Cyber Security in the Cloud Age: Infosec K2K’s Guide to Cloud Security

Cloud-based infrastructure offers numerous benefits such as scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, and many businesses have chosen to migrate their operations to the cloud in recent years. However, despite these advantages, the cloud presents a new set of challenges when it comes to cyber security. Keep reading as we explore the obstacles organisations face when securing cloud-based infrastructure, and learn about the latest trends and developments in cyber security.

Securing your cloud-based infrastructure can be a complex and evolving task for any business. Unlike traditional on-premises environments, cloud environments are dynamic and distributed, making them more susceptible to security threats. In a recent survey by Google, around 31% of global enterprise cloud decision makers said cyber security was their top investment priority – more than data analytics, AI, and infrastructure modernisation.

When it comes to the cloud, there are many threats businesses face. For example, cloud service providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud offer their customers a shared responsibility model. While these can ensure the security of the cloud infrastructure, the responsibility for securing data and applications within the cloud falls on the customer. This shared responsibility can, at times, be complex to understand, and organisations must clearly understand their role in securing their cloud assets.

The cloud’s ability to scale resources up or down on-demand, meanwhile, is a significant advantage. However, this feature can also be exploited by attackers to launch large-scale attacks. Managing the security of dynamically changing resources is a challenge. Effective Identity and Access Management (IAM) is also crucial in the cloud. Misconfigured access controls can result in data breaches or unauthorised access to sensitive information. Managing identities, permissions, and access across multiple cloud services can be a daunting task.

One of the biggest advantages of cloud environments is that they can be used to store vast amounts of data – according to research by Nasunu, there is currently around one exabyte of data stored in the cloud (or 67 million iPhones’ worth of data). Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all this data is paramount, and data encryption, access controls, and backup strategies are all essential components of cloud security. Different industries and regions have specific compliance requirements that must be met when storing or processing data in the cloud, and maintaining compliance can be challenging for any firm.

To effectively address the challenges of cloud security, organisations must stay up-to-date with the latest trends shaping cloud security. One is zero trust, a security model that assumes no trust within or outside the network. This requires strict identity verification and least-privilege access policies, and implementing zero trust in the cloud can help organisations to mitigate the risks associated with unauthorised access.

As organisations embrace cloud-native architectures and technologies like containers and serverless computing, new cyber security solutions are also evolving to protect these new paradigms. Cloud-native security tools have been designed specifically to secure applications and data in cloud environments. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are rapidly evolving at the moment. They’re being used to transform almost every industry, and cyber security is no different. These technologies are being employed to detect and respond to security threats in real-time, enabling the automation of threat detection and helping organisations stay ahead of cyber criminals.

Here at Infosec K2K, we specialise in one of the most fundamental aspects of cloud security, which is IAM solutions. The solutions we offer to our customers are all designed to address the unique challenges of cloud security. Our IAM solutions are tailored to cloud environments, and provide our customers with centralised control over identities, permissions, and access. This way, they can ensure that only authorised users can access the cloud resources they need, securing your cyber defences and preventing data breaches. We incorporate zero trust principles into our IAM solutions, enforcing strict identity verification and least-privilege access policies. With zero trust principles we can ensure trust is never assumed – even within the cloud environment.

Additionally, we provide robust auditing and compliance capabilities. With our Security Assurance Services, we can assess your network and cloud environment, alerting you to any vulnerabilities and providing actionable recommendations. We can even test your defences through penetration testing and simulated attacks. We also help our clients navigate the complex landscape of compliance requirements, and demonstrate compliance with industry and regulatory standards, wherever they are in the world

Although securing cloud-based infrastructure is a complex undertaking, it’s critical in today’s digital landscape. Firms must be aware of the unique challenges posed by the cloud, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in cloud security. Along with our partners, we offer cutting-edge IAM solutions that address the specific security needs of the cloud. Our expertise in cloud security allows organisations to embrace the benefits of the cloud while safeguarding their data and operations from cyber threats. With Infosec K2K’s swift and reliable cloud security solutions, you can confidently navigate the cloud age.

Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.

The Insider Threat: How IAM Solutions from Infosec K2K Protect Your Business

When it comes to cyber security, many businesses focus on defending their networks from external cyber threats. However, it’s essential they’re also vigilant against insider threats – these can be just as, if not more, destructive. In this blog, we’ll delve into the most common insider threats businesses face, explore the risks they pose, and demonstrate how Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions can help safeguard your business.

Insider threats originate from within an organisation, making them particularly insidious. In recent years, both the number of insider cyber attacks and the costs they incur has risen dramatically. DTEX Systems’ recent report, 2023 Cost of Insider Risks Global Report, revealed the number of insider attacks in 2023 was 7,343, a step up from 6,803 last year – while the typical annual cost of these threats has reached $16.2 million (£13.2 million) per attack. These threats can be intentional or unintentional, and the most common are:

• Negligent Employees: Often, employees compromise security through careless actions like clicking on phishing emails or reusing passwords. While they may not have been intending to cause your business any harm, the consequences can be severe. In fact, research by Kaspersky showed businesses are just as concerned about employee negligence as they are about data breaches.

• Malicious Insiders: Some individuals within an organisation will intentionally seek to harm the company. This can be due to personal grievances or even coercion by external parties. If these insiders can access sensitive information, they could inflict significant damage, which is why it’s vital to maintain strict access controls across your network.

• Third-Party Contractors: External entities working closely with your organisation, like consultants, partners, suppliers, can pose a threat. If they have access to your systems or data, a breach on their end could compromise your security.

• Former Employees: Employees who have left the company but can still access your systems and data can be a significant risk to your business. If their departure wasn’t amicable, they might misuse their access to harm the organisation – and even if their departure was amicable, this could offer hackers another way into your network.

• Accidental Data Exposure: Sometimes, employees inadvertently share sensitive information without realising it. This could occur through misconfigured permissions, email mishaps, or other innocent mistakes. Earlier this year, a Microsoft employee accidentally leaked 30TB of data after using a misconfigured SAS token.

Insider threats can have severe consequences for all businesses. These threats include data breaches, where insiders with access to sensitive data can steal or leak it online. Not only do these result in financial losses for the business involved, but they’d also cause damage to their reputation, and have legal repercussions. Malicious insiders can cause financial losses to a business by manipulating financial systems or engaging in fraudulent activities. Disgruntled ex-employees could exacerbate the situation by sabotaging systems, leading to operational disruption, downtime, and business process disruptions – research by Unit 42 last year showed these kinds of employees were responsible for 75% of insider cyber attacks. These cyber security incidents can erode customer trust, making it harder for businesses to attract clients, and can also result in hefty fines and legal actions. Despite these dangers, however, many businesses aren’t taking insider threats seriously. Although the costs of insider risks are higher than ever before, 88% of organisations have said they’re spending less than 10% of their security budgets on the issue – the rest of their budgets are going towards external threats.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions offer a range of benefits to businesses, and help them mitigate insider threats effectively. With IAM, you can ensure only authorised individuals have access to your most sensitive data and systems. At Infosec K2K, we offer IAM assessments and services to help reduce the risk of insider threats and data breaches.

Our IAM solutions give you granular control over who has access to what across your organisation. By enforcing the principle of least privilege, we ensure employees only have access to the resources necessary for their roles, significantly reducing your attack surface. With IAM, you can also implement robust user authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometrics, to ensure only authorised personnel can access critical systems and data.

At Infosec K2K, we can continuously monitor user activities. With our AT&T-powered managed security operations centre (SOC), we can detect suspicious behaviour, such as unauthorised access or data exfiltration, and intervene quickly. When employees leave your organisation, or simply change roles, our access control solutions can streamline your access controls and ensure former employees no longer have access to critical systems or data. We can also help you maintain compliance with data protection regulations, minimising the risk of penalties related to insider-related data breaches.

Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.