When it comes to cloud computing security, one critical factor is sometimes overlooked: attack surface management (ASM). Why? Several cloud security training programs, including cloud provider certifications, do not emphasize it. Instead, they concentrate on specialized technologies and tout trends that are merely a subset of cloud security.
Also, we are no longer choosy about the cloud security experts we acquire due to the ongoing shortage of these talents. Attackers are improving their skills and can now use artificial intelligence technologies against you. This might create a perfect storm, resulting in another series of breaches that dominate 24-hour news cycles and reduce a company’s worth.
Learn about attack surfaces and why they are important
Due to its dispersed nature and shared responsibility model, cloud computing poses particular security issues. The cloud’s attack surface is large and includes many different levels and parts. Applications, APIs, virtual networks, Internet of Things gadgets, mobile access, user access restrictions, and much more are included in addition to the cloud infrastructure itself. Each component provides a potential point of entry for attackers, underscoring the necessity for proactive knowledge of these entry points and methods for reducing risk to the public at large.
ASM is important to cloud security because it helps firms effectively discover and address problems. The fundamental idea is to work proactively, rather than reactively, with ASM integrated into the architecture rather than being added on, as is frequently the case.
Let’s examine three ASM factors you should keep in mind
1. Exploration and visibility: A picture of the cloud is provided by attack surface management, revealing security concerns and points of entry for attackers. It identifies hidden resources, illegal services, and omitted settings. Security observability is the ability to fully grasp an issue. Businesses want smart information rather than only making noise.
2. Prioritization and risk evaluation: Attack surface management is used by companies to evaluate risks and allocate resources efficiently to concentrate on high-risk areas with grave consequences if breached. All assets should be secured in IT. Exposing sales data, though, is less worrisome than doing so with health data. Your business and sector will define this.
3. Restoration and emergency response: When it comes to incident handling, including patching, changing settings, and isolating affected systems, ASM management gives enterprises important insight. This enables companies to quickly fix vulnerabilities. Following an assault, there is an incident response phase where damage management and future access prevention are the main objectives. Although the focus is on safety, planning for an effective attack is sometimes disregarded. Consider ransomware settlements by businesses as proof of the issue’s urgency.
How to master attack surface management (ASM)
The effect of a breach is greater because cloud computing is inherent to the majority of modern IT systems. Moreover, those who wish to harm us now possess more powerful weapons, such as cloud-based attack engines that are now driven by cutting-edge AI. They are becoming more adept at attacking, therefore, we must strengthen our defence.
It is now mandatory, not a choice, to accept ASM as a crucial element of cloud security. As the cloud landscape changes, businesses that prioritize attack surface management will remain on top of the game and provide a robust defence against ever-evolving threats.
Recall that maintaining a safe and resilient cloud infrastructure requires good attack surface management. In the cloud, security is a joint responsibility.
Conclusion
In-depth, automated reconnaissance is used in today’s sophisticated attacks to study the attack surface from the outside. To successfully defend against assaults, it is important to adopt an attack surface management strategy that gives you constant outside-in insight into your security weaknesses, allowing you to address problems before they are exploited.
