April 03, 2023 / By Securium Solutions
Nowadays, First question is what is cloud attacks? or Attacks Against Cloud Service are increasingly popular due to their scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, making them attractive targets for cyber criminals.
Any cyber attack that targets off-site service platforms that offer storage, computing, or hosting services via their cloud infrastructure can be classified as a Attacks Against Cloud Service.
Causes of cloud computing cyber attacks:
– Third-party Vulnerabilities: Third-party vendors and services that interact with a cloud environment can also pose a risk.
– Weak or Compromised Credentials: Cyber attackers often gain access to cloud systems by stealing or cracking passwords and user credentials.
– Insufficient Access Controls: Inadequate access controls can allow unauthorized users to access sensitive data and resources within a cloud environment.
– Misconfiguration: Misconfigured Attacks Against Cloud Service, cloud attack app, Applications, or network settings can leave the cloud environment vulnerable to cyber attacks. Misconfigurations can occur due to human error or lack of expertise.
Some largest recent cloud attacks in recent years:
– Microsoft Exchange Server Hack (2021): This hack targeted Microsoft Exchange servers and impacted thousands of organizations worldwide. The attackers were able to steal sensitive data and install malware using vulnerabilities in the servers.
– CAM4—2020 attack: In early March 2020, the site suffered a data breach, resulting in the exposure of over 10.88 billion records of user data. The data that was leaked included email addresses, usernames, passwords, IP addresses, and payment information.
– Ransomware Attacks on Cloud Providers (2021): In 2021, several cloud service providers were targeted by ransomware attacks. One such attack was on Cognizant, a global IT services company, where the attackers were able to encrypt the company’s systems and demanded a ransom payment.
– Another attack was on Blackbaud: A cloud-based fundraising and marketing software provider, where the attackers were able to steal personal and financial data of millions of customers
Most commonly used cloud services:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)– A comprehensive cloud platform offering a wide range of services including compute, storage, databases, and more.
- Microsoft Azure –Another major cloud platform offering similar services to AWS, but with a focus on integration with Microsoft products.
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP) – A cloud platform offering a variety of services including computing, storage, and machine learning.
- Dropbox– A cloud storage service that allows users to store and share files online.
- Adobe Creative Cloud– A collection of creative tools and services that enable designers, photographers, and other creatives to work more efficiently in the cloud.
Some advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing :
Advantages:
- Scalability and flexibility:
Cloud computing gives your business more flexibility. You can quickly scale resources and storage up to meet business demands without having to invest in physical infrastructure.
Companies don’t need to pay for or build the infrastructure needed to support their highest load levels. Likewise, they can quickly scale down if resources aren’t being used.
- Cost savings:
Whatever cloud service model you choose, you only pay for the resources you actually use. This helps you avoid overbuilding and over provisioning your data center and gives your IT teams back valuable time to focus on more strategic work.
- Better collaboration:
Cloud storage enables you to make data available anywhere you are, anytime you need it. Instead of being tied to a location or specific device, people can access data from anywhere in the world from any device—as long as they have an internet connection.
- Data loss prevention:
Cloud providers offer backup and disaster recovery features. Storing data in the cloud rather than locally can help prevent data loss in the event of an emergency, such as hardware malfunction, malicious threats, or even simple user error.
Disadvantages:
- Dependence on Internet Connection:
Cloud computing is entirely dependent on an internet connection, so if there is a problem with the connection, the service may be disrupted. Moreover, if the internet speed is slow, the user experience may suffer.
- Security Concerns:
Security is a significant concern with cloud computing. Data breaches can occur if the cloud service provider’s security measures are inadequate. Additionally, if the user does not take sufficient precautions, unauthorized access to data can occur.
- Downtime:
Cloud service providers may experience downtime, which can result in service disruption for users. Downtime can result from hardware failures, software failures, and other issues.
- Limited Control:
Users have limited control over the cloud infrastructure, which can be a disadvantage for some users. For example, some businesses may not be comfortable relying on a third-party provider to store and manage their data.
In conclusion, attacks against cloud services in india are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s digital landscape.
The popularity of cloud computing has made it a prime target for cybercriminals, who exploit vulnerabilities in cloud infrastructure to steal sensitive data or disrupt services.
The consequences, of such attacks can be severe, including financial losses, reputational damage, and legal penalties. Cloud service providers must take proactive measures to secure their infrastructure and safeguard user data.
Additionally, cloud users must take necessary precautions, such as implementing multi-factor authentication and regularly backing up critical data, to protect themselves from attacks.
Author
Monika Sharma
Cyber Security Intern
