Even as more companies come to realize that they need to take cybersecurity threats seriously, too many are still under the impression that the risk mainly threatens their own internal systems. They figure that as long as their data is backed up to the cloud, at least they know they can always retrieve it from there.
But the safety of cloud-based data is not quite the slam dunk some think it is. Cloud-based systems have vulnerabilities of their own, and that’s especially true if you’re working with a cloud provider that doesn’t really offer sophisticated data management services.
UBX Cloud protects clients’ cloud-based data with CybrHawk, a cybersecurity platform that combines network layer, infrastructure, end-user and AI-based functions into a single interface. This is critical because far too many users don’t even realize how vulnerable cloud-based data can be.
Cloud configurations are complicated, and even people with some IT background can make mistakes when working through the implementations. A company’s biggest vulnerability under any circumstance is usually a mistake by an employee – clicking on a phishing e-mail, or giving away log-in credentials to someone who is up to no good. Mistakes like these can be particularly dangerous with cloud applications – many of which only require log-in credentials to access.
If hackers can gain access to a company’s cloud-based data by absconding with someone’s log-in credentials, the consequences for the company can be devastating.
Here are some of the issues that can lead to vulnerabilities for your cloud-based data:
Cloud misconfigurations. Cloud configurations are very complicated, with multiple storage buckets. If the configuration is misaligned even a little, the result could be certain things you thought were not exposed to the Internet, but actually are. It’s easy to overlook something with configurations this complex.
This is one of the reasons it’s crucial to make sure you’ve got the right people managing your cloud environment. Between our knowledge and experience – and our use of tools like CybrHawk and CrowdStrike – UBX Cloud always has the right people and the right strategies on the job.
Exposed APIs. This well-known acronym for Application Programming Interfaces refers to the systems that allow different digital platforms to communicate and exchange data with one another. But APIs can be exposed to hackers, and when they’re hit, they can give hackers access to all the programs and users who are working through them. It’s critical that any carrier who is using APIs employ all necessary security measures to ensure they are not exposed.
Overprivileged users. This is about the rights people have to high-level system access. Most people in your organization only need the minimum level of access necessary to do their jobs. Only a very few people should have administrative access that allows them to poke around at the most sensitive information. Others may need access to certain things at certain times, and that can be granted on a by-approval basis.
Many managers like to appear employee-friendly and give everyone high-level access. They figure this shows that they trust their people and they’re willing to give them what they need to do their jobs. But it’s also giving too many people access to information that only needs to be misused by one bad actor. Security isn’t convenient, and in the environment where we’re operating today, that’s simply a fact of life people have to live with.
Cloud systems are particularly vulnerable to what’s called zero-day attacks, in which hackers take advantage of patching issues before the user realizes the patch is necessary. Open-source software is especially at risk for such attacks, as many of the companies who use such software don’t have the IT bandwidth to patch as often as they should.
Theoretically, cloud-based data storage serves as a welcome backstop against breaches to your system. But that’s only true if you’re doing what’s necessary to protect your data in the cloud.
This is one of the reasons so many companies have decided to trust UBX Cloud to protect their cloud-based data. Because we’ve already got the tools and the knowledge ready to deploy.
It’s not a slam dunk. Unless you work with us.