Cloud-native applications have bought a name for themselves in the world today. This is mostly because of flexibility, speed, and cost-effectiveness. Many businesses are capturing data, providing services, and improving customer experiences through cloud-native applications. Most of the mystery rooms koramangala do the same!
Though these bring new security challenges, cyber attackers are always on the lookout to break into cloud systems and steal data. In this article, we will focus on some of the emerging threats in cloud-native application security and some trends to watch.
Emerging Threats in Cloud-Native Application Security
1. Misconfigurations
The biggest risk in cloud-native applications is misconfiguration. While there are many choices presented by the cloud platforms, the majority of the users mis-utilize them. A minor mistake, for instance, would involve making data storage public where an attacker gets a chance to read any sensitive information they desire. This comes as a result of;
- Human mistakes when creating configurations.
- Failure to comply with security best practices.
How to keep safe: Businesses should check their cloud setting from time to time. Further, they must set up automated tools that detect misconfigurations. Additionally, they must follow security guidelines.
2. Supply Chain Attacks
A supply chain attack occurs when hackers target software suppliers in order to inject malicious code into applications. Nowadays, cloud-native applications rely heavily on many external tools, libraries, and services. So, it makes them vulnerable to these types of attacks. The attackers can do the following:
- Inject malicious code in the software updates.
- Use third-party compromised tools for entering systems.
- Target the weak points of open-source components.
How to be safe: Organizations should assess third-party software, and see if there are security updates available. In addition, they have to employ vulnerability scanning tools to scan for external components.
3. Insecure APIs
APIs stands for Application Programming Interfaces. Through such interfaces, the cloud-native applications have a way to talk to the other services. But if they are not correctly secured, hackers find weaknesses to extract all your information and take over whole systems. Most of the frequent risks related to API are mentioned below:
- Weak authentication and authorization
- Too much exposure of sensitive data
- Unmonitored logging
How to be safe: Businesses must secure their APIs by using strong authentication methods. Besides, encrypting data, and monitoring API activity for unusual behavior is also important.
4. Container Vulnerabilities
Containers are a fundamental function of cloud native applications. However, it remains vulnerable to security weaknesses. Now hackers can use this to hack into the system. A few common container-related threats are:
- Deploys outdated image of the containers with known security vulnerabilities.
- Leans on default settings that might leak sensitive information.
- Containers communicate with each other without security measures taken in place.
How to be safe: Organizations must ensure updating the container images, and observe the security policies. Besides, they can utilize different instruments of container security for scanning weakness.
5. Insider Threats
Not all threats come from outside. Sometimes, insiders can pose risks to cloud-native apps. Employees, contractors, or partners with access to cloud systems can misuse their privileges, either intentionally or by accident. Insider threats can result in:
- Unauthorized access to critical data.
- Exposure of confidential information to outsiders.
- Accidental deletions or modifications of sensitive/important files in the system.
How to be safe: Businesses must adopt the principle of “least privilege.” Additionally, they must monitor user activities, and make employees aware of security threats.
6. Lack of Visibility and Monitoring
Cloud-native applications operate in dynamic environments with many moving parts. Without proper monitoring, it is hard to detect security threats in time. Attackers may take advantage of the lack of visibility to stay hidden and cause damage. Challenges include:
- Unavailability of visibility into cloud resources and services.
- Detection of malicious activities in cloud systems.
- Inefficient logging and alerting.
How to be safe: Organizations must use cloud monitoring tools for activity tracking, log analysis, and early threat detection.
Trends to Watch in Cloud-Native Security
As cloud-native applications continue to grow, new security trends emerge to tackle modern threats:
1. Zero Trust Security
Zero Trust is a security model requiring verification for every user and device trying to access cloud systems. Zero Trust does not trust users inside the network. Instead, it assumes that all access requests must be verified. Companies are adopting this approach to reduce insider threats and external attacks.
2. Automated Security Tools
As the complexity of cloud environments is growing, so does the importance of automation. Automated security tools identify threats, correct misconfigurations, and help in rapid response to incidents. The AI and ML algorithms used are used to recognize patterns that might suggest malicious behavior or prevent attacks.
3. Integration with DevSecOps
DevSecOps means including security in the software development process from the beginning. Instead of adding security later, developers and security teams work together to build safer cloud-native apps. This approach helps find and fix security issues early. Thus, it saves time and resources.
4. Multi-Cloud Security Strategies
More and more firms are running their applications on multiple cloud providers. This brings a level of agility, but expands the challenge that is security as well. Today, businesses have more attention and focus in developing multi-cloud security strategies. This will help them protect applications across various cloud platforms.
5. Cloud-Native Security Frameworks
New security frameworks are emerging that will lead organizations in securing cloud-native applications. The best practices, guidelines, and tools for securing cloud systems are CSA and NIST frameworks.
Conclusion
Cloud-native applications have changed the nature of doing business. But they also create new risks related to security. The top risks that these organizations face are misconfigurations, insecure APIs, and insider threats.
Further, they must be aware of the emerging security trends. It can help companies stay ahead of attackers. By following best practices and using the right security tools, businesses can enjoy the benefits of cloud-native applications. Moreover, they need not even compromise on security.
