Cloud-based applications have become integral to modern business operations, but with their increasing prominence comes a growing concern for security. In this article, we will explore the major threats to cloud-based application security, effective mitigation strategies, and essential security design patterns for robust protection.
Major Threats to Cloud-Based Application Security
1. Unmanaged Attack Surface
Every workload contributes to the attack surface, and without meticulous management, infrastructure vulnerabilities may remain undiscovered until exploited by attackers¹.
2. Human Error
Inadequate identity and credential management, insecure APIs, and lax registration systems can result in data breaches¹⁴.
3. Misconfiguration
Misconfiguration poses a significant threat in public clouds, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data breaches⁴.
4. Data Breaches
Data breaches can compromise data confidentiality, availability, and integrity, leading to data theft or loss⁴.
5. Malware Attacks
Malware attacks, such as Trojans and ransomware, can disrupt business operations, steal sensitive information, and hold data hostage⁹.
6. Account Takeovers (ATO)
Attackers gaining unauthorized access to user accounts by obtaining login credentials pose a constant threat⁹.
Mitigation Strategies
1. Regular Updates and Patches
Ensure all cloud technology software, including underlying systems, receives timely updates with the latest security patches⁹.
2. Anti-Malware Software
Leverage anti-malware software to detect and remove malware from servers and systems immediately⁹.
3. Data Backup
Regularly back up data in the cloud and maintain an offline repository for cost-effective data restoration⁹.
4. Multi-Factor Authentication
Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to user access[^10^].
5. Data Access Governance
Control data access through the implementation of data access governance mechanisms[^10^].
6. Configuration Auditing
Regularly audit configurations against established baselines to detect and rectify any deviations[^10^].
7. Web Application Firewall
Utilize a web application firewall to identify and block anomalous traffic¹¹.
Security Design Patterns
1. Ambassador Pattern
Encapsulate and manage network communications by offloading cross-cutting tasks related to network communication⁶.
2. Backends for Frontends Pattern
Create separate services exclusive to specific frontend interfaces, individualizing the service layer⁶.
3. Bulkhead Pattern
Introduce intentional segmentation between components to isolate malfunctions and limit their impact⁶.
4. Claim Check Pattern
Separate data from the messaging flow, providing a way to retrieve data related to a message separately⁶.
5. Federated Identity Pattern
Delegate trust to an external identity provider for managing users and providing authentication⁶.
It’s essential to note that these are high-level guidelines, and specific threats and mitigations may vary based on the unique characteristics of each cloud-based application and its operating environment. Consultation with cybersecurity experts during the design and implementation phases is strongly recommended.
References:
- CrowdStrike – 12 Cloud Security Issues
- EC-Council – Top 5 Cloud Computing Security Issues & Challenges
- Checkpoint – Top 15 Cloud Security Issues, Threats and Concerns
- IT Security Wire – Cloud Security Threats & Strategies
- Netwrix – Top 6 Cloud Security Threats and How to Mitigate Them
- CompTIA – Cloud Security Mitigation
- Microsoft Azure – Cloud design patterns that support security
- Aqua – Cloud Application Security: Top 10 Threats and How to Stop Them
- Cloud Academy – 7 Key Cybersecurity Threats to Cloud Computing
- Microsoft Learn – Cloud design patterns
- Kroll – How to Build a Strong Cloud Computing Security Architecture
- SentinelOne – 7 Practical Solutions for Modern Businesses Combating Cloud-Based Attacks