Cloud computing grew drastically in 2019. However, cloud security has dragged behind in development which has resulted in some of the most devastating cyberattacks in history.

In traditional offline computing, programs and data are stored locally on a machine. On the organizational scale, data may be stored and shared on local servers that are linked to office devices within an enclosed network.

Cloud computing changes this model – instead of keeping files and programs stored locally, they are instead running on servers of tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon and are transferred in real time to local machines over the internet. Common cloud computing platforms include Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google’s Compute Engine.

 

SaaS, Paas, and IaaS

There are three major types of cloud computing services. Saas, or Software as a Service, involves running programs via a web browser instead of on a local machine. An advantage of this is that end users no longer have to download update packages and that app speed is only depends on internet speed.

IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service, includes components such as servers, storage, and networking.

Finally, PaaS, or Platform as a Service, is used by software developers to build applications.

There are many advantages to cloud computing. For businesses, cloud computing is a much more flexible and scalable option compared to on-premise solutions. Furthermore, cloud computing opens the door for many pay-as-you-go computing models, eliminating the need to purchase perpetual software.

Security Threats of Cloud Computing

The rapid growth of cloud computing – and the failure of cloud security to keep pace – has resulted in a number of devastating cyberattacks this year.

In July 2019, Capital One announced that it had suffered a data breach affecting over 100 million of its customers.

APIs are a new security weakpoint

APIs, or Application Programing Interfaces, are the channels through which a computer can communicate with a cloud service. APIs have become a vulnerability that is often exploited by cyberattackers when targeting cloud based systems.

GIGE ensures that your company is fully prepared for the cloud cyber threats that will come in 2020. Get started with us now by calling +1 888 366 4443 or emailing us at info@gige.ca

With 2019 drawing to a close and 2020 almost here, we can take a look sat how the cybersecurity landscape has evolved over this past year. By far the two most prevalent topics of the year have been ransomware and data privacy.

Ransomware

By far the most relevant cybersecurity threat of 2019 was the rise of ransomware. This is strain of malware that encrypts user data behind a paywall, and demands payment for its safe release. Targets have ranged from multinational corporations to governments. Worryingly, ransomware attacks have recently become more organized, as seen in an attack in August 2019 where 22 Texan governments were simultaneously hit with ransowmare.

Data Privacy

As collecting and storing sensitive user data grows as a core requirement of many companies, so too does the risk of leaking this data to unwanted eyes. 2019 saw several enterprises falling victim to data breaches, often leading to devastating financial and legal consequences. New York’s Retrieval-Masters Creditor Bureau Inc. filed for bankruptcy due to a $3.8 million dollar data breach where its customers home addresses, SSNs, and credit card information were leaked. In another attack, Capital One Financial reported between $100 million USD to $150 million USD in damages caused by a data breach leaking customer SSNs and bank account numbers.

In 2020, ransomware will become more dangerous than ever.

A new strain of ransomware named Maze has confirmed a cyberattacker’s bluff as a real threat. In a ransomware attack, data on a victim’s computer is both encrypted and stolen by cyberattackers. Until Maze, it was not known whether cyberattackers actually had access to the stolen data. In November, Allied Universal refused to pay a ransom fee of $2.5 million USD, resulting in cyberattackers releasing 700MB of the company’s sensitive data to the public.

With the threat now confirmed, organizations must prepare for more vicious strains of ransomware in the coming year. Cybersecurity company McAfee Labs predicts that “two-stage extortion attacks” will be a major threat in 2020, where stage 1 is data encryption, and stage 2 is data theft. With 2 leverage points, cyberattackers will have more extortion power than previous attacks.

To counter the new threats coming in 2020, cybersecurity will need to improve in both preventative and restorative measures in order to fully prepare organizations for attack. Call GIGE IT Solutions at +1 888 366 4443 or info@gige.ca. With over 30 years of network security and data backup experience, we can help keep you protected against cyberattack.