3 Common Cloud Vulnerabilities You Should Be Wary Of

Cloud computing is widely being adopted across many industry sectors. According to statistics, around 85% of businesses around the world use cloud computing for various organizational purposes.

By utilising cloud computing, most firms have reduced total cost of ownership, enhanced organizational abilities through SaaS, PaaS, and server virtualization, to become more competitive.

Despite its efficiency contributions, cloud computing gives rise to several vulnerabilities. However, some methods deal with these vulnerabilities and make cloud computing more effective. We’ll help break them down for you:

Data Residency & Security

Data residency and data security are vital concerns when moving to the cloud. The main concern with data residency is who manages and has access to the data.  Additional issues include where the data is stored and what laws apply.

The critical solutions to overcoming data residency concerns are data encryption and tokenization. Data encryption is the process that converts clear text data into ciphertext, unreadable to unauthorized users.

Tokenization involves converting sensitive data into random strings that only serve as a reference to original values—these strings can’t be used to identify the data itself. The only way to figure out which token refers to relevant data is through a token vault—a database that uses these tokens as references to data values. The token vault itself is often secured through encryption.

Downtime

Downtime is a common concern for businesses when they move to cloud computing. Often, substandard server hosting services experience technical difficulties that bring down entire servers—along with the client organization’s server cloud. Server downtime and the resulting operational disruptions can cost as much as $1 million depending on how deeply integrated the organization is with the cloud.

Many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, cannot afford regular interruptions without incurring significant financial losses.  For instance, in 2017, an outage on Amazon Web Services cost the stock market around $150 million. 

It's vital to be proactive when protecting your organization from downtime. Make sure your hosting providers are readily available and have planned for all contingencies. If your business can't afford frequent outages, use multi-region deployments to ensure operational continuity.

Cyberattacks

In cloud computing, all aspects of the organization's information are stored and processed online. That means the information is continuously vulnerable to malign influences who can use cyberattack strategies like DDoS attacks, SQL injections, Cross-site scripting, DNS Tunneling etc. to get access to sensitive data.

The only solution to this problem is implementing strict cybersecurity measures and preparing contingency plans. Make sure that your cloud-hosting provider or your internal IT teams use the strictest security protocols to restrict unauthorized access and data breaches. Common methods to avoid data breaches through the cloud include routine backups, implementing user access controls, encrypting in-flight and at-rest data, as well as working with network security specialists.

Cloud computing has many vulnerabilities that only an expert can diagnose and resolve.  Lean Security is a managed services provider in Gordon, NSW. We’re highly qualified and experienced in cloud computing and its potential vulnerabilities.  Contact us at +61-2-8078-6952 for more information.

4 Steps To Safeguard Against Your Malware

Malware attacks are issues for all business regardless of their operational scales. For example, the cost of cybercrime soared to over $600 billion worldwide. As criminals continue searching for new opportunities, cybercrime will evolve in ways business still aren’t sure of—and we can only guess at what will come our way next.

Therefore, keeping your company safe from malware attacks is vital in preventing data breaches. Here are a few tips on how to do that:

Encrypt Your Data

Encryption is a process that involves encoding data into an unintelligible format, making it impossible for a cybercriminal to exploit. The only way to decode encrypted data, and making it intelligible, is through an encryption key that only you or your cybersecurity provider possess. If the hacker can’t decrypt the data, it’s essentially useless for them.

By encrypting your data and keeping a backup of it on another hard drive or the cloud, you are assured that your data won’t be compromised, damaged or lost.

Network Security Upgrades

Hackers can easily infiltrate your network and system without robust network security. A firewall blocks out potential malware and detects potential threats that come from all types of connections. This provides an active layer of security for your network.

A VPN can also allow your company to use the internet without worrying about cyberattacks. This is because VPNs establish a private internet connection that encrypts all transmitted data.

Install Cybersecurity Software

Having anti-virus, anti-ransomware, and anti-malware software is the best line of defence against cybercriminals. But installing only one anti-virus software isn't enough. Your organization requires different software that prevents attacks from all types of malware. Likewise, don't forget to keep it updated. This ensures that the software can sufficiently detect and eliminate any potential threats.

Educate Employees

Generally, employees are unaware of how to detect malware attacks. This makes them ideal targets for cybercriminals, and employee negligence is one of the leading causes of cybersecurity breaches.

The most effective method to educate your employees is to hold cybersecurity training sessions. These workshops should teach your employees how to identify websites, links and phishing scams that contain malware.

