Fascinating research carried out by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 has unveiled that a staggering 80% of organizations point the finger at cloud environments for the majority of security challenges they face within their enterprise landscapes.
According to the Unit 42 Attack Surface Threat Research study, cloud security vulnerabilities predominantly stem from a few key sources. An overwhelming 60% of these vulnerabilities originate from web framework takeovers, with an additional 22.8% arising from remote access services. A more modest 17% can be attributed to issues within the IT security and networking infrastructure.
Furthermore, this research has shed light on the dynamic nature of cloud services, revealing that changes in user interfaces and engagement occur every one to three months. This flux is primarily driven by industry demands, the need to stay competitive, and the desire to enhance user experiences.
To mitigate such security risks at their source, organizations are encouraged to adopt a proactive approach. This includes conducting quarterly audits to identify and address shadow IT, providing comprehensive training and awareness programs for employees to instill cloud security best practices, and ensuring data loss prevention measures are in place to protect sensitive information. Adhering to compliance requirements is another critical aspect that can contribute to reducing cloud security challenges.
Simultaneously, it is imperative for cloud customers to recognize their shared responsibility in safeguarding their applications and data hosted within Cloud Service Provider (CSP) environments. It should be understood that the onus of security does not solely fall on the CSP. Neglecting network security or failing to implement proper access controls can leave customers vulnerable. Additionally, the absence of encryption during data transmission and storage can expose the entire ecosystem to potential security breaches.
