Cloud computing has accelerated the digital transformation of companies worldwide. With it came the promise of scalability, mobility, cost reduction, and greater business agility. However, as cloud usage grows, so does the interest of cybercriminals.
Cloud environments have become increasingly attractive targets, mainly because they concentrate massive volumes of sensitive data, critical partner integrations, and an architecture that, when poorly managed, can expose dangerous vulnerabilities. Understanding these threats is the first step to protecting your environment.
In this article, you will discover why the cloud is in the crosshairs of attackers and how your company can anticipate these risks.
The Expansion of the Cloud and the Increased Attack Surface
Applications, management systems, files, integrations, and even entire infrastructures are being transferred to platforms like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. This exponentially expands the attack surface and makes companies more dependent on consistent, well-structured security.
Multicloud and hybrid environments increase operational complexity and multiply the entry points that need to be monitored. This expansion, if not accompanied by a robust governance model, represents a real risk to business continuity.
Why Has the Cloud Become Such an Attractive Target?
It’s not just the growth in usage that draws attention. The cloud, by nature, is a dynamic environment. Development teams quickly deploy new applications, create APIs, adjust access rules, and more. And in this process, configuration errors happen.
These errors, such as excessive permissions, public data storage, or authentication failures, are among the main causes of data breaches and hacks, according to Check Point. In addition, credential theft and the misuse of privileged access continue to be the most exploited paths for criminals to penetrate cloud environments.
The Most Frequent Threats in Cloud Environments
Among the most common and dangerous attacks are:
Ransomware and RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service)
Data hijacking attacks have evolved and now operate as purchasable services. Cybercriminals without technical knowledge can rent a ready-made infrastructure and target companies of any size, exploiting vulnerabilities in cloud environments.
Supply Chain Attacks
A vulnerable supplier can be the entry point to compromise your entire operation. In integrated environments, the risk multiplies and requires strict security policies for third parties.
Cloud Malware
Modern malware spreads silently between applications, instances, and containers, using the cloud’s own resources to avoid detection. The cloud is also used as a persistence point for this malware.
Shadow IT
The unauthorized use of cloud solutions outside of IT’s control exposes data and makes it difficult to apply security policies. Tools like personal drives and unapproved SaaS applications silently increase risk.
Identity and Credential Abuse
Exploiting compromised credentials allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and perform lateral movements within the environment. This makes detection difficult and increases the potential for damage.
How to Strengthen Cloud Security with Effective Strategies
The good news is that there are clear ways to mitigate these risks and keep your company protected. Below, we highlight best practices adopted by organizations with a high level of maturity in cloud security:
Zero Trust Model
Don’t trust anyone, not even within the network. The Zero Trust model limits access based on identity, context, and behavioral analysis. This reduces the attack surface and prevents unauthorized movements within the environment.
Identity-Based Security
Identity control is the new frontier of digital security. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), Least Privilege policies, and continuous monitoring of credentials to block improper access.
XDR and SIEM for Total Visibility
Extended detection and response (XDR) solutions and SIEM platforms help identify suspicious behavior in real time. They correlate data from multiple sources to anticipate and contain threats more quickly.
Automation and AI for Rapid Response
Artificial intelligence technologies are increasingly used to identify anomalous patterns and accelerate incident response. With automation, IT reduces reaction time and increases containment accuracy.
Protecting the Cloud Is a Strategic Decision
If your company is already in the cloud or plans to migrate, security needs to be at the center of the strategy. It’s not just about protecting data, but about ensuring continuity, resilience, and trust in an increasingly connected environment.
At Altasnet, we help companies raise the level of protection for their cloud environments with specialized consulting, advanced visibility solutions, and the implementation of security best practices adapted to their reality.
Want to know how to strengthen your company’s cloud security? Schedule a conversation with our specialists and see how we can help
