Cloud Security Basics

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Questions and Answers

What is a strategy for mitigating risks associated with malicious insiders in cloud security?

Segregating duties and enforcing logging, monitoring, and auditing of administrator activities.

Explain the concept of privacy in the context of cloud computing.

Privacy refers to the right to keep personal and proprietary information from being disclosed.

Identify a challenge users face regarding data control in a cloud environment.

Users lose control over the exact location of their data and may even lose access to it.

What is dynamic provisioning and its associated issues in cloud security?

<p>Dynamic provisioning involves outsourcing, with issues like identifying subcontractors and rights to data during bankruptcy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does cloud encryption help in protecting data in the cloud?

<p>Cloud encryption converts plaintext data into unreadable ciphertext, enhancing data privacy and security.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason cloud security is a significant concern for users?

<p>Cloud security is a concern due to the target-rich environment that attracts malicious actors and the potential vulnerabilities inherent in storage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one major security risk associated with storing data in the cloud.

<p>One major security risk is unauthorized access to confidential information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do users perceive the security of their data when moving to cloud computing?

<p>Users often believe that cloud computing frees them from security concerns due to reliance on expert providers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What specific insider threat do cloud users worry about regarding Cloud Service Providers (CSPs)?

<p>Cloud users worry about unauthorized access and data theft from rogue employees of CSPs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the difference in vulnerability between data in storage versus data being processed in the cloud.

<p>Data is more vulnerable in storage since it remains accessible for long periods, while data being processed is exposed to threats for a shorter duration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge in establishing cloud security regulations?

<p>A significant challenge is the lack of international regulations on data security and privacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might organizations falsely believe they are better protected by using cloud services?

<p>Organizations might believe they are better protected because they trust that experts manage cloud security effectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of the inability to verify CSPs' hiring and security protocols?

<p>One consequence is heightened fear of insider threats and potential data breaches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the primary concerns that users of cloud services face regarding responsibilities?

<p>Users are concerned about the fuzzy boundaries of responsibility between themselves and the cloud service providers, as well as difficulties in identifying the root cause of problems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name at least two common methods used in cloud attacks.

<p>Common methods include distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and phishing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do system failures impact cloud service availability?

<p>System failures, power outages, and catastrophic events can lead to extended shutdowns of cloud services, affecting users' access to hosted applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What risks are associated with third-party control in the cloud?

<p>Risks include lack of transparency and limited user control, which can lead to potential data breaches and compromised services.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of using multi-factor authentication in cloud security?

<p>Multi-factor authentication enhances security by adding an extra layer of verification, which helps protect against data breaches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are compromised credentials a threat to cloud security?

<p>Compromised credentials can result from lax authentication, weak passwords, and poor management of keys and certificates, leading to unauthorized access.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What problems arise from exploited system vulnerabilities in cloud environments?

<p>Exploited system vulnerabilities can create new attack surfaces due to resource sharing and multi-tenancy, increasing the risk of security breaches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can organizations monitor account activity to mitigate risks?

<p>Organizations should implement monitoring systems to trace every transaction to the individual requesting it, thereby detecting suspicious activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the concerns regarding user control over data in cloud storage?

<p>Users are concerned that they cannot verify if their data has been properly deleted and whether it can be recovered by others even after deletion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the lack of standardization affect cloud services?

<p>It leads to uncertainty about service interruptions, price increases, and the costs involved in switching to another cloud service provider.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is multi-tenancy and how does it pose security risks?

<p>Multi-tenancy allows multiple users to share the same server, which can lead to shared vulnerabilities; a security breach can expose personal information of numerous users.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the legal concerns related to data security in cloud computing?

<p>Users face challenges in determining which country's laws apply to their data, depending on where it is stored and processed, complicating their rights and protections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What types of security threats are associated with traditional cloud security?

<p>They include risks from traditional security threats common to online systems, with increased impact due to the scale of cloud resources and user populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how system availability is threatened in cloud security.

<p>Threats to system availability can occur through attacks that disrupt access to cloud services, impacting all users relying on those systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of third-party data control in cloud security?

<p>Third-party data control raises concerns since users may not have direct oversight over their data once it's managed by another entity, increasing risks of data breach.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is cost a significant concern when switching cloud service providers?

<p>The costs associated with migrating data and services to a new provider can be substantial, impacting budget and operational continuity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Malicious Insider Threat

Malicious insiders are employees or contractors who have access to sensitive information and intentionally misuse it for personal gain or to harm the organization.

Privacy

The right of an individual, group, or organization to control the collection, use, and disclosure of personal or sensitive information.

