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Top 5 Security Risks of Cloud Computing That You Need to Know Now

The recent cloud computing vulnerabilities like Heartbleed and Venom have debunked the belief that cloud computing is a safer platform than traditional computing. As the number of cloud computing service providers and users increased, the security risks involved also spiked exponentially. IDC states that the top challenges of cloud computing adopters are- Security (74.6%), Performance (63.1%), and Availability (63.1%).So, what exactly is cloud computing security?Cloud computing security typically refers to a set of processes, services, and technologies implemented to secure data and related information in the cloud computing environment. Most of the guidelines for cloud security have been charted out by a nonprofit organization, the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA).A recent Oracle survey found out that almost 82% of users or organizations were concerned with data security. These concerns are regarding a wide range of processes within the cloud –from cloud service providers through data storage providers to application developers.Top security risks in cloud computingIn the cloud computing environment, security can be compromised at numerous levels and it can be unanimously experienced by service providers and users alike. Some of the top concerns in cloud security are-Shared resourcesAccording to the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), “multi-tenancy and sharing resources are defining characteristics of cloud computing. This risk category covers the failure of mechanisms separating storage, memory, routing and reputation between different tenants (e.g., so-called guest-hopping attacks). However it should be considered that attacks on resource isolation mechanisms (e.g., against hypervisors) are still less numerous and much more difficult for an attacker to put in practice compared to attacks on traditional OSes.”Organizations opt for public clouds, which are economical, without fully understanding the threat they pose to security. A single flaw in the shared environment can lead to data loss, malicious data tampering and data breaches for multiple clients in one go.Cloud transparency policiesMost business are frustrated due to extensive non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) of cloud computing service providers. These agreements restrict users from gaining access to critical information like the data location, the security measures they take or how they process data. One such provider is Google, which has always been tightlipped about the location of their data. At a Gartner event, Google product marketing manager Adam Swidler admitted Google’s outlook towards secrecy about where things are located citing “because we think it’s a security risk.” These industry norms are particularly affecting apprehensive business owners about migrating to the cloud.Not enough cloud security toolsSecurity and data breaching issues on the cloud aren’t too different than the traditional physical environment. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough tools to keep up with the scaling and sharing of cloud services today.Powerful data encryption and cloud key management are the key to a secure, convenient and cost-effective solution for cloud security. Encrypting data and limiting or controlling the access of application programs will increase the security and prohibit illegal data exploitation. Some popular tools are Intuit, CipherCloud, Qualys, Okta etc. These security tools focus on different aspects of cloud security like data encryption, network security, securing devices and web apps, and identity management etc.Extensive virtualizationOrganizations have willingly taken to virtualization services as they allow a single physical server to transform into a host of virtual servers, thus increasing cost efficiency. However, this very nature of virtualization has become a security threat for its end users. Attacking a single host can give access to multiple servers and their data. Virtualization services may be compromised by the presence of existing malware in the server which is hidden from the cloud provider, too. For instance, few years ago, Crisis Trojanware had maliciously entered and infected VMWare virtual machines and Windows Mobile devices. Moreover inefficiently configured hypervisors or firewalls can also lead to virtual servers being compromised.Insecure APIsProvisioning, management, orchestration, and monitoring all use APIs, so the fundamental security of the services provided in the cloud are dependent on the how secure APIs are. As we know, API vulnerability also played a role in the breach at messaging firm Snapchat, which exposed the phone numbers and usernames of up to 4.6 million users. Third party APIs are the most critical of the lot as users cannot identify the difference between the base cloud service and the add-on services to that service. Most cloud service providers consider API as an after thought. However, APIs are an attractive target for hackers as once in, you are exposed to a great deal of information.ConclusionSecurity and its concerns are valid as cloud service providers and users continue to scale at a phenomenal rate. However these should not be reasons why you should steer clear from cloud services. As a provider or user of the cloud infrastructure, you need to consider security with the same weightage as you consider scaling and performance. You can look for companies that are willing to focus on data security along with scale and performance. Constantly monitoring the various levels of service can help you stay ahead of any likely threats to your organization.

