Cloud Security Challenges: Explore the Top Cloud Security Threats

With all the technicalities surrounding cloud computing, it can be difficult to understand what new challenges it engenders.

But before we set out to understand the risks uncovered by penetration testing service providers, let’s start by answering some basic questions.

What is the cloud? A system of computing resources that includes networks, computers, and the applications that operate on them.

What is it used for? Use cases for the cloud vary depending on what the need of the user is. Generally, businesses use it to store vast amounts of customer information.

What are the challenges surrounding cloud computing? The specialists at the Cloud Security Alliance have reported these to be the top four cloud security challenges.

To help you understand each one, we’ve explained them in detail, starting with the most pertinent ones.

1. Data Breaches

A data breach is a type of attack where account information is accessed by unauthorized individuals. The purpose of this attack is to gain sensitive information such as credit card details and then to use it to access a person’s finances. Another thing hackers do with the information they steal is sell it to other parties.

Data breaches can cost companies millions of dollars. Here are some reasons why:

·         Repairs and recovery in the aftermath are expensive

·         Settling lawsuits by customers whose data was leaked is an additional cost

·         Customers lose trust in your business, leading to lost sales

2. Weak Identity, Credential and Access Management

Credential and access management has to do with how many checks a site has in place to ensure that only authorized persons are able to access an account. Implementing preventative measures such as strong passwords and multi-factor authentication leads to more robust security.

This makes it harder for hackers to uncover your password, especially with brute-force attacks, if you employ these techniques.

3. Insecure Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

An API is a gateway to all direct and indirect components within the system. Cloud service providers hand over the reins to software developers to design these APIs.

This additional layer creates room for vulnerabilities, and incorrect authorizations and transfer of content can occur as a result. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by hackers.

4. System and Application Vulnerabilities

A weakness or vulnerability in the system you’re using can be exploited. Common tools to exploit system vulnerabilities include cross site scripting, SQL injection, and LDAP Injection.

With constant changes to applications, it becomes necessary to conduct regular scans of the site to check for vulnerabilities. 

Lean Security offers AI-powered penetration testing services to companies all over Australia. We check for a host of vulnerabilities, including SQL Injections, Cross Site Scripting, and Insufficient Authentication

To find out more, give us a call at +61 (2) 8078 6952 or message us here.

5 Ways to Protect Your E-Commerce Site from Hackers in 2020

According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the two major cybercrimes targeting Australians are online fraud and shopping scams.

In light of this, consumers are being asked to stay vigilant and report any potentially fraudulent activities to authorities. Meanwhile, businesses are looking to identify and correct weaknesses in their systems by employing methods like penetration testing services.

There are many steps you can take to ensure the safety of your website. Here’s a list of five of them:

1. Mandate Strong Passwords

One of the easiest (and most effective) steps a retailer can take to protect clients’ sensitive information is asking for a strong password. A complex password with a variety of alphabets and special characters makes it harder for hackers to crack it.

You can even take this a step further and ask for multi-factor authentication. This sets up two or more protective defences, thereby protecting your data better.

2. Back Up Data Regularly

Some hackers attack websites to delete data, with the primary motive being causing distress to the company and its customers. Others hack into systems to steal customer data, such as credit card information. If this happens your company may need to shut down its site to fix the situation.

Data might get lost or deleted in the process. But if you have backups available, the impact of the damage can be controlled.

3. Protect Yourself from DOS/DDOS

Denial of Service (DOS) or Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS), are cyberattacks that don’t require any internal access. They work by flooding the system with fake traffic until the servers overload—till the point of failure.

In simple terms, it lowers the speed of your website, making it difficult for customers to use it. The best way to protect yourself from DDOS attacks is by monitoring traffic.

4. Ensure Data Encryption

Any piece of data that your customers are inputting on your site needs to be encrypted. This includes not just credit card information, but also emails addresses and phone numbers. The reason being that this information can be used for phishing attacks.

What are phishing attacks? It involves a host of fraudulent practice, including sending emails pretending to represent reputable companies and asking for sensitive information. Even big companies like Facebook and Google have fallen victim to such attacks.

5. Perform Routine Checks

The best preventative measure is performing routine penetration checks. Keep checking your defences to make sure they are up to date and impenetrable. It’s always better to be prepared beforehand than have to deal with damages once they’ve been incurred.

