5 ways cloud computing is changing cybersecurity

07.11.2019 1,358 3

Martin Deshev

Ah, cybersecurity. The topic that never really goes away no matter how much people talk about it. If you’re fed up with hearing about it, then there is some bad news looming. It’s never going away. In fact, it’s just getting started. And there are plenty of good reasons for it.

One of the main ones is that the world is still just getting its feet wet when it comes to the digital age. There is a lot more progression coming and in vast areas of business, science, health and so many more industries we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. All of these areas will need to be properly secured, too. And the cloud will have an important role in that.

Cloud computing brings changes to everything it touches. This includes cybersecurity, too. Here are five ways the cloud impacts security.

Mindset change

One of the most important changes isn’t with the actual tech, but with the way we use and approach it. Using cloud services means everyone involved needs to accept the different approaches. The cloud changes everything. Your data is always connected. It’s in the same data center as that of hundreds if not thousands of other clients. It all changes at a lot faster pace than before. All of this requires the cloud users and providers to also be able to change and adapt more quickly.

API threats

The rise of the cloud brought a lot more popularity to other related tech and tools. Among them were the APIs. While very convenient, APIs are also quite the risk. Even if everything else on your cloud setup is buttoned-up security-wise, an insecure API can be a perfect gateway for hackers. Sadly, APIs are often provided by third parties, so cloud service providers can’t really do much other than limit the APIs they know are vulnerable. For clients and devs, it’s another area they need to be vigilant in.

One for all, all for one

If you use a public or a hybrid cloud, then your data will share the same data center or even the same server with someone else’s. If a hacker DDoS-es that server or data center, because of someone else, your service will suffer, too. This is why cloud service providers are investing heavily in cybersecurity features for their data centers and services. These challenges also bring forward new security developments which make their way towards everyone, too. And they are a lot more secure than what a typical SMB could afford.

Automation

As the cloud gets more and more popular, the usage and sheer number of users rises a lot. The threats also get more advanced and in bigger numbers. It’s just not possible for human administrators to keep up. And they don’t have to. Modern cyber defenses are getting more and more automated. Thanks to AI, machine learning, advanced algorithms and some clever tactics, cybersecurity is getting automated and able to respond in a better and faster way. It also opens the opportunity for cybersecurity to be proactive. For example, to learn about new attacks on client A and automatically prepare and deploy suitable defenses for everyone else, or to anticipate modified versions of known attacks and so on.

Transparency

Usually all of this security talk is/was kept secret. “You don’t want to give hackers an idea of what we’re doing”. Hackers, though, are a clever bunch and have plenty of ways to find out what “we’re doing”. On the other hand, clients rightfully want to know exactly how their data will be defended and secured.

Coupled with the significant advancements of the hackers’ capabilities, experts and providers saw that talking publicly about cybersecurity is needed and it’s not a bad thing. On the contrary, this helped them develop new ideas and approaches which otherwise would either take much more time or wouldn’t happen at all.