October 1, 2012

Insider Threats To Your Organization

By CloudTweaks

Insider Threats

Cloud computing uptake by businesses has shifted the general model of organizational information complexes. Business enterprises have a lot of data to store and use. Even as they shift to the cloud, there are major dangers around security. In most cases, breaches to cloud-stored files happen because of insider conspiracy, malpractice, and malice.

This article looks at four common insider threats to cloud computing and ways for organizations to avoid them. All this is intended at making the cloud shift worthwhile for businesses.

Malicious administrators

Cloud computing as a process is governed, managed, and maintained by site administrators. By default, they hold the key to managing all the data, files, and privileged company resources and files. Sometimes, relationships with employers don’t work. As a revenge, or for other reasons, administrators may end up spreading, or allowing privileged information to leak at the expense of the business enterprise involved.

The best way businesses and cloud providers can protect themselves from these actions is by breaking protocols and clearance. This should happen at all levels of engagement—at company and provider levels—and can limit the risks to a single part.

Tech-savvy insiders

Being privy to company secrets is exciting. Many insider tech-savvy individuals can use their knowledge of the weaknesses in a company’s security to breach clearance and access privileged information. Many of these are hackers in need of attention and self-respect. Some are harmless, but some are harmful. The worst kinds among these are malicious insiders. Many would like to find out company’s confidential data to sell it to the highest bidder. Businesses need to work hard to seal all local security Vulnerabilities and ensure such individuals are known beforehand. Companies should also vet their employees for records that look dubious or conflicting.

Insiders who attack their own companies

Different kinds of people react differently to challenges. Some employees may choose revenge when they think they’ve been mistreated by their company or employer. A common ground is attacking the employer’s cloud applications and functions. These individuals might be motivated by revenge, but since they are not tech-savvy, they use outside tools or people to breach security protocols.

Poor internal enforcement

Many business enterprises assume that all cloud applications run by themselves. To them, the cloud is self-regulating and managing. As such, they play no role in managing their cloud applications. In most cases, this is done out of ignorance or incompetence.

When this happens, a business enterprise’ cloud applications become vulnerable. Attackers and insiders alike find such systems easy to beat because the managers sleep on their jobs. This is a common problem among huge corporates where responsibility is not streamlined.

Overall, the ‘inside job’ is responsible for most cloud computing security woes. Enterprises have to become proactive in finding solutions to their security threats to protect their sensitive information.

By Walter Bailey

CloudTweaks

Established in 2009, CloudTweaks is recognized as one of the leading authorities in cloud connected technology information, resources and thought leadership services. Contact us for ways on how to contribute and support our dedicated cloud community.
Premkumar Balasubramanian

It Can Be The Year of Right Clouding – But Avoid Potential Pitfalls

Some people are calling 2023 The Year of Cloud Repatriation. I think this is a bit inflammatory. [...]
Read more

AI at the Gate: Navigating the Future of Cybersecurity with SonicWall’s Bobby Cornwell

Navigating the Future of Cybersecurity In the face of the digital age’s advancements, AI’s role [...]
Read more
Wealth Management Software Solutions - ServiceNow

Leading Online Savings and Wealth Management Services

Financial wealth management services (Updated: 06/29/2022) Many want to live in abundance, but very few [...]
Read more
Dolores

Q&A: Airport Security Trends with Dolores Alemán, Frost & Sullivan Analyst

Airport Security Trends In this CloudTweaks interview, we delve into the evolving landscape of airport [...]
Read more
Jeff DeVerter

Charting the Course: An Interview with Rackspace’s Jeff DeVerter on AI and Cloud Innovation

Rackspace’s Jeff DeVerter on AI & Cloud Innovation In an insightful conversation with CloudTweaks, Jeff [...]
Read more
Randy

Karen Buffo, CMO of MixMode, on the Rise of AI in Safeguarding Digital Assets

Welcome to our Q&A session with Karen Buffo, CMO of MixMode, hosted by CloudTweaks. Today, [...]
Read more

SPONSOR PARTNER

Explore top-tier education with exclusive savings on online courses from MIT, Oxford, and Harvard through our e-learning sponsor. Elevate your career with world-class knowledge. Start now!
© 2024 CloudTweaks. All rights reserved.