Cloud is a Growing Target for Cyberattacks

Today, companies have substantial assets and value manifested in digital form, and they are deeply connected to global technology networks – even as cyber-attackers become ever more sophisticated and adaptable to defenses. The rise of ecommerce in the pandemic has opened a lucrative avenue for cybercrime. Now businesses need to wise up to the latest methods of attack and strengthen their defences. Most importantly, Malware is malicious software that can render infected systems inoperable. Most malware variants destroy data by deleting or wiping files critical to the operating system's ability to run.

Kids today are digitally wired and interconnected. Smartphones, video games, consoles, smart TVs, and laptops are part of a staple diet in the daily life of the kid. The number of smartphone-carrying kids is drastically increasing. Computers are a basic necessity at school and homes for projects, research or more. They frequently download apps and play online games. Social networks target them for business purposes.

A Sophos report says, among Infrastructure as a Service users, 56% experienced an increase in the volume of attacks on their organization when compared to the previous year, and 67% were hit by ransomware. In addition, 59% experienced an increase in complexity of attacks.

For many of these users, a lack of visibility into their infrastructure, unpatched vulnerabilities and resource misconfigurations make them susceptible to various types of attacks, including ransomware. Of those surveyed, only 37% track and detect resource misconfigurations and only 43% routinely scan IaaS resources for software vulnerabilities.

65% of cloud users reported not having visibility of all resources and their configurations, and only 33% said their organization has the resources to continuously detect, investigate and remove threats in their IaaS infrastructure.

“It is imperative that security is prioritized as organizations continue to adopt cloud services. This includes implementing traditional threat-based protections, as well as risk-based mitigations. Unpatched vulnerabilities and misconfigured resources are both preventable mistakes and avoidable risks that make life easier for attackers. Most attackers are not unstoppable criminal masterminds, but rather opportunistic cyber thugs looking for an easy payday,” according to Sophos.

However, the survey also found that more advanced IaaS users are twice as likely to report a decrease in attack impact than beginners, suggesting the appropriate defense mechanisms can go a long way in deterring threat actors.

Cloud technology has been an integral component in paving the way for organizations across industries to undergo digital transformation. Hence, cyberattacks are unwelcome attempts to steal, expose, alter, disable or destroy information through unauthorized access to computer systems.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, President & CEO, VARINDIA