Cloud computing is on the boom in Singapore.
Businesses, regardless of their size and type, are getting their business operations on the cloud. For example, the processing and accessing of data on the Internet is the basic use of cloud computing among Singaporean businesses.
According to a BCG report, Singapore is the fastest growing cloud market that would touch US$3.5 billion by 2023.
According to another report published in ResearchGate, Singapore’s cloud market is driven by Government initiatives and policy to promote the use of the public cloud. Industries like media, companies, public sectors, retailers and financial services are continuously opting for cloud technology. Thanks to the significant benefits of cloud computing such as flexibility, ease of accessibility, data storage, and eliminated risk of data loss compared to on-site servers.
However, security concerns in cloud computing can’t be overlooked. After all, cloud computing means storing your data online away from your onsite or physical servers.
Here we have rounded up some major security threats in cloud computing.
Data Breaches:
The issue of leaks or loss of data is perhaps the major security threat to cloud computing. A data breach generally happens when cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to the cloud network to steal your data. And a data breach can be devastating with cloud computing. Keep in mind that a data breach can lead to unpleasant outcomes for your business. You not only end up losing data, but also the trust of your client.
Denial of Service (DoS):
Another major security concern in cloud computing is a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. This attack can shut down your cloud account, and make them unavailable to your users and staff as well. It is performed by stacking the network with extensive traffic that is too large for servers to handle, or crashing it by leveraging bugs.
Insider Threats:
Internal risks are as high as external threats in cloud security. For example, the ignorance of your employees such as using easy passwords can lead to major data leaks. Moreover, their infected devices can let the malware enter your network systems. Last but not least—your ex-employee can sell your data to your competitors for money.
Insecure APIs:
Every cloud service has APIs that are the interfaces being used to manage cloud services. And these APIs also determine the security and availability of cloud services, from access control, encryption to authentication. What if you have weak APIs? It simply makes your cloud account vulnerable to cybercriminals.
Complexities:
Shifting to the cloud can make IT operations even complicated. Managing and operating in the cloud might require your staff to get skilled in a new model. IT staff should possess the capacity and skill level to integrate and maintain the migration of assets and data to the cloud in addition to handling their on-premises IT responsibilities.
It is complicated to handle encryption in the cloud. The techniques and tools available to log and monitor cloud services generally vary across the cloud platforms. There might also be emergent risks in cloud implementation due to polices and technologies. This increased complexity causes a potential risk for security gaps in your cloud and on-premises implementations.
How to Deal with Cloud Computing Threats?
So you must have understood the security challenges in cloud computing. Luckily, you can mitigate these risks by adopting a proactive security approach.
- Educate your employees on cloud cybersecurity. Use a private cloud for sensitive information.
- Track your employees’ systems and make sure to change their credentials once they leave the company.
- Create a data backup plan.
- Use strong passwords.
- Grant access only to authorized persons.
- Conduct a cloud security assessment frequently.
- To add an extra layer of security, you can opt for data protection services in Singapore.
- Always work with a right and efficient cloud computing service provider in Singapore.
What do you think? Share your cloud concerns in Singapore with us by commenting below!
