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The coming year brings forth a spectrum of challenges, particularly within the digital sphere. Among these challenges are various threats that companies will confront, especially in the cloud computing landscape. The prevalence and reliance on cloud services have made them a prime target for cyber threats, demanding proactive measures for mitigating risks.
Evolving Cloud Landscape
By 2025, Gartner predicts that 95% of new digital workloads will utilize cloud-native platforms. While this signifies the ever-increasing reliance on cloud technology, it also highlights the amplified challenges in terms of security. The expansion of cloud usage attracts the attention of hackers who invest time, effort, and resources into devising more sophisticated attack tactics.
Growing Complexities and Security Risks
For enterprises, the landscape is increasingly intricate. The average enterprise now employs close to 2,000 different cloud services, resulting in an explosion of cloud footprints and vast volumes of data stored within them. Misconfigurations, often stemming from deploying cloud assets outside organizational security policies, pose a significant risk, as highlighted by Dan Benjamin, CEO of Dig Security.
Top Cloud Threats Expected in 2023
1. VPN Challenges
VPNs, once touted as robust security solutions, now struggle to manage the immense surge in traffic due to remote work and escalated data volumes. This congestion not only impedes traffic but also hampers productivity. Additionally, increased connectivity exposes potential vulnerabilities for hackers to compromise connections.
2. Device Vulnerabilities
The security of remote user devices plays a crucial role, irrespective of robust VPN solutions. While some institutions mandate company-managed devices for work, assumptions about their perpetual security can lead to lapses, especially when users fall prey to phishing schemes.
3. Risks Associated with Third-party Software
The burgeoning cloud serves as a breeding ground for third-party apps and code, introducing additional security risks. Verifying the security and code integrity of these third-party apps remains a challenge, posing yet another potential gateway for hackers.
4. Cloud-based Ransomware
Hackers have shifted their focus from internal networks to cloud setups, developing ransomware tailored specifically for cloud environments. As enterprises continue migrating to cloud infrastructures, countering ransomware becomes imperative to safeguard valuable business data.
5. Exploitation of Artificial Intelligence
The burgeoning use of AI in various business functions has also attracted the attention of hackers, who exploit AI services to craft specific code or automate attacks. Vulnerabilities in AI-generated code present substantial risks, demanding meticulous scrutiny and error rectification processes.
6. Human Error and Misconfigurations
Human errors remain a persistent threat, either through inadvertent misconfigurations or neglecting to address security concerns promptly. Hackers actively target such misconfigurations, emphasizing the need for robust employee training and multi-layered configuration checks.
7. Active Threat Hunting
Many organizations, particularly smaller ones, overlook active threat hunting and rely on assumptions regarding the robustness of their cloud security. Proactive threat hunting methods, communication between teams, and regular vulnerability assessments are pivotal for detecting and addressing security gaps.
Conclusion
To safeguard cloud environments in 2023, a multi-faceted approach combining technology, employee education, active threat hunting, and vigilant third-party app oversight will be crucial. Adopting a proactive stance in identifying and addressing these emerging threats will be paramount in fortifying cloud security.