Cloud platforms introduce unique risks due to shared resources and distributed access.

Top Cloud Risks

1. Misconfigured cloud services
   • Example: An AWS S3 bucket containing company documents is accidentally set to “public.” Anyone on the internet can download sensitive files.
2. Weak/excessive Cloud IAM permissions
   • Example: A junior employee is given admin access. They could accidentally delete servers or access sensitive data.
3. Unpatched workloads
   • Example: A cloud server runs an old version of a web server with a known vulnerability. Hackers exploit it to gain access.
4. Insecure APIs / integrations
   • Example: Your app calls a third-party API without authentication. Attackers can hijack the API request to manipulate your data.
5. Lack of monitoring & visibility
   • Example: No alerts on unusual login patterns. Hacker logs in from another country, but no one notices.

How to Mitigate (Simple Terms)

• CASM (Cloud Attack Surface Management)
  • Tools scan all your cloud assets and show what’s public, misconfigured, or risky.
  • Example: Detects a forgotten open database and warns you.
• Cloud IAM best practices
  • Give only minimum permissions needed.
  • Example: A finance employee can only access accounting files, not the entire cloud network.
• Zero-Trust policies
  • Don’t trust any device or user automatically. Verify every request.
  • Example: Even company laptops must re-authenticate to access critical apps.
• Regular scanning (VAPT)
  • Periodically check for vulnerabilities.
  • Example: Test your cloud servers and APIs for weaknesses hackers could exploit.
• Network segmentation
  • Separate workloads into isolated zones.
  • Example: Web servers in one network, databases in another. Even if web server is hacked, database stays protected.
• Continuous monitoring
  • Watch logs and configurations all the time.
  • Example: Alerts when someone suddenly downloads huge amounts of data or changes security settings.