It’s essential to have proper measures implemented in your business to stay safe from malware. Lean Security is an online security service provider that provides managed security services and IT solutions in Gordon, NSW. We’re highly qualified and well-equipped to deal with all types of firms and industries. Contact us at +61-2-8078-6952 for more information.

Why Your Customer Data Should Be Encrypted (Infographic)

5 Cyber Security Risks of Working from Home

Working from home is gradually becoming the new normal. And as we take time to adapt to it and learn new ways to work effectively and efficiently, a lot of us are realizing that our technology and machines need to be upgraded to facilitate this process.

Moreover, bringing devices and digital networks home, as most of us have done over the last few months, has turned into a source of many security concerns.

We don’t mean the usual WFH problems—24/7 work hours, no private workspace, interference at work and disturbance from your family life. There are much bigger problems when you bring work home.

Cybersecurity not being a primary concern for a company makes them a target. Digital infrastructure at home is much more vulnerable to cybercrime compared to commercial ones. Here, we’ve outlined five cybersecurity risks you need to keep in mind and address as you and your business shift to WFH:

Phishing

A whole range of malicious applications has been launched to take advantage of people trying to learn about COVID-19. The need to know more has led people to access links and download apps that promise help in these trying times.

This exposes them to malignant data stealing software which can easily find their way to your business once they gain access to your employee’s device and network.

Physical Digital Location

As WFH continues, your devices and online networks are going to exist in unfamiliar digital spaces. This means that sensitive work data is easier to access than ever.

Employees tend to access work material through a variety of devices that might not be secure. This poses a cyber-threat because it’s much harder to identify a source with a network that spans the entire city, or maybe even the globe.

Unsecured Wi-Fi Network               

Home Wi-Fi networks have worse security checks in place that can serve as an easy target for hackers. Because of the sudden shift to WFH, the protocols for adequate protection have not been put in place for network security, which can be a cybercrime hazard for big and small, businesses.

Increased Data Sharing

Information sharing has moved online during WFH. While most workplaces used to transfer data and files through secure, private networks, they’re now increasingly being transmitted through public internet. It’s much easier for these networks to get compromised, resulting in sensitive information being leaked. 

Infected VPN and End Point Integrity

Infected and pre-compromised VPNs can serve as an entry point for hackers. This can result in stealthy hacking operations, as the user believes they are using a safe private network.

It’s essential for individuals who are working from home to be aware of the cybersecurity risks posed through remote work.

Employers and employees both should work to secure their network through various means. One such method is to put penetration testing providers like Lean Security to work; build a secure online community for your business.

Contact Tracing: How Does it Work?

With the accelerating rate of COVID-19 cases in Australia, the government launched a contract tracing app, named COVIDSafe, to find and contain outbreaks of this rapidly evolving virus. Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, compared the app to a "sunscreen" that would protect the citizens and "is a ticket to a COVID-safe Australia." The app received a pheromonal response and was downloaded by more than a million people within just a few hours of its release, as reported by BBC.

How Does The COVIDSafe Application Work?

This app can be downloaded from the Google Play store or the Apple App Store. Once installed, you will be asked to register yourself and provide personal details, which will be deleted after 21 days, or if someone deletes the app from their phone.

With the use of Bluetooth technology, the application works by tracking people you come in contact with (who have also used the app in the previous three weeks), after which both IDs are traded anonymously. If and when the virus infects an individual, they will receive an SMS from a health official with a code that is required by the app to grant consent to share their contact activity for the past 21 days. The app will notify the people that have been exposed and suggest self-isolation. Health officials will then reach out to the infected person, offer advice on testing, and stay safe while protecting family and friends. Hence, aiming to automate COVID-19 contact tracing and permit the ease of restriction.

Who Has Access To My Data?

The app requires users to fill out their name, age, phone number, and postcode, which will be encrypted to ensure maximum data protection. If a person is tested positive, the data (with your consent) will be held by the federal government on an Amazon Web Services server in Australia. As stated by PM, Morrison, the data can only be accessed by state health authorities charged with contact tracing. 

With millions of people using the app, data security can be the number one concern of many users. Even though data is encrypted, insecure cryptographic storage can breach a person's privacy and lead to cyber threats. Thus, the protection of web applications is an absolute necessity.

At Lean Security, we offer managed security solutions that are designed to keep web applications safe and secure. 

Don't let cybersecurity become a threat, and together, let's fight one virus at a time!