Source: Cloud Security Alliance Author: unknown URL: https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/blog/2025/02/03/top-threat-9-lost-in-the-cloud-enhancing-visibility-and-observability
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:
Limited cloud visibility poses significant security, operational, financial, and reputational risks, requiring proactive monitoring, policy enforcement, and Zero Trust strategies.
MAIN POINTS:
- Limited cloud visibility arises from unapproved app use (Shadow IT) and misuse of sanctioned applications.
- Shadow IT increases risks by bypassing IT/security approval, especially for sensitive data.
- Misuse of approved apps can lead to insider threats, credential theft, and various cyberattacks.
- Technical impacts include weakened security, unmonitored vulnerabilities, and potential data loss.
- Operational impacts include business disruptions, degraded productivity, and failure to meet customer obligations.
- Financial impacts involve lost revenue, restoration costs, regulatory fines, and potential legal actions.
- Reputational damage arises from breached customer trust, harming public image and client relationships.
- A top-down approach, led by a cloud security architect, enhances visibility and integrates people, processes, and technology.
- Zero Trust Security (ZTS), CASB, and Web Application Firewalls (WAF) can detect and mitigate threats effectively.
- Employee training and reviewing non-approved services are crucial for enforcing cloud usage policies.
TAKEAWAYS:
- Proactively addressing Shadow IT and sanctioned app misuse is critical for cloud security.
- Unmonitored vulnerabilities and misconfigurations amplify technical risks in cloud services.
- Zero Trust models and CASB tools enhance monitoring, detect anomalies, and prevent attacks.
- Employee training ensures compliance with cloud policies and reduces risky behaviors.
- Reputational harm from data breaches can have long-term consequences on customer trust and business partnerships.