Today, small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly choosing cloud technologies. The cloud provides greater flexibility for businesses and rapid scaling when needed. However, in the process of implementing new technologies, enterprises often face new challenges, including security issues. The first step to solving them is understanding the main mistakes that small businesses make when implementing cloud technologies.
To help companies improve cloud security and avoid potential risks, ESET specialists have prepared a list of the most common mistakes and tips for addressing them.
1. Lack of multi-factor authentication
Besides the fact that static passwords are dangerous, not every company adheres to the proper policy for creating them. Passwords are easy to steal, for example, through phishing, brute-force attacks, or guessing with known information.
That’s why it’s important to add an additional layer of authentication. This will significantly complicate access for malicious actors to your users’ cloud service accounts, thereby reducing the risk of data theft and ransomware infections. Otherwise, consider switching to alternative methods where possible, particularly passwordless authentication.
2. Complete trust in the cloud provider
Many IT leaders believe that investing in the cloud means outsourcing everything to a third party. In reality, there is a shared responsibility model for cloud security between the provider and the client. Even if most of the responsibility lies with the supplier, it is necessary to invest in additional means of control.
ESET specialists’ tips for improving cloud security.
3. Lack of backup
According to the previous point, one should not fully rely on the cloud provider for security matters. One should always consider the worst-case scenario, such as a potential system failure or cyberattack, the consequences of which can not only lead to data loss but also affect the company’s operations after the incident. Therefore, it is important to take care of preserving corporate data, for example, through backup.
4. Ignoring regular corrections
The lack of vulnerability patches can lead to their exploitation by malicious actors, jeopardizing the security of the company’s cloud. This, in turn, can lead to malware infection or data leakage. Vulnerability patch management is important both in the cloud and locally.
It should be noted that this feature, available in ESET solutions, provides active monitoring and automatic or manual remediation of vulnerabilities in operating systems and popular applications for all workstations, managed through a single platform.
5. Incorrect cloud configuration
The vast array of new features and capabilities being launched by cloud providers can lead to the creation of an incredibly complex cloud environment for many small and medium-sized enterprises. This significantly complicates determining which configuration is the most secure. Therefore, among the common mistakes, there is also the configuration of cloud storage to allow any third party to access it and the failure to block open ports.
6. Lack of cloud traffic monitoring
Rapid detection and response are critically important, as they allow for early signs to be noticed and an attack to be stopped before it impacts the organization’s operations. Therefore, continuous monitoring of cloud traffic is an important part of the security approach.
7. The inability to encrypt corporate data
No environment is 100% secure from hacking. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the consequences for the company in the event that a malicious actor gains access to corporate and confidential data or personal information of employees or clients. For their safety, even in the event of theft, a data encryption solution should be used, which will protect them from being read by cybercriminals.
What is needed for effective cloud security?
The first step for cloud security is to determine the operational features of the chosen cloud provider. Then it is necessary to determine which additional third-party products are needed to enhance cloud security, in particular:
Use a solution to protect cloud applications, email, data storage programs, and collaboration tools.
Ensure the use of XDR tools for rapid incident response and security breach remediation, as well as MDR services for managing detection and response without the need to involve in-house specialists.
Develop and implement a corrective action plan based on risk assessment, grounded in reliable asset management.
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