it to crash or become unavailable to legitimate users.
SMBs are often targeted by these security threats in cloud computing by DDoS attacks because you may not have the sophisticated tools to defend against them.
3. Insider Threats
Insider threats occur when employees or contractors with access to your data expose it to unauthorized parties.
Insider threats can be intentional, such as when an employee steals sensitive data to sell it on the black market.They can be unintentional, too, such as when an employee accidentally shares sensitive data with the wrong person, or if access to data in the cloud is misconfigured.
4. Malware
Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disrupt your computer systems. It can infect your system through emails, downloads, or compromised websites.
Malware is a serious cloud computing security threat, with the potential to cause significant harm to your IT and your business.
5. Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are a type of cyberattack that attempts to trick you into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. Phishing attacks can be conducted through emails, social media, or instant messages. They are effective, too, which is why phishing attacks are up 61% compared to last year.
Security Threats in Cloud Computing: Why Do They Happen and How Can I Avoid Them?
Did you know that 45% of security breaches occur in the cloud? Here are some of the reasons why breaches happen in the cloud and what you can do to defend against the security threats in cloud computing.
1. Assess Your Systems Regularly
To ensure your cloud security, it is essential to have a clear understanding of your cloud infrastructure. This includes knowing what data and applications are stored in the cloud, who has access to them, and how they are protected.
You can achieve this by conducting regular audits and assessments of your cloud infrastructure and working closely with your cloud service provider to ensure that security policies and procedures are in place.
2.Pay Attention to Access Controls
Another reason why security breaches happen in the cloud is the lack of identity and access controls.
In the cloud, multiple users can access the same data and applications, making it challenging to control who has access to what. If access controls are not properly configured, unauthorized users can gain access to sensitive data, leading to a security breach.
To ensure your cloud security, it is important to implement strong access controls. This includes using multi-factor authentication, shared responsibility models, restricting access to sensitive data, and monitoring user activity – all of which an MSP offers through access management services.
To further avoid cloud security challenges, should also implement policies that ensure that access is granted only to those who need it and that access is revoked when it is no longer required.
3. Use Encryption to Secure Data in Transit and at Rest
Data encryption is an essential component of cloud security, as it ensures that data is protected even if it is accessed by unauthorized users.
To ensure your cloud security and avoid data loss, it is important to encrypt all data that is stored in the cloud – whether it be hosted in a public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid.
This includes data in transit as well as data at rest. You should also ensure that your encryption keys are stored securely and that access to them is restricted to authorized users.
4. Audit Vendors and Evaluate Third-Party Risk
Many businesses rely on third-party vendors to provide cloud services, such as infrastructure, platform, or software as a service.
To ensure your cloud security, it is important to vet third-party vendors carefully.
This includes conducting due diligence to ensure that the vendor has the necessary security controls in place, reviewing their security policies and procedures, and ensuring that they comply with relevant regulations and standards.
You should also have clear contractual arrangements with third-party vendors that outline their security responsibilities and liabilities for managing your cloud technology.
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How Integris Can Help You Avoid Cloud Security Threats
Security breaches happen in the cloud due to a variety of reasons, including lack of visibility, insufficient identity or access controls, inadequate data encryption, and third-party risk.
By working closely with your cloud service provider and implementing best practices in cloud security, however, you can protect your data and minimize the risk of a security breach.
Mitigate your cloud computing security threats with Integris – contact us today to protect your cloud infrastructure and systems with our 100+ IT experts!