How to secure your cloud network from intruders

Cloud networks are definitely the next big thing in technology, and many businesses are rushing to buy them and implement them into their own business organization. But while cloud networks are highly sought after, at the same time, there are some very real security threats to deal with if you want to prevent hackers and data breaches on the cloud. Some of these security problems are easy to recognize, but there might be some other problems that you didn’t consider.

One Big Breach

If someone is able to breach your network and steal information, then he or she will just be able to access a small area of the network. It’s bad, but at least the hacker or employee doesn’t have access to everything on your network. This isn’t the case with cloud networks.

A hacker that can get through your security and encryption keys has access to every application, database and file stored in the network. This means that one single security flaw can lead to a huge data breach. You can stop this by properly isolating data, but that’s a little difficult with today’s cloud architecture.

You should also consider the repercussions of someone breaching your network. This will make it much easier for your IT team to create custom security protocols to reduce the likelihood of a breach.

Data Loss

Data loss is another problem that you have to worry about. This doesn’t include hackers coming in and deleting data. This refers to destroyed servers and forgetting your encryption key, which means that your data is lost forever.

The best thing to do to fix this problem is to store a backup file of your network. You should also keep the encryption key very secure. Ensure that you can remember it, but don’t make it so easy that a hacker could guess it in a few hours.

Traffic Hijacking

A hacker that gets into the cloud network can hijack and redirect your network’s traffic. This results in problems for your business and customers. On the business side, the hacker can check the traffic between various computers and devices. This allows him or her to listen to online conversations, read files and even falsify information. The hacker can also redirect your customers to an entirely different website.

You can often stop this problem by just keeping your login credentials safe. Use security protocols that make it difficult for employees to share their credentials. You should also leverage two-factor or even three-factor authentication so that hackers have a very hard time getting into the system.

CloudComputing_000019342228Small

Malicious Insiders

One of the advantages of a traditional network is that you can run it in-house. If you use a cloud network, then you have to rely on a service provider to run and operate the servers. This means that there are employees who have access to your server that you can’t monitor. It gets scary when you consider the fact that a malicious employee from the service provider can easily steal your data with ease.

It’s best to use a cloud provider that gives the customer the key. Encryption keys are great, but they can be used against you if the service provider is the only entity that holds them. The keys should only be available during data usage, which significantly reduces the likelihood of an insider being able to steal your data.

DoS Attacks

DoS and DDoS attacks are widely feared in the business world, but they are becoming worse with cloud technology. One reason for this is because businesses need data to be always accessible. If an attack stops even part of the network, then it can cost millions of dollars in lost business. Not only that, but a DoS attack can be incredibly expensive.

Consider the fact that you are paying for the data that you use. Cloud networks give you access to infinitely scaling technology, but an attack is going to consume massive amounts of data in minutes. Your bill might be huge if the cloud provider doesn’t have protocols to keep these attacks from happening. The good news is that a diligent IT team can keep most DoS attacks from happening, and you can always block all traffic until the attack is finished.

Conclusion

Cloud networks are amazing because they give you access to a huge amount of power and data, but they are also problematic when it comes to security. Most of these problems only exist because the cloud architecture is new. As businesses become more accustomed to it, effective security programs and measures will be discovered to keep hackers at bay.

Author Bio

Rosa Smith uses a cloud when working remotely on her personal blog. Cloud networking for businesses by ProfitBricks is a great way to customize your businesses cloud network to fit your needs.

Comments are closed.