Author: Mobiz

Over the years, many companies have moved to the cloud to store, access, and manage data without compromising security. Despite making it more convenient for businesses to carry out operations on time, it comes with a set of challenges that demand your attention! That is why companies need to watch out for common security issues in cloud computing and follow preventative measures to mitigate them ahead of time. This blog entails all the information you need to prevent cloud security issues in the future. Continue reading until the end to find out!

What Are the Security Risks of Cloud Computing?

In today’s digital age, the average number of cloud security attacks per year is skyrocketing. Since most large enterprises have migrated to the cloud, subscribing to cybersecurity services has become crucial. In addition to this, organizations must protect their data, systems, and applications against the following security threats in cloud computing:

Unauthorized Access

Unlike on-premise infrastructures, the cloud allows users to access data regardless of distance from the network. While this feature benefits customers and employees, it also gives rise to multiple cloud security threats, making it easier for unauthorized users to breach an organization’s cloud resources. Compromised credentials or inadequate security configurations can provide attackers with direct access without seeking permission from the organization.

Here are some of the best ways to avoid unauthorized access:

• Monitor user activity
• Avoid using weak passwords
• Use multi-factor authentication methods
• Establish end-point security

Data Breaches

The term ‘data breach’ refers to unauthorized access to sensitive information by individuals or a group of individuals. It may occur due to insufficient security practices, human error, or targeted attacks. Since cloud service providers host a large amount of data, they are just as vulnerable to the risk of data breaches. However, it is worth noting that cloud providers follow the best practices to mitigate security risks and threats by utilizing robust tools and strategies to protect their data.

To prevent data breaches, you must follow these tips:

• Encrypt your data
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Regularly back up your data
• Devise a disaster recovery plan

Insider Attacks

Insider attacks pose a broad range of security concerns in cloud computing, as malicious insiders already possess authorized access to the network and confidential information. Often, the attempts made by attackers to acquire access indicate their intentions. However, detecting a malicious insider can be challenging for organizations without a comprehensive security approach using the 7 layers of cybersecurity.

Sometimes, traditional security practices become less effective when organizations have limited control over the infrastructure in cloud deployments. In addition to this, when cloud infrastructure is accessed from the public internet, it becomes vulnerable to malicious insiders that can disrupt data security. In such situations, network security services can help protect your data and network from intrusions. It may include the following features:

• User ID technology
• Server-side threat prevention
• Malware prevention
• Secure branch connectivity
• DNS security
• URL filtering
• OT intelligence and IoT security

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are among the most common cloud computing threats that breach their victim’s IT systems to steal Intellectual Property (IP) and data. They are primarily known for posing vulnerabilities by gaining access to third-party or unsecured networks, direct system hacking, or spear-phishing. While detecting and eliminating APTs can be challenging, you can effectively mitigate them by following proactive security measures, such as:

• Authorize access to trusted users only
• Train your staff and create security awareness programs
• Regularly update your software
• Enable firewalls
• Monitor devices and email servers
• Use strong passwords and change them regularly

DDoS Attack

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are malicious attempts on a targeted network, server, or service to attack its traffic. It is carried out in a way that the victim gets flooded with unexpected internet traffic, making it difficult for regular traffic to reach its destination. Moreover, it may utilize multiple compromised systems, including IoT devices, to disrupt the traffic.

To identify DDoS attacks, see if suspicious traffic is coming from the same IP range or IP address. Another way to detect them is to look for multiple users’ behavioral profiles. It may include information such as the same geolocation, device name, or web browser.

To mitigate a DDoS attack, use the following methods:

• Perform blackhole routing to drop malicious traffic from the network
• Enable web application firewall (WAF)
• Limit the number of requests accepted by the server

The Bottom Line: Reach Out to Mobiz

As more companies embrace cloud computing, knowing the top security issues associated with this technology is crucial. The primary concerns are unauthorized access, data breaches, insider attacks, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). However, organizations can mitigate these risks by implementing preventive measures and following best practices. Monitoring user activity, implementing multi-factor authentication, encrypting data, training staff, and regularly updating software are effective strategies to enhance cloud security. By taking proactive steps and staying vigilant, businesses can ensure the integrity and confidentiality of their data in the cloud computing environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common cloud attack?

Phishing is the most common type of cloud attack.

What are the different types of security attacks in cloud environments?

The different types of security attacks in cloud environments are as follows:

• Abuse of cloud services
• Account or service hijacking
• Cloud malware injection attacks
• Denial of service attacks
• Main-in-the-cloud attacks
• Side channel attacks
• Wrapping attacks

What are the major threats to cloud security?

The list of major threats to cloud security includes the following:

• Unauthorized access
• Data breaches
• Insider attacks
• Advanced persistent threats (APTs)
• DDoS attacks

Introduction

In today’s interconnected digital landscape, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for organizations worldwide. As technology continues to advance, organizations face increasingly complex cybersecurity challenges. Many companies are turning to Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) frameworks to manage these challenges and safeguard their digital assets. These frameworks provide a structured approach to managing cybersecurity risks, aligning business objectives with information security goals, and ensuring compliance with regulations and standards. This article explores the significance of cybersecurity GRC and highlights the benefits of Eramba, an affordable and robust GRC tool.

Understanding Cybersecurity GRC

Cybersecurity GRC is a discipline that enables organizations to establish comprehensive frameworks for managing and mitigating cybersecurity risks. GRC frameworks encompass various components, including policies, processes, and controls, and provide a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and managing risks. By adopting a GRC approach, organizations can align their cybersecurity efforts with their business objectives, ensuring that resources are prioritized effectively. GRC frameworks also facilitate compliance with relevant regulations and standards, reducing the risk of legal and reputational issues. All in all, cybersecurity GRC allows organizations to proactively address vulnerabilities, assess risks, and establish a robust cybersecurity posture.

