Top 10 Cloud Security Challenges

Introduction

One of the latest additions to the world of modern generations is cloud storage and cloud security. If there is no adequate and appropriate security protection, cloud services could deter the potential advantages, which shall eventually result in higher cost and probable loss of the business.

Therefore it is necessary to understand all the risks and security threats related to cloud computing when a business moves toward cloud computing.

1. What is cloud security
2. Cloud security challenges and risks in cloud computing

1. What is cloud security?

Cloud security, also known as cloud computing, is the set of controls, policies, technologies, procedures, and services that deliver hosted services over the Internet and protect cloud data and infrastructure. The benefits of the rapid operation, flexibility, and scalability have made cloud computing famous among many business organizations.

2. Cloud security challenges and risks in cloud computing:

Cloud security gives many advantages to an organization such as centralized protection to all the networks, reduction in costs, and a competitive edge to the business. However, cloud computing proffers its challenges, including data protection and security related. This developing cloud technology is facing many technical challenges in various aspects of information management and storage. The below lists the top 10 Cloud Security Challenges that every organization faces:

1. Less visibility and Lack of Control

When using cloud-based technologies, the user can make the required servers function without having to manage it directly. This is one of the advantages of using cloud-based technology. However, less or no intervention in the management of the server, software, or platform daily may lead to a lack of visibility and control over the particular resource.

This is one of the major cloud security challenges that entities face as the lack of perceptibility into the tools and files on the cloud server disturbs the power and ability of the organization to have a check on the effectiveness of the security controls. Further, due to the lack of control, the entity may not able to devise response plans.

Therefore, an entity shall necessarily devise an action plan on the ways to track, the type of data to be accessed, and the kind of security controls the cloud-based technology provider deploys to generally avoid the situation of a data breach when installing a cloud-based technology to the entity’s system.

2. Non-compliance with regulatory requirements

Several regulations need to be followed and complied with by an organization. More so particularly, these regulations are industry-specific and vary from one industry to another. Any non-compliance with the regulations may trigger the penal provisions and result in additional fees, fines, condemnations, and other penalties. This results in the tarnishing of an organization’s image in the industry.

Hence, it is highly imperative to choose and authenticate the cloud service provider on their compliance level with various regulations. A third-party check may also be done to verify if they are compliant as not all cloud service suppliers possess security measures that fulfill every industry-specific regulations. This check on the cloud service providers also rules out the cloud security challenges and risks of observations that may arise in business audits, due-diligence process, and penalties.

3. Concerns of Data breach and Data Privacy 

One of the most important challenges of cloud security is the risk of data breaches and issues of data privacy. Before the entry of advanced technologies such as the Cloud, the IT team of every organization had control and hold over the network structure and systems. However, in cloud servers, as the controls are repudiated to the vendor, it is highly necessary to select the right vendor, with a strong track record to avoid the scenarios of exposing data to theft.

4. Alerts in situations of Data Breaches

With Cloud, as there is no total control and with the lack of visibility of the network in a system, in situations when there is a violation of a system’s network, there are immense difficulties to decipher the resources compromised. The security concerns in cloud computing arise as due to the absence of robust visibility features and data of event logs, identifying the customers whose data have been breached, and what data has been compromised becomes difficult.

In such situations, sending out alerts and notifying the security threats to necessary managers, a customer is vital. This should be made part of the security plan and steps should be taken to analyze the solutions that the cloud provider has.

5. Access control to users

It is very essential to evaluate what kind of user access controls are provided with a cloud service. In situations of limited options, it is necessary to check if it is possible to supplement those controls with existing or added tools and integrations to avoid cloud security issues.

6. Migration to vendors

One of the major cloud security challenges is the risk of sole vendor relationships. In situations where a single congruent security solution is deployed, it can be highly restricting. This is because it may lead to complete re-work of security solutions for other business needs. Therefore, it is necessary to check on the comfort of migration from one service to another when preferring cloud-based services to avoid vendor lock.

7. Lack of experienced workforce

As cloud-based technologies are new and evolving, there are immense challenges to find competent security experts in any given environment. This problem is increased with the cloud service, as finding a qualified workforce to run cloud computing security solutions is increasingly complex, and the cost of recruiting and training is costly.

8. Vulnerable entry points

One of the prime security challenges in cloud computing, which is also the main advantage, is that it is easily accessible from any device and any place. This also opens the possibilities for hackers to recognize the vulnerabilities and take advantage of them.

9. Loss of data

Among the many cloud security challenges in cloud computing and cloud storage, the common challenge is the risk of data loss. As critical and significant information of business is transferred into the cloud, the security of the data is one of the major concerns. Some of the threats that arise are data loss from the cloud, inadvertent deletion, Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, or any force majeure events. 

For example, A DDoS attack is planned to engulf website servers to render it unresponsive to genuine user requests. If the launch of a DDoS attack becomes successful, it makes a website useless for hours or days. This event can affect the loss of income, customer faith, and brand power.

10. Technology vulnerabilities

Usage of third-party cloud services such as public or hybrid cloud servers can render the system of the organization to many security vulnerabilities from other users of the same cloud server. Further, the risk of negligence of the cloud vendor is always there, and the possibility of security vulnerability due to another user in the same Cloud server is unavoidable, leading to potent cloud computing security issues and challenges.

Conclusion

Cloud security issues and challenges may lead to events such as these that could be catastrophic for an organization as it may lead to hacking, theft, or destruction of data. Therefore having a robust and potent disaster recovery structure as a part of the system is vital to combat any attacks. 

If you are looking for an extensive course in Cloud Computing, then the 5.5-month online Postgraduate Certificate Program In Cloud Computing offered by Jigsaw Academy can be of help. This program helps interested learners become complete Cloud professionals.

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