Cloud computing security, also known as cloud security is considered to be a set of technologies, policies, and controls that are deployed for the protection of applications, data and the related infrastructure of cloud computing. It is recognized to be a sub domain of network security, computer security, and information security.
Security problems that are related to the cloud
Cloud computing, as well as storage, confers users with the capabilities for the storage and processing of data in third-party data centers. Organizations make use of cloud in a wide variety of service models and deployment models. Cloud computing security issues and challenges are classified into two main categories: security issues that are encountered by customers and security issues that are encountered by the service providers of cloud computing. The service providers need to make sure that the infrastructure is secure and they render the best protection to the applications and data of the clients. The users should be taking measures for fortifying the application and making use of authentic measures and stronger passwords.
Here is a list of the top security cloud computing issues and challenges:
- Theft or loss of intellectual property
Business organizations are preferring the storage of sensitive data in the cloud. In accordance with an analysis by Skyhigh, 21% of files that are contained in the cloud comprises of sensitive data which are inclusive of intellectual property. With the breaching of cloud services, the sensitive data can be accessed by cyber criminals. In the absence of the breach, there may be a risk to specific services in case the ownership of the data uploaded is claimed by the terms and conditions.
- Regulatory actions as well as compliance violations
In the present days, several businesses operate under some type of regulatory control of information. Some of them are inclusive of HIPAA for controlling private health details, FERPA for controlling confidential student information. Under these regulatory controls, companies should have an idea where the data is located, who can gain access to it and how the data is protected.
- Losing control over the actions of end user
If the companies do not have the idea about the workers who are using the cloud services, there many be associated security risks of cloud computing. The employees can use the same however they like and no one will come to know till it is very late. For example, a person who is going to put down papers, may download the report of customer contacts and upload the same to the personal storage and confer access to the details to the competitors.
- Malware infections which unleash the targeted attack
It is possible to use cloud services as the vector of exfiltration of the vector. In novel data exfiltration procedure, attackers have the capability of encoding sensitive data into the video files and uploading the same to YouTube. Malware may be present which may exfiltrate important data with the aid of a private Twitter account. This malware count to be responsible for security issues in cloud computing. Cyber criminals make use of file sharing services for the delivery of malware to targets by using phishing attacks.
- Data breach that requires notification and disclosure to victims
In case regulated or sensitive data is put into the cloud and breaching happen, the company may need to disclose the breach and sending notifications to victims. Specific regulations like HITECH and HIPAA within the healthcare industry and EU Data Protection Directive needs these type of disclosures. Customers who have gone with the breach disclosure may levy heavy fines in case their data are comprised.
While cloud computing is gaining high popularity in these days and the storage of data has become much easy, there are certain risks associated with it.
Here is a list of the challenges and security solutions for cloud computing:
- Waterhole attacks
While business organizations are becoming better for fighting phishing and spam, waterhole attacks are recognized to be the latest tricks of the attackers which comprise all the users of trusted web applications with the aid of web browsers. The water hole attack is considered to be a 3 step procedure. Initially, the attacker performs research and reconnaissance on the target and look for trusted websites that are visited by the employees of the company. As the employees will pay a visit to these trusted sites, the exploit will be taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of the system:
Solution: For the data security in cloud computing, vulnerability shielding is the right solution to the problems. Here, all the software are updated and patched on a regular basis for limiting the possible access points.
- Government and different spices
If a government entity is willing to access data, they should come and tell you they require it. As they move to the cloud, all the visibility is lost. For solving this, it is recommended to make use of the cloud in a wide manner and procure the benefits. However, you should not allow any person to gain access to the encryption keys. Thus even in the case, the Government asks for getting access to the information of the cloud, they will not be yours.
- Complying with data privacy laws in different geographical locations
The cloud confers the right powers to the business for achieving the cloud which will be crossing the borders. The reality is that in several cases, the varied laws that require being compiled across the globe may reduce the capability of the business to take total advantage of the benefits of cloud computing.
- Solution
Key happens to be the architecture of cloud environment. You need to have the prerequisite understanding of the data storage regulation of the specific country in which you are operating. You should be looking for cloud security solutions which are compliant with regulations such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, laws of EU data protection laws or whatever applies to you. To be precise, encryption for security in cloud computing makes several things much easier. Making use of cloud encryption solution is one of the top security solutions for cloud computing which reveals that the data does not leave home, not at least in readable form.
- Liability for Breaches
It is recommended that you should be making use of split key technologies for cloud computing data security and making sure that only you are controlling the data. The cloud provider will be sharing the responsibility of infrastructure whereas you will be responsible for your own data and apps.
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