Configuring the Cloud at Infosecurity Europe: Safeguarding Your Business

Who is responsible for cloud misconfiguration?

A recent report from the Harvard Business Review delivers a sobering reality check on data breaches: over 80% of data breaches in 2023 involved data stored in the cloud. The culprit? Cloud misconfiguration – a silent but pervasive threat that puts businesses at risk of unauthorized access, data exposure, and compliance violations.

So, what exactly is cloud misconfiguration, and why should you care? Cloud misconfiguration occurs when companies unintentionally misuse the cloud, leaving their cloud-based assets vulnerable to exploitation. Whether it's excessively permissive access controls, unrestricted ports, or unsecured backups, these misconfigurations provide easy entry points for cyber attackers.

This leads us to the initial question:

Who is responsible for cloud misconfiguration?

Responsibility for cloud misconfigurations typically falls on various stakeholders within an organization, depending on the context and nature of the cloud services being used. Here are the primary parties who might be responsible:

Cloud Service Provider (CSP)

CSPs are responsible for securing the cloud infrastructure, including hardware, software, networking, and facilities that run the cloud services. They provide tools and services to help customers secure their data and applications but are not responsible for customer-specific configurations.

Cloud Customer (Organization Using the Cloud Services)

IT and Security Teams: These teams manage and configure the cloud environment, ensuring that security best practices are followed, such as setting appropriate access controls, securing data, and configuring network settings correctly.

Developers and DevOps Teams: When deploying applications and services in the cloud, developers and DevOps teams must ensure that their configurations are secure and follow the organization's security policies.

Compliance and Governance Teams: These teams ensure the cloud environment complies with relevant regulations and standards. They oversee that configurations meet compliance requirements.

Shared Responsibility Model

Most cloud service providers operate under a shared responsibility model, outlining the division of security responsibilities between the cloud provider and the customer. For example, in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), the provider is responsible for the physical infrastructure, while the customer is responsible for the operating system, applications, and data security.

In Software as a Service (SaaS), the provider manages the entire stack, but the customer is still responsible for user access management and data security within the application.

End Users

In some cases, end users who configure and use cloud services directly also have a role. They need to be aware of the security implications of their actions, such as sharing access credentials or improperly configuring security settings.

Third-Party Vendors

If third-party vendors are involved in managing or configuring an organization's cloud services, they also bear responsibility for ensuring secure configurations and practices.

Ultimately, while the cloud service provider ensures the security of the cloud infrastructure, the organization using the cloud services is responsible for the secure configuration and management of their cloud resources.

How to avoid cloud misconfiguration

At Hadrian, we understand the gravity of this threat, which is why we've developed an advanced Cloud Misconfiguration Detection Service. Our service continuously scans, detects, and remediates misconfigurations and other threats across multi-cloud infrastructure, providing unparalleled protection for your valuable assets.

Hadrian helps you counter cloud misconfiguration risks. Here’s how:

Continuous Monitoring: Our automated scanning tools keep a watchful eye on your cloud infrastructure 24/7, ensuring that any misconfigurations or vulnerabilities are promptly identified and addressed.

Rapid Detection: With our advanced threat detection algorithms, we swiftly pinpoint potential misconfigurations, allowing you to take immediate action before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

Efficient Remediation: Our team of experts is on standby to assist you in remedying any detected misconfigurations, providing guidance and support to ensure that your cloud environment remains secure and compliant.

Comprehensive Protection: Whether you're using AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or a combination of cloud providers, our service offers comprehensive coverage, safeguarding your assets across all your cloud environments.

Don't wait until it's too late. Take proactive steps to protect your business from the dangers of cloud misconfiguration. Meet our team at Infosecurity Europe 2024  and learn more about how our Cloud Misconfiguration Detection Service can fortify your cloud security posture.