Lack of User Control in the Cloud

The lack of user control arises when data is stored on a CSP's server, and the user loses control over the exact location and may even lose access to the data.

Potential Unauthorized Data Use

This threat arises when CSPs potentially use user data for secondary purposes, like targeted advertising, without explicit consent.

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Cloud Data Encryption

A data security process that converts plaintext data into unreadable ciphertext to protect it from unauthorized access during storage, transmission, or processing.

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Cloud Computing: A New Approach

Cloud computing offers a new approach to computing, relying on a distinct technology.

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Cloud Security

Cloud security focuses on protecting the confidentiality and integrity of data stored and processed in the cloud.

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Target-Rich Cloud Environment

Criminal organizations and malicious individuals view cloud environments as attractive targets for attacks.

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Unauthorized Access & Data Theft

Cloud users are concerned about safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access.

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Insider Attacks in Cloud Environments

The possibility of rogue employees within a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) accessing and stealing data is a significant concern for cloud users.

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Opaque Security Practices of CSPs

The security practices of a CSP are often unknown to cloud users, raising concerns about insider threats.

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Shifting Responsibility for Security

Cloud security relies on the expertise of the CSP, but users still need to take proactive measures to protect their data.

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Data Security and Privacy Regulations

The lack of established international regulations for data security and privacy in the cloud raises concerns about the protection of sensitive information.

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Cloud Service Availability

Cloud services can experience outages due to system failures, power problems, or disasters. This can disrupt operations for significant periods.

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Cloud Service Accuracy

Users may be uncertain that cloud-hosted applications are providing accurate results. These doubts stem from the distributed nature of the cloud infrastructure and the potential for errors.

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Data Breaches in the Cloud

Data breaches are a severe risk, especially for sensitive information like financial records, health data, and intellectual property. The responsibility for protecting this data rests with the organization storing it.

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Compromised Credentials

Attacks that exploit weaknesses in authentication procedures, like poor passwords, weak key management, or lax security measures. These attacks can grant unauthorized access to accounts and systems.

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Third-Party Control in the Cloud

Third-party control refers to the use of external providers for cloud services. This introduces concerns about transparency, trust, and data security due to the reliance on external entities.

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Exploited Cloud Vulnerabilities

Exploiting vulnerabilities in cloud systems, often due to shared resources or multi-tenancy. This can lead to unauthorized access or disruption of services.

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Account Hijacking

Unauthorized access and use of accounts due to stolen credentials, social engineering, or other hacking techniques.

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Hacked Interfaces and APIs

Hacking through interfaces and APIs, especially when third parties are involved, can compromise security and service availability. This risk increases with greater reliance on APIs.

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Data Deletion Uncertainty

The inability to definitively confirm data deletion, regardless of whether a deletion process happens, raising concerns about potential data breaches and privacy issues even after deletion.

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Lack of Cloud Standardization

Absence of standardized practices and protocols among cloud service providers (CSPs) regarding data security, service interruptions, pricing, and data migration, creating uncertainties and potential risks for users.

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Multi-tenancy in Cloud Computing

The shared infrastructure model used by cloud computing providers, where multiple users share the same resources, potentially creating security vulnerabilities if one user's data is compromised.

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Legal Framework for Cloud Security

Concerns regarding legal and jurisdictional complexities in enforcing cloud security measures, particularly when data is stored and processed in multiple countries.

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Cloud as a Weapon for Attacks

A major security risk associated with cloud computing, where a cloud service could be exploited to launch large-scale cyberattacks against other systems.

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Traditional Security Threats in Cloud

Traditional security threats faced by any internet-connected system, such as malware, phishing, and data breaches, but amplified in the cloud due to the vast scale and interconnectedness of cloud resources.

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Threats to System Availability

Security threats related to system availability, such as service outages, denial-of-service attacks, and data loss, potentially disrupting cloud services and affecting users.

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Third-Party Data Control Threats

Security threats that arise from reliance on third-party data storage and management in the cloud, such as unauthorized access, data leakage, and data manipulation.

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Study Notes

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

  • Introduce the concept of cloud security
  • Illustrate security concerns of cloud users
  • Explain cloud security risks

Introduction

  • Computer clouds are attractive targets for malicious actors
  • Security is a major concern for current and potential cloud users
  • Cloud computing is a new approach, which will necessitate new security methods

Introduction (cont.)

