Top 5 Cloud Security Threats in 2024

The idea that cloud platforms are inherently safe persists, but in reality, the next cyberattack could always be around the corner.  

New cybersecurity concerns have emerged in both cloud and on-premises systems as a result of the growing popularity of remote work. Critical vulnerabilities like BlueKeep and DejaBlue are on the rise as malicious actors take advantage of the increasing options for attack brought on by the rising use of remote work tools like RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). 

With solutions like SIEM (security incident event management), identity and access management, you should strengthen your cloud security policies. Let’s examine the top five cloud security risks for 2024 and what you can do to prevent them. 

Misconfigured cloud services 

Misconfigured cloud services can pose a significant threat to cloud security. When cloud services are improperly configured, they can leave data and resources vulnerable to cyber attacks and unauthorized access. 

For example, if an organization fails to properly secure access controls, it may inadvertently expose sensitive data to external parties. Additionally, if cloud services are not regularly updated with the latest security patches, they may be more prone to exploitation by malicious actors. 

Data loss 

Cloud environments make it too easy for users to share their data with internal employees and external parties. Also, after shifting to cloud, regular backups are not done. This is because backing up such a large amount of data can be costly and difficult.  

It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to recover deleted data. Often such attempts are ineffective. Because of this, your business frequently needs to duplicate that data or convert it from difficult-to-copy forms, severely disrupting productivity. 

Additionally, if you don’t take routine backups, your business will be more vulnerable to ransomware. Many cybercriminals encrypt cloud storage and request money in exchange for the data’s recovery. 

API vulnerabilities affecting cloud security

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are the main means through which cloud apps communicate with one another. It might be tempting to place complete confidence and trust in these APIs. 

 Unfortunately, businesses have typically failed to secure their APIs.  If developers build APIs with insufficient authentication, they can have security flaws that let anyone access your company’s data. 

Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and code injections are two ways that malicious actors might use insecure APIs to acquire corporate data. The issue is only getting worse; according to Gartner, APIs will be the top targeted attack vector by 2024. 

Malware infections affecting cloud security

A disadvantage of cloud services’ data accessibility is that it also makes malwares easily available. There are more possibilities for data to be compromised since data and documents continually transit to and from the cloud. 

Once it has entered your system, cloud malware swiftly spreads and lets in other more dangerous threats. The virus can use keyloggers to steal access passwords or identify methods to leak protected data while it runs. Malware’s harm will only rise if it is not discovered. 

Insufficient identity and access management controls 

By offering cheaper pricing and free service plans, cloud storage providers urge businesses to shift their data to the cloud. Some businesses transfer data quickly without carefully considering access and identification regulations.   

Numerous risks might be introduced by having poor identity and access control procedures. One illustration is password spraying. It is a type of brute-force attack in which an offender tries to acquire access by “spraying” the same password across several accounts. Password spraying can even get over typical defenses like a lock-out after numerous failed tries. Since users may log in remotely from any location, this security vulnerability may be increasingly prevalent with cloud apps and services.