The Importance of Cybersecurity GRC

Implementing a cybersecurity GRC framework offers several key benefits for organizations:

• It enables the proactive identification of potential cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities. Organizations can mitigate these risks by conducting risk assessments and implementing appropriate controls before they materialize. This proactive approach helps prevent cybersecurity incidents and minimizes the potential impact on business operations.
• GRC frameworks provide a structured and systematic approach to risk management. Organizations can allocate resources effectively by aligning cybersecurity efforts with business objectives, ensuring that critical assets and processes receive appropriate protection.
• Implementing GRC frameworks helps organizations demonstrate regulatory compliance.
• Compliance with industry-specific regulations and standards reduces the risk of penalties and enhances trust and credibility with customers and stakeholders.

The Cost Challenge: Expensive GRC Tools

While the benefits of GRC are clear, the cost of implementing GRC tools often poses a significant challenge for organizations. Many traditional GRC solutions are expensive, with high licensing fees, complex implementation processes, and ongoing maintenance costs. These financial barriers can make it difficult, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), to afford robust GRC tools. Limited budgets and resources can hinder their ability to enhance their cybersecurity posture effectively. This cost challenge has created a need for affordable GRC solutions that provide comprehensive functionalities without sacrificing quality or security.

Introducing Eramba: An Affordable GRC Solution

Eramba presents itself as an affordable alternative to expensive GRC tools, offering organizations comprehensive functionalities at a fraction of the cost. As an open-source GRC platform, Eramba eliminates licensing fees associated with traditional GRC solutions, making it an attractive choice for organizations with budget constraints. Despite its affordability, Eramba does not compromise on features or security. It provides modules for risk management, compliance management, incident management, policy management, and more. These modules cover a wide range of GRC activities, allowing organizations to streamline their cybersecurity efforts and ensure compliance with regulations and standards.

Key Features and Capabilities of Eramba

Here are the main features of Eramba:

Risk Management

Eramba provides robust risk management capabilities, allowing organizations to identify, assess, and prioritize risks. It enables the creation of risk registers, facilitates risk assessments, and helps define risk mitigation strategies. With Eramba, organizations can proactively manage risks and take necessary actions to minimize their potential impact.

Compliance Management

Eramba helps organizations comply with regulations, industry standards, and internal policies. It provides a centralized repository for storing compliance requirements, tracks compliance tasks and deadlines, and generates reports for auditing purposes. This helps organizations ensure that they meet their legal and regulatory obligations.

Policy Management

Eramba allows organizations to effectively define, store, and manage policies. It enables the creation and distribution of policies, tracks policy acknowledgments, and ensures that policies are up to date. With Eramba, organizations can establish a robust policy framework and monitor policy adherence across the organization.

Incident Management

Eramba facilitates the management of cybersecurity incidents by providing a structured approach. It allows organizations to track and document incidents, initiate investigation workflows, and maintain incident response plans. This helps organizations effectively respond to and mitigate the impact of security incidents.

Audit Management

Eramba assists organizations in managing the entire audit process, from planning to reporting. It helps define audit programs, schedule audit activities, track findings and recommendations, and generate audit reports. With Eramba, organizations can streamline their audit processes and ensure transparency and accountability.

Vendor Management

Eramba enables organizations to manage their relationships with third-party vendors and assess cybersecurity risks. It provides a platform to conduct vendor assessments, monitor compliance, and track vendor performance. This helps organizations ensure that their vendors meet the necessary security requirements.

Workflow Automation

Eramba offers workflow automation capabilities, allowing organizations to streamline and standardize their GRC processes. It helps automate tasks, notifications, and approvals, improving efficiency and reducing manual effort. This enables organizations to focus on critical activities and ensures consistent execution of GRC processes.

5 Benefits of Eramba

Here are the benefits of Eramba:

Cost-Effectiveness

Eramba is an open-source tool that does not involve costly licensing fees. This makes it an affordable option, particularly for small and medium-sized organizations with limited budgets.

Collaboration and Workflow Management

Eramba facilitates team collaboration, streamlining workflow processes and enhancing communication. This capability ensures that cybersecurity efforts are coordinated effectively across the organization.

Continuous Improvement

Eramba’s active user community and regular updates contribute to its constant improvement and evolution—organizations using Eramba benefit from ongoing enhancements and new features without incurring additional costs.

User-Friendly Interface

Eramba offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for organizations to navigate and utilize its various features. This reduces the learning curve and promotes quick adoption by users.

Ongoing Development and Community Support

As an open-source tool, Eramba benefits from an active user community that contributes to its development and improvement. Regular updates and enhancements give organizations access to the latest features and capabilities.

The Bottom Line

Cybersecurity GRC is vital in managing and mitigating cyber risks. However, implementing traditional GRC tools can be prohibitive for many organizations, particularly SMBs with limited resources. Affordable alternatives like Eramba offer organizations a cost-effective solution without compromising functionality or security. Eramba allows SMBs and budget-conscious organizations to implement a robust GRC framework, effectively manage risks, ensure compliance, and enhance their cybersecurity posture. By embracing cost-effective GRC tools like Eramba, organizations can protect their assets, maintain trust, and stay ahead in today’s evolving threat landscape. The availability of affordable GRC tools paves the way for organizations of all sizes to strengthen their cybersecurity practices and effectively address the ever-growing challenges in the digital realm.