Cloud security auditing is an essential process in ensuring that your data is secure and protected. There are many cloud account types, services, or platforms out there, and with every new one comes a significant increase in the potential for threats. If you’re not careful about effectively auditing these accounts, your company could find itself dealing with a costly security breach. Here are different challenges of auditing cloud account security you should know.

Checking New Services

First off, it’s important to start auditing as soon as possible. It’s often easier to notice issues with newly launched services than those that have been around for some time. This also means it’s imperative to have staff members trained to scan for the most common security weaknesses.

However, with every new service come new opportunities for your company’s data to be compromised. This also means companies have a much harder time finding the weak points in services since they can be configured in so many different ways.

Leaked Data

Data is exposed when cloud provider websites, APIs, or other sensitive information are available online for the public to view or download. There are many examples of this exposure, such as leaked data being posted by hackers themselves and leaked credentials posted on different platforms.

Remote Access Management

Remote access is a hot topic in many industries because of the many advantages that it can bring. Access to sensitive remote resources is not always the sole reason an organization plans to use a cloud service. It can also be a great way to help employees collaborate from anywhere, but it brings many new challenges for security auditing.

Hackers Becoming More Creative

Hackers are getting more and more creative in finding ways to pull data from cloud services, so businesses need to be on the lookout for new exposures. In addition to monitoring new exposures, there needs to be a focus on services that have been around the longest. Though these services may not see as much traffic as others, it only takes one improperly configured service to compromise your entire network. You never know what vulnerabilities could be lurking under the surface.

Access Control

Access controls regulate access to information or physical resources, and they are a core concept. You can think of them as the security guard who checks your ID before letting you into a building. If this guard isn’t doing his job well, then you might be able to sneak into a room that you don’t belong in. The same goes for information online.

As an auditor, trying to access a resource that you don’t have permission to is not only a red flag; it’s also considered a risk that can be prevented. Access controls aim to keep the right people out of the right things, and there are different types of access control mechanisms to achieve different results.

Authentication

There are many ways to prove our identity online, including using passwords, digital certificates, and biometrics. Auditors need to understand these terms to determine if an organization is taking sufficient steps for this type of security measure.

If you want to prevent your business server from losing data and want smooth migration to cloud services, reach out to Foris IT Management. Their managed network security services and network security audit can help you stay safe. Get in touch with them to book their services.