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How do I Ensure a Robust IoT Security?

Previously, we touched upon what the internet of things is and how it revamps the whole world. Its key advantages may change everything as you know it today. The major aspect of IoT is the billions of new devices or “things” that will become part of our worldwide wireless network, and the relentless stream of data that these devices bring to the storage infrastructure extant today. Along with this transformation, a critical question arises: “How can you ensure the security in this IoT world?” Security risks come in all forms. For instance, in 2011, independent security analyst blog Krebs on Security spoke about a new type of data hijacking coming to prevalence, known as juice-jacking. This attack targets your smartphone’s data if you hook your device into one of those public charging stations in airports and metro stations. You have probably seen plenty of examples of software-run cars being hijacked by hackers and viruses and used to put the owners in danger. We have seen similar terror in Hollywood techno-thrillers, such as The Net, Eagle Eye, Antitrust, Firewall, etc. Weak IoT security can make the world seem like it’s under alien attack. This is because IoT connects everything, from your microwave and coffee machine to your garage door to a network, and allows you to remotely operate these devices. You don’t want someone else remotely operating your lights, thermostat, or your car, do you? That will surely be pretty weird. However strong a security system is, it has been proven time and again that it can be broken if a persistent hacker is able to find its Achilles’ heel. As the security systems became more and more advanced, so did the hacking techniques. This is why Edward Snowden used a relatively unknown high-security operating system called Tails, and terrorists like Bin Laden still trusted offline messaging to communicate. With botnets consisting of millions of computers and cloud systems with unlimited processing power, it is easy to hack into any network, even government ones. In the case of IoT, so many statistics exist. Several prognosticators in the IT domain have estimated the size of IoT-connected devices to be in the range of 20-50 billion devices. Hacking figures are not very promising, either. It seems in 2014, almost half of the population of the United States using computers have been hacked in one way or other. If the number of devices goes on increasing, the hacking attempts will also rise relentlessly. Remote network management of huge number of devices is already a challenging area. With the advent of IoT, several industries will have to be network-connected, from retail, manufacturing, to healthcare. Security Preparation As a new wave of network-aware, smart devices are coming into the world, it is high time for security organizations to revamp their security systems. As we are already struggling with high volume of devices connected to far-reaching networks, a lot of research and development is necessary for securing IoT in a big way. In view of this, here is 5 security steps procedure from Aziro (formerly MSys Technologies) – A leading IoT solutions and services provider that a consumer should ensure. Learn about the device sensors you have. For instance, if you have an advanced smartphone, it has a camera, GPS system, accelerometer, compass, barometer, temperature sensor, and many other such advanced features. You should be aware of these advanced features at the time of getting your device. This will give you an idea of what should be allowed to an application and what should not. Both iOS and Android let you decide which features of your device can be accessed by an app. Learn about the data access and communication capabilities of your devices. How are they communicating, and what speed is achievable by the device at any point of time. This will let you identify if the device is operating normally or if it’s transmitting any unnecessary amount of data. Take advantage of all security features available in your devices. Every smartphone comes with built-in security features, such as the thumb-print access in the iPhone. Learn about and make use of all these security features to be extra-safe. Take advantage of all network security features given by your network. Most of the routers available today let you have advanced security features such as WPA2 encryption and MAC address filtering. Take advantage of these features to be sure that your connection is always secure. A major part of the security, and one that can actually weaken your entire security if you are not careful enough is the password. A strong password is like an impossible barrier for hackers. A weak password, such as “password1” can easily open your doorway to hackers at any time. Make your passwords long and riddled with special characters. Conclusion IoT, while it makes the world a better place, comes with a lot of concerns. Securing IoT devices will become a huge industry in itself tomorrow. Only proper consumer awareness can help fight hackers in such a massively interconnected world. There are numerous IoT development services and IoT services provider that can help navigate the security risks.

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data-security Updates

Top 5 Security Risks of Cloud Computing That You Need to Know Now

How do I Ensure a Robust IoT Security?

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