Cloud Application Security: Best Practices To follow!

Around 75% of modern workloads are now in the cloud. Millions of workers use cloud computing daily to communicate, code, and manage customer relations. Cloud computing is cost-effective, flexible, and convenient. However, cloud computing can pose security risks.

Unsecured apps can be vulnerable to data loss, external attacks, and infrastructure damage. In addition, unsecured apps can lead to data breaches across the enterprise. However, many ways exist to improve cloud security and ensure safe application usage.

This blog will discuss cloud app security and threats that users face. In addition, this blog will cover everything you need to know about cloud asset security.

What is cloud application security?

Cloud application security refers to a collection of policies and tools that help protect data in a cloud environment. It aims to:

• Protect data and create a secure environment for all cloud apps
• Cyber threats can be managed
• Protect your cloud resources from unauthorized access
• Assure the availability of vital assets

Cloud application security includes popular platforms such as Amazon AWS, Google, and Microsoft Azure. In addition, it covers individual SaaS applications hosted on cloud platforms. Slack and Zoom are two examples of collaboration tools that require security solutions. The same applies to cloud-hosted tools such as Salesforce and data storage services.

Also Read : How To Keep Your Data Safe In The Cloud Storage

Understanding the security challenges associated with cloud applications

Only some companies can secure cloud applications, ideally even in 2023. These are the reasons for the breaches. In addition, cyber threats can be posed to companies and data by roadblocks and inherent problems. These are just a few of the challenges.

• Identifying possible risks: To ensure a secure cloud architecture, it is essential to identify the risks associated with cloud application security. By understanding the current cyber security landscape, organizations can better prepare for and reduce their vulnerability to different threats. Analyzing internal and external threats is essential to determine the vulnerabilities in Cloud app data security protection.

• Assessing the impact of security incidents can be difficult for organizations. This impact includes revenue loss. Neglecting cloud security architecture can lead to a loss of reputation, legal complications, and customer trust.

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact loss as some losses are not quantifiable. However, businesses can prepare a contingency plan, identify key stakeholders, and create an incident response plan by accurately evaluating the impact.

• Pre-planning an Incident Response: This is a discussion about cloud security, but it revolves around pre-planning for an Incident Response. Organizations can save millions of dollars and trust by having a well-designed incident response plan.

Pre-planning an incident response plan takes work. The plan should include steps for thwarting and detecting the breach.

• Organizations face another challenge: Inadequate compliance and insufficient IT expertise. The General Data Protection Regulation is a privacy regulation. More information on submissions can be found below.

Companies are at constant risk of being attacked by cybercriminals if they lack the required compliance and expertise. In addition, companies are at greater risk of being hacked if they fail to secure cloud applications properly.

• Cloud provider and business owner share responsibility: A lack of understanding about shared responsibility is another obstacle to secure cloud applications. Both cloud service providers (CSPs) and business owners ensure that cloud applications are secure.

A lack of understanding about the roles of CSPs and businesses, which are responsible for protecting the infrastructure, and CSPs for data and applications security, can lead to cyber-attacks.

Security threats to cloud applications

Understanding critical security threats is the first step to securing a cloud environment. It would help to consider these top cloud security threats when planning for security.

•  Misconfigured cloud apps cause 99 percent of cloud security problems. Cloud deployments can be complex, and teams need to manage multiple configurations. Access controls and processes are required for every SaaS app to protect against shadow IT. It is crucial to get app configurations correct.

• Account hijacking – Malicious attackers may steal user accounts and hack into cloud-hosted applications. Poor password hygiene and credential exposure are two of the main reasons account hijacking occurs. Security teams must enforce strong password policies. Worker life is made more accessible by password managers. The encryption keeps credentials secure and private.

• Phishing – Phishers convince employees to give access credentials. They might also encourage users to click on links that collect private data. Security teams need to train staff and enforce responsible behavior.

• Automated attacks – Attackers might find vulnerabilities using scanning agents. Botnets are designed to target cloud applications that are not secure and take down cloud resources through denial-of-service episodes.

• Buggy APIs are APIs that connect cloud applications to users. They must be protected at all times. APIs are feature-rich and data-rich. An API vulnerability could expose data inside the app that outsiders can access.

• Physical security – Cloud apps depend on physical hardware around the globe. Cloud providers must protect their hardware from theft and can deal with fire, extreme weather, or other types of damage.

• Data loss can happen inadvertently – Staff may accidentally delete, modify, or lose encryption keys. This makes it impossible to access data that is already encrypted. It is vital to have a comprehensive backup strategy.