  • Existing standards, regulations, and laws related to supporting new computing services, particularly utility computing, are not yet fully adopted.
  • This creates many unresolved issues and uncertainties regarding trust, security, and privacy
  • No international regulations exist for data security and privacy in the cloud.
  • Data in the cloud can freely cross national borders between data centers of cloud service providers

Security, the Top Concern for Cloud Users

  • Some believe cloud use eliminates computer security concerns and data integrity threats.
  • They feel cloud users are better protected due to expert management of cloud security
  • These opinions are not universally justified

Security, the Top Concern for Cloud Users (Major Concerns)

  • Unauthorized access and data theft is a major concern, especially during storage, where data is vulnerable for long periods
  • Data is vulnerable during processing, whereas security threats are relatively short term
  • Attention needs to be paid to storage server security and data in transit

Security, the Top Concern for Cloud Users (Major Concerns) II

  • Risk posed by rogue employees of Cloud Service Providers (CSPs)
  • Cloud users worry about insider attacks due to the opacity of CSP's hiring and security practices.

Security, the Top Concern for Cloud Users (Major Concerns) III

  • Users have limited control over data lifecycle management
  • Users are unable to confirm complete data deletion
  • Data may not be completely wiped, leaving the risk of confidential data recovery by subsequent users

Security, the Top Concern for Cloud Users (Major Concerns) IV

  • Lack of standardization is a concern
  • Questions remain regarding service interruption, price increases, and cost of moving between CSPs

Security, the Top Concern for Cloud Users (Multi-tenancy)

  • Multi-tenancy, though improving server utilization, is a root cause of user concerns
  • Threats caused by multi-tenancy vary between cloud delivery models

Security, the Top Concern for Cloud Users (Multi-tenancy - Example)

  • Private information (names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card details) of multiple users are often stored on one server.
  • Security breaches affecting one server compromise data of many users
  • The legal framework for enforcing cloud computing security is unclear and a legitimate concern to users
  • Data centers are often located in various countries with laws that impact data security

Cloud Security Risks

  • Clouds can be used to launch large-scale attacks against other components of cyber infrastructure
  • Cloud security risks can be divided into three categories

Cloud Security Risks: Traditional security threats

  • Traditional security threats affecting Internet-connected systems (e.g., DDoS, phishing, SQL injection, cross-site scripting) have amplified impact in cloud due to the vast scale of resources and user populations

Cloud Security Risks: Traditional security threats (cont.)

  • The long list of user concerns includes fuzzy lines of responsibility between cloud service providers and users
  • Difficulties in identifying the root cause of problems are prevalent
  • Cloud service availability is a significant concern
  • System failures, power outages, and other major events can cause prolonged service disruptions
  • Users lack assurance that applications hosted in the cloud will return accurate results
  • Third-party control introduces many concerns due to limited transparency and user control; subcontractors or suppliers are not always completely trustworthy
  • Third-party subcontractors or hardware suppliers can cause data loss.

Top twelve cloud security threats

  • Data breaches are devastating and relate to personally identifiable information, trade secrets, and intellectual property
  • The greatest responsibility for ensuring data security remains with organizations that store data on the cloud
  • Organizations should use multi-factor authentication and encryption to counter data breaches

Top twelve cloud security threats (cont.)

  • Compromised credentials and weak authentication practices, including poor key and certificate management, lead to attacks
  • Hacked interfaces and APIs pose risks to cloud security and availability, especially if third parties rely extensively on APIs

Top twelve cloud security threats (cont.)

  • Exploiting vulnerabilities like resource sharing and multi tenancy compromises security, the cost to fix it may be lower but the damage caused by it is high
  • Account hijacking requires tracking every transaction to the individual responsible for them

Top twelve cloud security threats (cont.)

  • Malicious insiders are a threat due to administrator error or lack of clear segregation of duties within the cloud system
  • Other threats include advanced persistent threats (APTs), permanent data loss, inappropriate diligence, cloud service misuse, denial of service (DoS) attacks, and joint technology usage

Privacy and Privacy Impact Assessment

  • Privacy is the right of an individual, group or organization to control their private and proprietary information
  • Privacy laws differ significantly from country to country

The main aspects of cloud privacy

  • Lack of user control over data location and accessibility once data resides in a cloud provider's system, which may result in loss of data access
  • Potential for unauthorized secondary use by the cloud provider or third parties, such as for targeted advertising

The main aspects of cloud privacy (cont.)

  • Dynamic provisioning and outsourcing introduce many fuzzy issues on how providers of cloud computing services and users work together and on what responsibilities cloud and third-party subcontractors have

Cloud Data Encryption

  • Cloud encryption is a data security process involving encoding plaintext data into unreadable cipher text to enhance security
  • It's an effective means to ensure data privacy and to protect cloud data in transit and at rest

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