Cloud computing is a great way to improve efficiency and collaboration in the workplace, but with great power comes great responsibility. As more and more businesses move their data and applications to the cloud, it becomes increasingly important to make sure that this sensitive information is protected from cyber attacks. Unfortunately, many businesses don’t realize the security risks of cloud computing until it’s too late simply because senior management do not see immediate ROI on cyber security.
In this blog post, we will discuss the most common security risks of cloud computing and how cloud penetration testing can help identify and mitigate these risks.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is the ability to access information and applications over the Internet. This means that instead of having a local server that stores all of your data, you can now store it on a remote server (i.e., in the cloud). This has many advantages, such as increased flexibility and scalability, but it also comes with some security risks.
Types of cloud computing
There are three main types of cloud computing:
Software as a Service (Saas)
This is the most common type of cloud computing and refers to applications that are hosted by a third party. For example, Google Apps and Microsoft Office 365 are both Saas applications.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS is similar to Saas, but it refers to platforms rather than applications. So instead of using applications that are hosted by a third party, you can use the underlying platform to host your own applications. For example, Heroku is a PaaS provider that allows you to host your own Ruby on Rails applications.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IaaS is the most basic type of cloud computing and refers to the renting of computing resources, such as servers and storage, from a third party. Amazon Web Services is the most popular IaaS provider.
Common security risks of cloud computing
The most common security risks of cloud computing are:
Data breaches
This is when an unauthorized user gains access to your data. This can happen if your data is not properly secured or if there are vulnerabilities in your system that allow hackers to gain access.
Insecure API’s
APIs (Application Programming Interface) are used to access and manipulate data from remote servers. If these APIs are not properly secured, hackers can use them to gain access to your data.
Supply chain vulnerabilities
This is when a hacker gains access to your data through one of the companies that provide services or products to your business. For example, if you use a cloud storage provider, and that provider is hacked, the hacker will have access to all of your data.
Denial of service attacks
This is when a hacker prevents legitimate users from accessing your system. This can happen by flooding your system with requests so that it becomes overwhelmed and crashes.
Malicious insiders
This is when someone who has authorized access to your system uses their access to commit fraud or theft. This can happen if an employee decides to sell your confidential data or if they are disgruntled and want to sabotage your business.
Why is cloud penetration testing important?
Penetration testing is a type of security test that is performed to identify vulnerabilities in a system. This type of test can be used to test both on-premises and cloud-based systems.
Penetration testing of cloud-based systems is important because it can help you to identify the risks that are specific to your environment. It can also help you to mitigate these risks by identifying the weaknesses in your system and implementing controls to prevent attackers from exploiting them.
How does cloud penetration testing work?
Cloud penetration testing is performed by simulating an attack on your system. This can be done by manually trying to exploit vulnerabilities or by using automated tools.
Once the attacker has gained access to your system, they will attempt to escalate their privileges and gain access to sensitive data. They will also try to exfiltrate this data from your system. The goal of cloud penetration testing is to identify the vulnerabilities in your system and determine how an attacker could exploit them. This information can then be used to improve the security of your system.
How can cloud penetration testing help?
Cloud penetration testing is a type of security testing that is used to identify vulnerabilities in your cloud. This can be done manually or with automated tools. Penetration testing can help identify the risks of cloud computing by simulating an attack on your system. This will allow you to see how well your security measures are working and where your system is vulnerable.
If you are using a cloud provider, it is important to make sure that they offer penetration testing as part of their security services. This will help ensure that your data is safe from cyberattacks.
Conclusion
Cloud computing can be a great way to improve efficiency and collaboration in the workplace, but it is important to be aware of the security risks. Penetration testing can help identify and mitigate these risks. If you are using a cloud provider, make sure that they offer penetration testing as part of their security services.