What are the security concerns with cloud applications?

Cloud application security is the practice that safeguards cloud-based software applications starting at the beginning of development. It is essential to:

All your data can be stored in the cloud.

• Protect cloud-based apps against cyberattacks.
• Restriction of access to only the right people

These cloud-based apps must be protected from attacks and unauthorized access to data. Cloud applications that you use will need the same oversight and management.

We now know what cloud security means. So let’s examine the most severe threats and why we must be vigilant.

Types of security concerns with cloud applications

Let’s look at some of the most prevalent security concerns surrounding cloud computing applications.

Misconfiguration

Incorrectly configured cloud infrastructure is one of the leading causes of data breaches.

Due to the open nature of the cloud infrastructure and the emphasis on data sharing, it may prove difficult for businesses to ensure that authorized users have access.

This problem could only improve if they manage their cloud hosting infrastructure properly.

Misconfigurations can have severe consequences for cloud security and could impact companies’ daily operations.

To avoid misconfigurations, those responsible for managing the cloud application of a company should be familiar with the security tools. 

Data loss or leakage

Cloud computing has one of the main advantages: data can be shared quickly and collaborated upon by internal and external parties.

Cloud computing can pose security risks and problems due to the fact data are transferred via:

• Invitations by email
• A public link is distributed to a defined group of users

Data loss is the most common security concern with cloud computing. Automated or human actions destroy, alter, or render inaccessible information inaccessible.

Businesses should be concerned about losing data, especially customers and intellectual property.

Insider threats

Did you know that the cloud is not the only place an organization’s network can be vulnerable to threats? Many organizations are susceptible to insider threats.

Insiders can make it harder to identify potential threats. Therefore, adequate security measures are essential for every mobile app development company to identify dangerous insider behavior and prevent it from affecting business operations.

Insider threats can be of two kinds:

• These are intentional, as a dissatisfied employee looking for retribution
• Unintentional actions, such as an employee clicking on a malicious email URL.

We have employees as well as other insiders. As a result, contractors, vendors, or partners can improperly access, expose, or steal data.

Cloud storage systems often hide the actions of administrators, users, and the software used.

DDoS attacks

As more businesses and processes move to the cloud, malicious attacks on cloud service providers are increasing. DDoS attacks, or distributed denial-of-service attacks, are becoming more common.

DDoS attacks aim to overwhelm a website with fake requests so that it cannot handle the real ones. DDoS attacks can render a website inaccessible for several days.

Inadequate compliance

As a result of growing data protection concerns, compliance rules and industry standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS have become more demanding.

It is crucial to monitor who has access and what they do when using that data to maintain compliance.

It can be challenging to monitor data if adequate security measures (such as access restrictions) are not in place. This type of behavior can lead to cloud security threats.

API not secure

Today’s cloud-based systems often use APIs for data exchange, both internal and external. Hackers love APIs, as they offer a wealth of data and features to exploit.

Wait, what exactly is API?

API (Application User Interface) is an essential tool to control the system in a cloud environment. However, API threatens cloud safety because of its widespread availability.

These are the most common issues in cloud computing with application-level security:

• Insufficient monitoring

• No authentication is required for secret, free access

• You can reuse passwords and tokens

• Using explicit messages to authenticate

Hackers will exploit these loopholes to bypass authentication via APIs.

Cloud computing requires extra security at the application level. Therefore, any risk management plan should include API protection and gateway security.

A comprehensive cloud security solution offers many benefits

Securing cloud storage is crucial for the success of any organization. It can protect intellectual property, business-critical infrastructure, and proprietary data. Targeted attacks often target the cloud to gain access to this data. There are many benefits to having a comprehensive and dedicated cloud security solution. These benefits include:

Cyber attacks are a genuine threat

The most crucial benefit of cloud-based application security solutions is protection against cyber-attacks, data breaches, and other threats. These solutions are embedded in IT infrastructure to enable organizations to detect and prevent possible attacks.

Respect Data Protection Regulations

Cloud app security is also essential because it allows you to comply with regulatory bodies such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act, CCPA. Cloud-based app security allows organizations to meet these regulations by ensuring data is securely stored and processed, which reduces the risk of theft or unauthorized entry. Cloud-based application security solutions can meet these regulations. They ensure that sensitive data is securely stored and processed, protecting it from theft and unauthorized access.

