4 Things You Might Not Know About Cloud Vulnerability Management

As businesses and organizations continue to adapt to an increasingly digital world, the cloud has become central to delivering technology services. In fact, as of 2023, it was estimated that 60% of corporate data is kept in the cloud. With advancements in machine learning, AI, and IoT, there is good reason to expect that number to grow in the coming years.  While the dynamic nature of the cloud is often an asset, it also presents some challenges when it comes to cloud vulnerability management.  

In the 2021 IDC state of cloud security survey, 98% of businesses reported experiencing at least one cloud data breach within an 18-month time-span. Very few organizations were equipped to deal with the security concerns that came with an abrupt shift to the cloud. 

Fortunately, there is a growing set of best practices to help organizations shore up their cloud environments. With that in mind, here are four things you may not (but should) know about cloud vulnerability management. 

#1: Many Cloud Platforms Operate on a Shared Responsibility Model 

When it comes to securing your cloud environment, the devil is in the details. Many customers do not realize most of the major cloud platforms (such as AWS and Microsoft Azure) operate on a shared responsibility model. This means that the cloud service provider is responsible for securing the infrastructure… but the customer is responsible for securing their data and configurations. 

If overlooked, this aspect of cloud vulnerability management can lead to major issues like misconfigurations and inadequate access controls, both of which can lead to data breaches or other security incidents.  

#2: Integrating Sec into DevOps is Vital 

With the adoption of DevOps practices, development and operations teams are able to more effectively collaborate throughout the application development lifecycle. However, because this can result in projects moving at break-neck speeds, it’s vital to cover your bases where cloud vulnerability management is concerned. 

By failing to integrate tools like static code analysis platforms or dynamic application scanning into the DevOps pipeline, you might open the door for the release of insecure applications, which can expose your organization to more threats. 

#3: Cloud Platforms Come With Visibility Challenges 

Because of the distributed and dynamic nature of the cloud, maintaining visibility can be a complex task. With so many moving parts, it’s easy to lose out on real-time insights into your cloud infrastructure, data, and apps. This, in turn, can lead to blind spots that, if not addressed, can have significant ramifications.  

Companies and organizations that rely heavily on cloud services should invest in tools that provide comprehensive visibility into their cloud infrastructure. Without this, you’ll find it much more difficult to detect and respond to threats and security incidents. 

#4: Container Security Can Help Shore Up Cloud Vulnerability Management Measures 

A digital container is lightweight, portable, executable and includes everything needed to run a piece of software. This includes things like code, runtimes, libraries, and system tools. Because containers enable quick deployment and consistent operation for apps, they are widely used in cloud environments. However, securing them is extremely important and requires an understanding of measures like image scanning and runtime protection. 

Inadequate security for containers can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches. It can also create openings for attackers to compromise your business-critical applications. 

Best Practices for Cloud Vulnerability Management 

With numerous moving parts, cloud vulnerability management can be extremely complex. Fortunately, there are some best practices you can implement to enhance security for your organization’s cloud environment. 

Continuous Monitoring and Rapid Response—Important for detecting and mitigating threats promptly, maintaining constant vigilance enables organizations to identify anomalies, suspicious activity, and other vulnerabilities and respond in real-time to prevent or limit damage. 

Adaptation to Dynamic Environments—Adapting to dynamic environments ensures that security measures are effective in environments where resources are constantly evolving. This reduces the risk of vulnerabilities going undetected. 

Regular Vulnerability Assessments—Regular assessments allow organizations to proactively identify security weaknesses so they can be addressed before malicious actors can exploit them. 

Asset Inventory and Patch Management—Asset inventory and patch management are critical for reducing the attack surface of your cloud environment. By keeping track of all assets within a cloud environment and applying patches quickly, you can reduce the risk of attackers exploiting related vulnerabilities. 

Turn to Inversion6 for Comprehensive Cloud Vulnerability Management 

Inversion6 delivers tailored security solutions backed by the latest in innovative technologies. We are a cybersecurity risk management provider that works as an extension of your IT staff to bring you the most comprehensive security strategies available. With cybersecurity solutions from Inversion6, you can gain better visibility into your cloud environment for a holistic approach that amplifies incident response, analytics, and threat detection across your organization’s entire digital landscape. 

Are you ready to shore up your cloud security? Contact us today to get started.