When I first started managing our company’s data on the cloud, I naively felt that the most difficult tasks were just selecting the correct provider and moving the data. However, as technology advances, so are threats to cloud data protection. In 2024, the landscape is filled with new and sophisticated threats that could jeopardize your critical information. Here, I’m going to share nine terrifying threats to cloud data protection. These threats, if not adequately managed, can spell disaster for any firm, regardless of industry.
What is Cloud Data Protection?
Cloud data protection refers to a collection of data storage and security methods designed to secure data that resides in, and moves in and out of, a cloud environment. Stored data is referred to as “data at rest,” whereas moving data is referred to as “data in motion.” Data protection refers to data being replicated rather than just “secured”—it is intended to guarantee sensitive data remains intact following a loss or corruption incident, whereas data security prevents illegal access or distribution in the first place.
Benefits of Cloud Data Protection
An effective data protection program:
#1. Improves data and application security
Cloud data protection empowers your organization to boost security across all aspects of the cloud, including remote and hybrid users, by providing increased insight into your cloud application architecture.
#2. Streamlines access governance
When you design a cloud data protection policy that adheres to best practices, users can only access data if they meet the context requirements you set. As a result, data is controlled by the access controls that surround it.
#3. Helps you achieve and maintain regulatory compliance
As the amount of data generated throughout the world increases, rules such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA enforce rigorous guidelines for how data can be utilized. Cloud data protection enables you to meet them.
How is Data Protected in the Cloud?
Backups, cloud storage, and disaster recovery are common methods used to ensure that data remains in an organization’s possession in the event of a malware breach, data loss, or another event that exploits cloud data vulnerability.
Authentication, access control, and secure deletion are all typical means of protecting data, although they are more about data security than protection. Organizations utilize these approaches to keep malicious or irresponsible users and workers away from data, or to completely protect data from them.
Standard security measures can also help prevent data leaks. Because cloud workloads are especially sensitive, enterprises and their cloud service providers must understand the implications of collaborating to reduce total data risk.
Types of Cloud Data Protection
Here are five trusted security techniques that provide cloud-based data protection:
#1. Encryption
Before moving data to cloud storage, it must be converted or encoded. Cloud security service companies often offer consumers a variety of encryption options. A robust cloud data protection platform should have strong access restrictions and key management tools that enable enterprises to deploy encryption effectively and inexpensively.
#2. Authentication and Identity Security
Before you can trust someone, you must first verify their identification and guarantee that the information they supply is correct. Authentication relies on data that can only be provided by a single individual. This may include personal information like their entire name, social security number, or license number. Fingerprint scanning and face recognition are two examples of physical identification techniques that are routinely used to verify someone’s identity.
#3. Safe Deletion Techniques
Are you aware that hackers can still recover and use previously deleted data? Your personal and professional information may be at risk if data on devices and in the cloud is not properly removed.
Choosing how long old data should be kept and when it should be destroyed is the first step in controlling and truly deleting “deleted” data. As a result, your organization should decide:
How Long Should Data be Kept for Regulatory Purposes?
The period in which stakeholders should have quick access to data. For example, an HR representative may post employee contact information that is only exposed to an executive for one day.
#4. Managing Access Control
Access control ensures that users have appropriate access to business data and are authenticated. It entails selectively limiting access to information using authentication and authorization. As previously stated, authentication guarantees that the individual is who they claim to be, whereas authorization ensures that they have permission to utilize specific portions of your cloud network.
An effective access control system may effortlessly integrate into virtual settings, such as private clouds.
Integrate effortlessly with an organization’s cloud assets and applications.
#5. Data Backups
Organizations should set up automatic backups for all cloud security systems at least once every week. This is especially true for systems that hold data utilized in day-to-day operations. Each workstation should have its software, operating system, and data backed up.
Another common practice is to perform periodic backups per regulatory compliance requirements. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires hospitals to perform backups daily.
Common Threats To Cloud Data Protection
In 2024, the landscape of cloud data protection is riddled with threats that every organization must be aware of. Here are the top nine threats to watch out for:
- Ransomware Attacks.
- Misconfigured Cloud Settings & Insider Threats
- Inadequate data encryption and API vulnerabilities
- Lack of compliance
- Data Loss
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack
- Shadow IT
#1. Ransomware attacks
Ransomware is a continuous danger, but its impact on cloud systems is getting more serious. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, ransomware damages are expected to cost the world $20 billion by 2024. These assaults frequently target cloud storage, encrypting sensitive data and demanding a ransom for its release.
Key Takeaway: To reduce risks, back up your data regularly and use effective anti-ransomware technologies.