App performance and scalability improved

Cloud security solutions can also be used to improve app performance. They eliminate potential vulnerabilities and backdoors from the code. This makes the app more resilient, responsive, and scalable in spikes. This results in increased productivity, customer satisfaction, and reduced downtime.

Greater visibility and control

Businesses can gain better control over their cloud-based assets by securing them. These systems provide real-time information about unusual activity, login attempts, and other relevant information. This allows organizations to protect their cloud-based assets and prevent them from being attacked.

Cost savings

Cloud-based applications can be secured using the age-old saying “prevention is better than cure.” Companies can drastically reduce the costs of responding to cyber attacks by preventing them. However, a cyber attack can have a devastating impact on a  company’s bottom line. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that cloud computing applications are secure to avoid revenue loss.

Also Read : Cybersecurity Asset Management: An Efficient Manner to Legitimize Your Security Team!

Collaboration and data sharing improved

Enterprises often have to deal with the problem of needing more trust to share data with other departments within their organization. Organizations with robust security measures can share data that would otherwise be kept in silos with cloud computing. This improves department collaboration and leads to better productivity and results for end users.

Cloud Security Best Practices

Many security best practices and processes remain unchanged when you move your systems to the cloud. However, you will face new challenges to ensure the security of your cloud-based data and systems.

We have compiled a list of security best practices to help cloud-based deployments.

Select a trusted provider

Cloud security best practices are built upon selecting a trusted service provider. Therefore, they are partnering with a cloud provider that adheres to industry best practices and has the best security protocols.

The service provider offers a network of solutions and partners to help you improve the security of your deployment.

A trusted provider’s security compliance and certifications are a sign of their trustworthiness. This is something that any trusted provider will make public. Understanding Your Shared Responsibility Model

Partners with a cloud provider to move your data and systems to the cloud. This creates a partnership that shares responsibility for security implementation.

Understanding your shared responsibility is an integral part of best practice. Determining which security tasks you will continue to manage and which provider will take over is essential.

There are three options: Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, or on-premises.

Training Your Users

Your users best protect secure cloud computing. However, your system’s security can only be covered if your users know security best practices.

Training everyone who has access to your cloud systems – employees and stakeholders – in secure cloud practices is a good practice. 

Cloud security certification and training are available for more experienced users, such as administrators.

You can control user access

Another cloud security best practice is implementing tight control over user access via policies. This will help you manage users who attempt to access your cloud services.

Start with zero trust and only allow users to access the necessary data and systems. You can avoid complex policies by creating well-defined groups that have assigned roles. This will ensure that only the resources you need are granted to users. In addition, you can add users to groups instead of customizing access for each user.

Protect Your User Endpoints

User endpoint security is another aspect of cloud security best practices. Most users will access cloud services via web browsers. Therefore, it is essential to implement advanced client-side security to ensure that your users’ browsers are protected against exploits and remain up-to-date.

It would help if you also considered installing an endpoint security solution to protect your end-user devices. It is vital to consider implementing an endpoint security solution due to the increasing use of mobile and remote devices. In addition, users increasingly access cloud services from devices other than the company’s own.

It would help if you looked for a solution that includes firewalls and antivirus, internet security tools, mobile device protection, and intrusion detection software.

Ensure the visibility of your cloud services

Cloud services can be used in a variety of ways. Many companies use multiple cloud services from various providers and geographic locations. Research suggests that cloud resources last an average of 2 hours.

This behavior can cause blind spots in your cloud environment. It is only possible to secure something if you see it.

Implementing a cloud security system that provides visibility across your entire ecosystem is necessary. This will allow you to monitor and protect your cloud resources across different projects, regions, and locations through one portal. In addition, this will enable you to implement specific security policies and reduce various risks.

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

A CASB is quickly becoming a vital tool for cloud security best practices. You use software to connect with your cloud service provider to increase your cloud security controls.

A CASB provides cloud security toolsets that give visibility into your cloud ecosystem, enforce security policies, protect against threats, and ensure compliance.

The guide will provide more information about CASBs and a list of the top five CASB providers.

Conclusion

We have almost a decade’s experience building and managing cloud infrastructures. This means we are familiar with the nuances of cloud security management. We constantly seek ways to protect our client’s applications and data in the cloud, from engineering site reliability to delivering more than 200 cloud-based app designs.

We offer a variety of cloud security managed services and are the perfect partners for entrepreneurs or enterprises looking to secure their cloud applications and data. Contact Techugo, an on demand app development company to take the first step toward securing your cloud infrastructure from cyber threats.