More importantly, you risk turning away customers who feel your site isn’t reliable.

Lean Security is one of Australia’s leading penetration testing service providers, with over 10 years of experience in the IT security industry.

We’ve helped thousands of big and small businesses make their site more secure. To find out how we can help you, give us a call at +61 (2) 8078 6952 or message us here.

Creating a Culture of Cyber-Security at work

Internet of Things (IoT) Security in 2020: Expert Advice You Should Follow

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the past few years has been unprecedented. It is estimated that the number is going to touch 125 billion by 2030! What’s more is that the combined market size for IoT devices will reach $520 billion by 2021. Internet-connected devices now rule the digital landscape and are more than set to revolutionize the way we humans live, work, and play.

But what is the Internet of Things, and should we be concerned about security threats? Here’s your 2020 primer on beefing up IoT security in 2020.

What is IoT and What are the Security Risks in 2020?

Put simply, the IoT encompasses all devices connected to the internet and to each other. It is the interconnected behemoth of devices and people linked to each other through the internet. 

Considering the fact that many IoT devices are online every minute of every day, this makes them particularly vulnerable to DDoS botnet conscription. Because IoT devices utilize backend connectivity, they can easily be used as entry points by skilled hackers to compromise home or enterprise networks.

We’re in 2020 now and 5G is close to becoming a widespread reality. While this may be good news, it also means IoT devices—which more often than not have long shelf lives—that end up becoming obsolete will remain insecure over long periods of time. Hackers can exploit the increased 5G connectivity on these vulnerable devices for their own gain.

Prioritize API Security

According to Security Boulevard, API security is a growing concern in the IoT world. 2020 will see API abuses as one of the more prominent ways through which data breaches will be made. According to Gartner, 2022 will see APIs becoming the top attack vector.

The only way to protect from API attacks is to increase spending on cybersecurity protocols and measures to counteract the increased risk IoT-related risk.  

If you require state-of-the-art and reliable cybersecurity measures to protect against attacks on IoT, look no further.

Here at Lean Security, we are at the forefront of effective security solutions for IoT devices. We help companies to prevent theft of personal, financial information, and costly data breaches from unauthorized parties.

We are professional penetration testing service providers that can help secure your APIs through thorough API penetration tests. If you require web application or mobile application security and penetration testing, we provide that as well.

Contact us today on +61280786952

E-commerce Security 101: What You Should Know

The skyrocketing popularity of e-commerce has increased alongside the frequency and sophistication of cybersecurity threats. While brick-and-mortar stores had to contend with physical security threats such as break-ins, robberies, and theft, online retailers have to protect themselves against viruses, hacking, spyware, and phishing.

Cyberattacks necessitate e-commerce security. Here are the fundamentals of what it entails.

Privacy

In this context, privacy refers to preventing information from getting into the hands of unauthorized third parties.

The personal details and account information your customers enter when shopping online should be inaccessible to everyone except you and the customers themselves. In order for sensitive information such as bank and credit card details to remain private, businesses should implement encryption, virus protection, and set up a firewall.

Authentication

In order to avoid fraudulent transactions, both the seller and the buyer need to be verifiable. For the seller to feel secure about the sale, the buyer needs to provide proof of identification. Likewise, there will be no selling unless the business is real and its products are real.

Many businesses hire experts to authenticate the information customers enter on the website. Some of the more common authentication measures include buyer logins, passwords, and/or credit card PINs.

 

Integrity

In e-commerce security terms, integrity is the principle that any information the customer shares online will remain unaltered. A secure transaction necessitates unaltered data.

The business should only use exactly what was entered by the customer. In other words, businesses aren’t allowed to tamper with the information.

Non-Repudiation

For a successful transaction to take place, neither party can deny their involvement in the transaction. Legally speaking, non-repudiation adds a level of security because it confirms that the information shared between the two parties was received, and the purchase was made.

If you run an e-commerce website and need to professionally and thoroughly test your security measures, you’ve come to the right place.

We are a trusted penetration testing provider based in Gordon, New South Wales, AU. We are specialists when it comes to mobile application penetration tests and web application penetration tests.

Our penetration testing service includes client assessment, backend web service assessment, and network assessment. All clients are provided with a detailed technical report during the process.

Get in touch with us today! Call +61280786952