A Systematic Analysis of Cloud Security Challenges and Mitigation Strategies in Modern Organizations
Bui Minh Duc
Department of Computer Science Bac Lieu University, 35A Hoa Binh Street, Ward 3, Bac Lieu City, Bac Lieu Province, Vietnam.
Vo Hung Cuong
Vietnam Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, The University of Danang. Faculty of Computer Science
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3989-4921
Keywords: Cloud Computing, Data Breaches, Authentication, Infrastructure Vulnerabilities, DoS Attacks, Compliance Issues
Abstract
As organizations increasingly migrate to cloud-based systems, the security challenges inherent to these environments have become a growing concern. This research aims to systematically analyze key security issues affecting cloud computing, providing a comprehensive overview categorized into six primary domains: Data-related Issues, Access and Authentication Issues, Infrastructure and Platform Vulnerabilities, Attack and Malicious Activity, Provider-related Challenges, and Regulatory and Compliance Concerns. Data-related issues include unauthorized data breaches, accidental or malicious data loss, and vulnerabilities related to data transfer, often exacerbated by unencrypted connections. Access and Authentication Issues focus on the unauthorized use of accounts through hijacking, insider threats emanating from malicious employees, and exposure due to misconfiguration of cloud resources. Infrastructure and Platform Vulnerabilities involve risks such as insecure Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), vulnerabilities in shared technologies like hypervisors, and multi-tenancy risks arising from the cohabitation of multiple clients on the same infrastructure. The category of Attack and Malicious Activity involves Denial of Service (DoS) attacks that aim to make resources unavailable and the abuse of cloud services for malicious activities, like deploying botnets. Provider-related Challenges encapsulate the limited control and flexibility that clients have over their cloud environments, alongside a general lack of transparency regarding a provider's security operations. Additionally, vendor lock-in presents its own set of challenges, making it cumbersome for organizations to switch providers or migrate data. Lastly, Regulatory and Compliance Concerns focus on the difficulties organizations face in adhering to regional and industry-specific regulations while using cloud services. Tailored controls and measures should be implemented to mitigate these risks effectively, requiring an in-depth understanding of the intricacies involved in each domain. This research aims to serve as a resource for organizations to develop robust cloud security strategies.