#2. Misconfigured Cloud Settings
Misconfigurations are a regular but serious hazard to cloud security. According to IBM Security research, 85% of data breaches in cloud systems are caused by human error, specifically misconfigured settings. When we originally transitioned to the cloud, our team accidentally left crucial security settings open, which might have led to a huge data breach.
Key Takeaways: Perform regular audits and use automated technologies to guarantee that your cloud settings are properly configured.
#3. Insider Threats
Insider threats are still one of the most ignored dangers. According to the Ponemon Institute, insider threats have surged by 47% during the last two years. These threats can originate from dissatisfied employees or those who mistakenly divulge critical data.
Key Takeaway: Use strong access controls and user activity monitoring to detect and prevent insider threats.
#4. Inadequate Data Encryption
Data encryption is critical for securing sensitive information in the cloud. However, many businesses still fail to properly secure their data. Thales found that barely 50% of enterprises secure their cloud data. I recall a situation in which a lack of encryption nearly resulted in the exposing of our client data during a regular transmission.
Key Takeaway: Use robust encryption mechanisms for data at rest and in transit to protect your information.
#5. API Vulnerabilities
APIs are critical for cloud services, but they can also pose a substantial security risk if not handled appropriately. According to Gartner, by 2024, API misuse will be the most common attack vector resulting in data breaches for enterprise web apps. We once encountered an API vulnerability that permitted unauthorized access to our system, highlighting the importance of tight API security procedures.
Key Takeaway: Protect your APIs using strong authentication, authorization, and regular testing.
#6. Lack of Compliance
Compliance with data protection standards is not only a legal necessity, but also an essential component of cloud security. Non-compliance can result in harsh penalties and data breaches. According to Deloitte, 92% of firms are concerned about cloud compliance. Ensuring compliance was a scary chore for us at first, but with the correct tools and policies, it became achievable.
Key Takeaway: Use compliance management tools and evaluate your cloud policies regularly to ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
#7. Data Loss
Data loss due to inadvertent deletion or device failure is a big issue among cloud users. According to IDC research, 60% of organizations that incur major data loss collapse within six months. We once had a key piece of data mistakenly destroyed, and restoring it was a nightmare.
Key Takeaway: Implement reliable data backup systems and develop a comprehensive data recovery strategy.
#8. DDoS (Denial of Service) Attacks
DDoS attacks can bring down cloud services by overwhelming them with traffic. The DDoS attacks can cost more than $50,000 per minute, according to Kaspersky Lab. We had an event when a DDoS assault brought our service down for several hours, illustrating the importance of DDoS protection.
Key Takeaway: Use DDoS protection services and make sure your cloud provider has safeguards in place to prevent such assaults.
#9. Shadow IT
Shadow IT is the usage of unapproved programs and services by employees. This can result in security risks and data leaks. According to a Symantec survey, 80% of employees have used unapproved SaaS applications. Managing shadow IT was especially difficult for us since it needed to balance security and staff productivity.
Key Takeaway: Inform staff about the dangers of shadow IT and use technologies to detect and manage illegal software use.
Best Practices For Cloud Data Protection
Many organizations fail to do their homework while developing a protection program, which complicates the process once the initial phases are completed. To avoid becoming one of these businesses, follow these best practices.
#1. Take an Inventory of Sensitive Data
You want to know how much money you intend to keep in a safe (or carry in an armored truck) beforehand, right? The same logic applies to securing the amount of sensitive data that your organization has generated. Knowing which data you want to protect, where it is, and how to do so offers you an advantage when developing software.
#2. Pair Encryption with Authentication
Authentication alone is an excellent approach to protect cloud resources and data, but hackers can quickly enter and impersonate users to obtain access to your information. Encryption scrambles data with randomly generated passcodes known as encryption keys, adding an extra degree of security.
#3. Choose a Trustworthy Provider
Data protection companies exist, and many of them promise to secure your cloud data in ways no other vendor can. However, only one provider creates data protection for the cloud, uses a zero-trust framework to encrypt data between cloud transactions, and collaborates with cloud compliance groups to ensure you stay inside regulatory guidelines.
The Importance of Templates for Cloud Data Protection
Using a Cloud Data Protection Template might help you simplify your efforts to secure your cloud environment. This template outlines a methodical strategy for evaluating risks, implementing security measures, and verifying compliance with data protection standards.
Download our comprehensive Cloud Data Protection Template to safeguard your business against the latest threats and ensure your data remains secure and compliant.
Conclusion
As we approach 2024, threats to cloud data protection become increasingly sophisticated and numerous. Understanding and managing these nine threats will help you protect your precious data while also maintaining customer trust. Have you had any issues with cloud data protection? What methods have you used to protect your data? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments section.
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