According to a recent report by IBM, the cost of data breaches and security incidents averages a staggering $3.86 million per occurrence. Just try and put that number into perspective – $3.86 million PER occurrence. It’s sobering! Let’s face the facts. Businesses are embracing the potential of cloud storage and it’s only going to grow. Yet, behind the conveniences of scalability and accessibility, lurk the shadows of data loss risk. In a world where data is the currency of trust, safeguarding it becomes paramount.

Here are 3 primary ways to lose your data in the cloud. For inspiration, we turned to the CIA triad—Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability, which serves as the cornerstone model for shaping information security policies within any org.

1. Availability: Cloud infrastructure or server failure that may lead to service disruption
2. Confidentiality: Misconfiguration and human error that may lead to data exposure
3. Integrity: Security gaps that may lead to data alteration

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Let’s take a closer look at each of these risks and some real-world examples of each.

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Cloud infrastructure or server failure 

As business owners, when creating cloud environments, the ultimate mission is crystal clear – deliver uninterrupted service. When that lifeline falters, your business is malfunctioning. It’s no different with data; accessibility is king. Lose that, and you’re paralyzed – no new data, no processing of existing info, and your business model grinds to a standstill. Common types? Inadequate or nonexistent BCDR, corrupted backups, and network blockage. 

Below are a few real-world examples of such risks that we encourage everyone to analyze and review lessons learned:

‍Type: Cloud Infrastructure RiskIncident:Example:Nov 2021 – AWS outage hit sites like Apple Music, Disney+, TikTokImpact:

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Type: Cloud Server FailureIncident:Example:Mar 2020 – Google Cloud outage. Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet inaccessibleImpact:

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Type: Data LeakIncident:Example:Jan 2023 – Aflac & Zurich Insurance BreachImpact:

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Type: Data ExposureIncident:Example:Feb 2023 – Sensitive US Military Emails ExposureImpact:

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‍Type: Customer Data LeakIncident:Example:Feb 2023 – Cutout.pro data leakageImpact:

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Misconfigurations and Human Error

Keeping your environment safe is an ongoing battle against evolving threats, tech advancements, and sophisticated attack methods. To win this race, you must establish clear visibility, robust procedures, and strict controls for sensitive environments. 

Common types of misconfigurations and human errors include orphan data repositories and backups, unrestricted access controls, inadequate delete protection, and subpar monitoring.

Below are a few real-world examples of such risks that can be easily identified and mitigated using cloud security tools:

‍Type: Misconfiguration and human errorIncident:Example:Jul 2020 – Microsoft leaks 38TB of private data via unsecured Azure storageImpact:

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‍Type: Data store misconfigurationIncident:Example:Aug 2021 – LinkedIn breach due to cloud misconfigImpact:

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‍Type: Inadequate access control settingsIncident:Example:Apr 2020 – Unauthorized Zoom video call accessImpact:

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Type: PHI exposureIncident:Example:Nov 2022 – Mscripts Cloud Storage MisconfigurationImpact:

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‍Type: Data sharingIncident:Example:Jan 2023 – TSA no-fly list shared on a hacking forumImpact:

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Security Gaps

Data security is one pillar of an organization’s security posture. Attackers typically hone in on sensitive data as their prized target. In the face of incidents, pinpointing exposed data and its security safeguards is pivotal for assessing impact and safeguarding against exposure. 

Common types of security gaps are security gaps, like weak encryption, unpatched vulnerabilities, unrecoverable data stores, and excessive access privileges.

Below are a few real-world examples of such risks that we recommend to review and create periodic review procedures to identify similar risks:

‍Type: Inadequate security controlsIncident:Example:Jul 2021 – Kaseya breach due to vulnerabilityImpact:

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Type: Insufficient data backupIncident:Example:2021 – Fastly outage affected Amazon, Reddit, NY TimesImpact:

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Type: Loss / theft of dataIncident:Example:2021 – T-Mobile breach, cybercriminal accessImpact:

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‍Type: Data breachIncident:Example:Jan 2021: TruthFinder & Instant Checkmate confirm gata breach affecting 20MImpact:

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Type: Data theftIncident:Example: Nov 2022 – T-Mobile API Data BreachImpact:

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How To Stop These 3 Data Risks From Happening

To avoid these risks, it’s important to take proactive steps to protect your cloud data. By implementing the right data protection strategies and utilizing a trusted data protection solution, you can keep your cloud data secure and avoid the frustration and cost of data loss. Without the appropriate tools to protect cloud data, businesses may prioritize business needs over security concerns or spend significant efforts implementing scattered point solutions and manual processes.

At Eureka Security, we’re your ally on this journey of securing sensitive data in the cloud.

Delivering cloud data security to companies is what Eureka Security is all about. If you store sensitive data in the cloud (any cloud!) Our DSPM solution will help your security team understand where data is, whether it’s sensitive and what type of data it is, learn who and what can access it, and keep it continuously secure. Our SaaS platform is easy-to-deploy and can be spun up in minutes for value and actionability on day one. 

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